State Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, and attorney Rachel Welty have filed suit against Middle Tennessee district attorneys general to stop enforcement of a new state law that makes it illegal for adults to help minors obtain an abortion out of state without parental consent. The law was signed by Gov. Bill Lee in May and goes into effect July 1. According to the Nashville Post, the pair argue that the law infringes on the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment right to free speech. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. District attorneys named include Glenn Funk, Bryant C. Dunaway, Jason Lawson, Jennings H. Jones, Robert J. Carter, Ray Whitley, Robert J. Nash, Stacey Edmonson, Brent Cooper, Ray Crouch and Hans Schwendimann.

Christopher Crider, vice chair of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission resigned earlier this month after repeatedly making insensitive remarks in meetings, seemingly disparaging different ethnic groups, the LGBTQ+ community and others, the Nashville Banner reports. Crider was an appointed member of the commission and was named vice chair in December. During a human resources investigation this spring, he admitted to making comments about different groups during meetings, but denied they were meant to discriminate. The investigation results were forwarded to the governor’s office, but Crider resigned a week later. As mayor of Milan, Crider settled a suit from a former employee who said he used a racially derogative term to describe a diverse neighborhood.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy is pushing back on criticism of the work he is doing, Action News 5 reports. In his weekly newsletter, Mulroy emphasized his commitment to public safety, noting that his office prosecutes over 3,000 violent cases every year. He also offered to meet with anyone who has concerns. “Meanwhile, we’ll continue to do the actual work,” he wrote. In the last few weeks, Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis. announced he would file a resolution to remove Mulroy from office and Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally announced support for that effort. Asked about the situation in Memphis, Gov. Bill Lee said, “We have to make sure the legal system in Shelby County is doing ... its job and taking offenders off the street. We have a real serious crime problem there.”

The Tennessee Secretary of State's office has confirmed that it sent out more than 14,000 letters to potential non-U.S. citizens asking them to prove citizenship status for the next election. According to New Channel 5, many of those who received the letter say they have voted in previous elections. The Secretary of State's office says voter rolls were compared with data from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security to identify those who were not citizens when they had their first interaction with the department. The office says individuals could have been naturalized since then, but have not updated their records. Anyone who received a letter and has questions may contact the Secretary of State's Elections Division at 615-741-7956.

Services have been set for Knoxville lawyer and former TBA Board of Governors member Jack Humphreys “Nick” McCall Jr., who died April 13 at the age of 63. A celebration of life will be held July 14 from 1-4 p.m. EDT at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum, 2743 Wimpole Ave., Knoxville 37914. Memorial donations may be made to Legal Aid of East Tennessee, 100 W. Martin Luther King Blvd., Ste. 402, Chattanooga, TN 37402 or East Tennessee Veterans Memorial Association (ETVMA), PO Box 3714, Knoxville, TN 37927. Read TBA's news of his passing in April.

The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday it will review the constitutionality of Tennessee’s law banning gender medical care for minors during its next term. The high court previously avoided opportunities to get involved in cases involving transgender protections, but after being urged by the Biden administration to take up the latest dispute, the justices agreed to do so in a brief order, The Hill reports. A group of anonymous transgender minors and parents challenged the law, and the Justice Department later intervened in the dispute. A federal district judge issued an injunction blocking the law from taking effect. On appeal, the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the injunction but consolidated the suit with a similar case from Kentucky. The high court’s order limits review to the question of whether the law violates the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. The state had asked the court not to consider the case, arguing it should allow the issue to develop further in the appeals courts. SCOTUSblog has an analysis of the issues.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti issued this statement on the court’s decision: "We fought hard to defend Tennessee's law protecting kids from irreversible gender treatments and secured a thoughtful and well-reasoned opinion from the 6th Circuit. I look forward to finishing the fight in the United States Supreme Court. This case will bring much-needed clarity to whether the Constitution contains special protections for gender identity."

The 2024 Elder Law Forum will take place in-person July 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. CDT at the Belmont University College of Law. This annual staple for Tennessee attorneys provides insight from top professionals while allowing attendees to meet with other lawyers in the practice area. This year’s forum features timely topics such as conservatorships, dementia, client intake, ethics, litigation in elder law and much more. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity to learn and earn CLE with colleagues.

Davidson County lawyer Eric Donn Miller was reinstated to the practice of law on June 14. He had been on inactive status since June 26, 2012. The Tennessee Supreme Court took the action after the Board of Professional Responsibility reported that Miller’s petition for reinstatement was satisfactory.

The Biden administration will allow certain undocumented immigrants who are married to U.S. citizens to stay in the country and work legally, expanding a program that’s currently used for immediate family of military service members. The Hill reports that the new effort, announced Tuesday, expands the “parole in place” program to new individuals and pairs it with measures designed to make the work visa application easier for those — particularly DACA beneficiaries — who have graduated from U.S. colleges and have been in the United States for 10 years. Approved applicants will receive a three-year work permit, deferral from deportation and three years to apply for permanent residency.

Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel will hold an open house on June 27 to showcase its newly renovated 17th floor. The new space is designed to foster a professional, collaborative environment that enhances the firm’s ability to provide exceptional client service, according to the firm. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. EDT with remarks at 6 p.m. for dedication of the Songwood Library in honor of longtime partner Max Bahner and his wife Sara. The firm is located in the Liberty Tower at 605 Chestnut St., Ste. 1700, Chattanooga 37450. Hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served. Bahner served as TBA president from 1980-1981.