Legal challenges continue to be filed against President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders. A Maryland federal judge has issued a nationwide injunction blocking the administration from curtailing birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented parents. The move comes after a judge in Seattle imposed a temporary halt on the policy. In addition, the ACLU has filed suit in D.C. federal court challenging the president’s ban on asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. With regard to transgender care, a suit has been filed over orders that curtail federal funding and support for medical transitions for those under age 19. Tennessee’s law banning such care for minors is pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. Tennessee Lookout reports that two teens who left Tennessee after the state ban went into effect are part of the group suing over the federal ban. Finally, in other news, a suit has been filed against two executive orders seeking to end federal diversity programs; a federal judge in Washington, D.C., has blocked efforts to move transgender women to men's prisons; and FBI agents have sued to protect their identities from Department of Justice leaders who are seeking information about those who worked on Jan. 6 cases. Bloomberg reports that the FBI has shared titles and offices but not names. Reuters has more on all of these suits.

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The next legal clinic for veterans in Knoxville will take place Feb. 12 from 12-1 p.m. EST at the Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office, 1101 Liberty St., Knoxville 37919. This is a general advice clinic sponsored by the Knoxville Bar Association, KBA Barristers, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, the University of Tennessee College of Law, the Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office and the local Veterans Affairs office. Attorneys and law students are needed. Sign up to volunteer here.

The Memphis Bar Association (MBA) will host its Second Saturday Legal Advice Clinic this week on Feb. 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CST at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library. Attorneys are always needed to give legal advice and basic guidance on a range of issues, from divorce to employment law. To sponsor a future clinic, contact Mary Ann Upchurch at maupchurch@memphisbar.org. Questions about the clinic should be directed to Memphis Area Legal Services Pro Bono Managing Attorney Heather Staggs at hstaggs@malsi.org.

The TBA Intellectual Property Section launches its 2025 webcast series on Feb. 5 with a focus on subject matter eligibility updates for AI-related inventions. On July 17, 2024, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued an update on patent subject matter eligibility to assist eligibility evaluations in patent applications and patents involving inventions related to AI technology. The webcast, beginning at noon CST, will provide an overview of the guidance update, including examples issued in conjunction with the update and community comments submitted. Make plans to join Knoxville lawyer Lauren Sherwood with Bookoff McAndrews for this one-hour webcast to learn more. Watch for more details coming soon about the next two programs in the series: Best Practices in Trademark Law on Feb. 19 and Protecting Your Copyright Registration on March 5.

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The state House passed the governor’s immigration enforcement proposals yesterday after the state Senate did so on Wednesday, the Tennessean reports. The legislation (SB6002/HB6001) funds a $5 million office within the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, allowing Gov. Bill Lee to tap an enforcement director and incentivize local law enforcement entities to enter into a contract program with federal immigration authorities. The bill also establishes a new driver's license that distinguishes U.S. citizens from legal permanent residents. In addition, the bill establishes criminal penalties for local and state officials who adopt “sanctuary” policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement officials. WKRN has more on that proposal. Lee actively supported the measure and is expected to sign it into law. He released a statement late yesterday afternoon marking the end of the special session. One group already has indicated an intent to sue over the law; the ACLU of Tennessee is calling the criminal penalty provision “unconstitutional” and promising to challenge the law.

At its January meeting, the TBA Board of Governors certified election filing results. One contested election will be held this year for the office of vice president. Nashville attorneys Amy Bryant and John Farringer are both running to become TBA’s president in 2027-2028. TBA members will receive an email tomorrow with more information about the candidates. Electronic voting will begin today and close on Feb. 14. Watch for an email with a link to the ballot from Intelliscan Inc.

The board also declared election results for uncontested seats with seven individuals deemed to be elected because they were the only duly qualified candidate for that seat. Finally, the board declared a vacancy in the three positions: Fourth District Governor, East Tennessee Governor and young lawyer delegate to the ABA House of Delegates (position 3). To be considered for any of these positions, email TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright at barED@tnbar.org with a statement of interest and resume by March 3. The board will consider nominees at its March 20 meeting.

For positions in the TBA House of Delegates, the House met on Jan. 17 to declare the election of 25 uncontested delegates. They will take office on June 11. It also declared a vacancy in 13 seats. To be considered for any of these positions, email TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright at barED@tnbar.org no later than March 3. See the full list of certified candidates and all available vacancies on the TBA website.