Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy recently sat down with The Daily Memphian for its “Behind The Headlines” show. During the program, Mulroy said it is unclear how a new state law outlawing consideration of a defendant’s ability to pay when setting bail will work, and suggested it could be challenged in court as unconstitutional. He did express support for two other bail measures the Tennessee General Assembly passed in its most recent session. Mulroy also expressed support for proposed gun reform measures, including increasing penalties for possessing a switch device and an upcoming Memphis ballot referendum which would outlaw assault rifles in city limits. He also argued that Memphis should be carved out of the state’s permit-less carry law given the urban environment and “epidemic of guns.”

The federal judiciary and the U.S. Supreme Court would receive increased funding for security in a bill approved by a U.S. House subcommittee. The judiciary would receive $774.4 million for court security, a 4% boost, while the court would get extra funding to support protection of justices' homes. The bill next goes to the full House Appropriations Committee, where several lawmakers said they plan try to amend it. Reuters has more on the proposal.

The U.S. Judicial Conference's Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure has approved a first-of-its kind rule to govern federal mass torts cases and provide judges a roadmap to follow when assigned hundreds or thousands of lawsuits against companies. The rule, which has been under consideration since 2017, now goes to the Judicial Conference. If approved, it would be transmitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, which would then submit it to Congress. Unless Congress disapproved it, the rule would take effect Dec. 1, 2025. The committee also has approved a proposal designed to strengthen disclosure rules for those who fund friend-of-the-court briefs. That proposed change, which is expected to be controversial, will be subject to a public comment period. Reuters reports on both actions.

If you missed the TBA’s Corporate Counsel Forum, the video from each of the sessions is now available to watch on demand through our 1-Click Package. This year’s program topics included how the Corporate Transparency Act affects in-house counsel, guiding a company through a government investigation, the recent FTC guidance on non-competes and no-poaching agreements, and what in-house counsel needs to know about the parent/subsidiary relationship. Access the package here.

Hard-to-break passwords are either long, complex, or both. Don’t expect to remember them all. Use this chart to pick a password manager that will do the remembering for you, as well as help create secure new passwords. Access this and other resources in the Opening a Firm section of TBA’s Law Practice Management Center.

The TBA’s Court Square Series is back with programming in Chattanooga on July 12. The three-hour session will feature Judge Marie Williams talking about courtroom best practices, Judge Barry Steelman discussing criminal law and Rob Malin providing an update on estate planning. Other participants include Judge Michael Dumitru, Judge Kathryn Sell and Brennan Wingerter with the District Public Defenders Conference. The Court Square Series is intended to bring top speakers to local legal communities and foster relationships and collegiality among lawyers across the state.

New lawyers were welcomed to the legal profession at swearing ceremonies in Memphis and Jackson this month. Representatives from the TBA and local bar associations were on hand to congratulate the new admittees. See photos from the events.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and 20 other state attorneys general have sent a letter to the American Bar Association (ABA) demanding the group immediately stop requiring law schools, as part of the accreditation process, to comply with Standard 206, which addresses diversity and inclusion in hiring and admissions. The standard requires that schools show a “commitment to diversity and inclusion by having a faculty and staff that are diverse with respect to gender, race, and ethnicity.” The group argues that requirement runs afoul of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has issued an order soliciting comments on a proposed change to Rule 31(15)(a)(5) of the Rules of the Tennessee Supreme Court. On May 16, the Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission filed a petition asking the court to consider adopting an amendment to provide a training waiver to mediators whose credentials have lapsed. Comments on the proposed change should be submitted by Aug. 2 and reference Docket #ADM2024-00714. Comments should be emailed to Clerk James Hivner or mailed to 100 Supreme Court Building, 401 7th Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37219.

The Tennessee Supreme Court is giving Hamilton County lawyer Jennifer Yates Stickley extra time to complete required CLE hours. On April 5, Stickley filed a petition for reinstatement from inactive status. The Board of Professional Responsibility stated that it had no objection to reinstatement but noted outstanding obligations with the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education. On April 16, the court issued an order that the petition would be dismissed if requirements were not met by May 31. On May 29, the commission reported that Stickley had “nearly satisfied” the requirements but likely would not complete all necessary steps by the deadline. In light of her compliance efforts, the court granted an extension of the deadline to July 1.