The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals is seeking comments on the reappointment of Randal S. Mashburn, bankruptcy judge for the Middle District of Tennessee, to a 14-year term that would begin on Jan. 12, 2026. Members of the bar and the public are invited to submit comments to be considered during the reappointment process. All comments will be kept confidential and should be mailed to Circuit Executive Marc Theriault, 503 Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse, 100 East Fifth St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 or be submitted via email. All comments must be received no later than April 16. Contact the Office of the Circuit Executive at 513-564-7200 for more information. Read the full announcement from the court.

A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from enforcing portions of an executive order designed to punish the law firm of Perkins Coie. The Associated Press reports that U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell granted a temporary restraining order sought by the firm one day after it filed suit over the executive order. The judge said the executive order sends a chilling message that lawyers can be punished for representing clients or advancing views unfavorable to the government. Under the ruling, the government may not enforce portions of the order blocking the firm from seeking government contracts for its clients and banning firm employees from federal buildings.

Longtime Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Cheryl Blackburn has announced that she will retire at the end of May. She has held the position for 29 years, having been originally appointed by the late Gov. Don Sundquist in 1996. Blackburn, whose current term is set to end in 2030, is the longest serving criminal court judge in the county, having presided over tens of thousands of criminal matters and hundreds of trials. Blackburn earned her undergraduate and master's degree in clinical psychology from Vanderbilt University. While working in the mental health field, she attended Nashville School of Law at night. Upon graduation, she was hired as an assistant district attorney in Nashville and later was appointed one of two deputy district attorneys. She says that serving on the bench has been the greatest honor of her professional career. The Tennessean has tributes from lawyers and judges who have worked with Blackburn over the years.

The Tennessee Bar Foundation has launched a new IOLTA Capital Improvement and Technology Enhancement (CITE) Grant, a one-time grant to help legal aid and civil legal services providers strengthen operational capacity and technology. Funding can be requested for capital improvements, projects that enhance efficiency and improving client service with technology, or projects that drive innovation through technology. Applications should be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CDT on April 23. The foundation will hold webinar on March 20 at 2 p.m. CDT to demonstrate the application portal and answer any questions. Sign up for the webinar. Read more in a press release from the foundation or access detailed guidelines — including eligibility requirements, application standards and evaluation criteria — and frequently asked questions on the foundation’s website.

The Washington County Bar Association is asking for volunteer lawyers to help residents of northeast Tennessee with legal needs following Hurricane Helene. The Advocacy Committee of the Washington County Long Term Recovery Group is a group of volunteers continuing to assist residents affected by the hurricane. Those interested in helping with intake or assisting with pro bono representation should contact Melissa Reading, 423-794-4009. The next meeting of the committee is March 19 at noon EDT via Zoom.

The U.S. Senate last week confirmed President Donald Trump's former criminal defense attorney Todd Blanche to serve as deputy attorney general, the number two role at the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ). Blanche was confirmed on a party line vote of 52-46, Reuters reports. The Senate also approved Gail Slater to lead the department’s antitrust division. She was approved on a bipartisan vote according to Bloomberg Law. The Senate Judiciary Committee also recently advanced the nominations of three to key roles at the department. The panel approved D. John Sauer to be U.S. solicitor general, Harmeet Dhillon to lead the Civil Rights Division and Aaron Reitz to head the Office of Legal Policy. Bloomberg Law reports on those votes.

The TBA’s Immigration Section will host a one-hour webcast on March 31 exploring what attorneys need to know in this period of enhanced immigration enforcement to counsel clients and be on the look out for notario fraud, which can be prevalent in immigrant communities. Make plans now to join Edith Johnson with Catholic Charities of East Tennessee in Knoxville to learn more. The webcast will run from noon to 1 p.m. CDT. Immigration Section members get registration discounts. Not a section member? Join here.

The indigent representation proposal from the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) on behalf of the Tennessee Supreme Court addresses a number of challenges in the current system. This includes using strategic compensation structures for employing and contracting with attorneys. Under the plan, the “Indigent Representation Commission" may use a combination of retainer, flat fee and hourly or other contracts, offering lawyers more competitive and predictable compensation. Among the advantages of this approach are the elimination of caps and the implementation of intermittent payments. Learn more about the plan and indigent representation in Tennessee.

The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) and Tennessee’s American Inns of Court are now accepting nominations for the 2025 Judge Pamela L. Reeves Tennessee Professionalism Award. The annual award is presented to a lawyer or judge whose life and practice display sterling character and unquestioned integrity, coupled with ongoing dedication to the highest standards of the rule of law and the highest standards of the legal profession in Tennessee. This year's award will be presented to a lawyer or judge residing in the Middle Grand Division. Nominees must be alive when nominations are submitted but they need not be an active member of an American Inn of Court or the TBA. The award will be presented at the TBA's Annual Convention, which will be held in Franklin June 11-14. The deadline for submitting nominations is April 7. See past recipients of the award.

Law firm Perkins Coie is suing the Trump administration over an executive order that sanctioned the firm, Bloomberg Law reports. The firm filed suit in the federal court in Washington, D.C., today after hiring Williams & Connolly to represent it in the matter. The order, signed on March 6, strips the firm’s lawyers of security credentials, terminates federal contracts with firm clients, and bars firm lawyers from entering government buildings or getting jobs at federal agencies. The president said the move was in response to the firm being involved in “weaponization against a political opponent’’ during the 2016 presidential campaign. The firm says the directives put its solvency and existence at risk.