A former Tennessee state representative is challenging the dismissal of his open records case dealing with an investigation into his alleged workplace harassment, Tennessee Lookout reports. Scotty Campbell, a Johnson City Republican, resigned from the legislature in April 2023 amid accusations he harassed two legislative interns. He has denied the harassment allegations and sued the director of legislative staff seeking access to documents related to his resignation. The case was dismissed in March on the grounds it was essentially the same as a separate public records suit filed by another party. Campbell argues that he is not acquainted with the other filer, and thus, the cases should be handled separately. A hearing is set for June 21.

Former Johnson County Judge Perry Stout was sentenced to a year in jail after pleading guilty to moneylaundering and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, WJHL reports. Stout, who waived his right to a trial in January, also was sentenced to seven years of probation. While serving his jail sentence, Stout will not be eligible for work release. Stout previously admitted to helping fund a marijuana trafficking operation, and to using profits to fund his 2022 judicial campaign. He resigned as a general sessions and juvenile court judge in June 2023.

You do not want to miss the Bench Bar Program at this year’s TBA Convention! Set for June 13 at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, the program’s first panel will focus on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is impacting the practice of law in Tennessee. Join TBA's AI Task Force Chair A.J. Bahou, a partner in the Nashville office of Bradley Arant Bout Cummings; Zack Glaser with The Lawyerist; and 16th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Jimmy Turner to gain insights into this rapidly developing technology. A second panel then will dig into the ethical considerations of AI. Hear from Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sarah Campbell, Memphis lawyer Brian Faughnan with Faughnan Law and Nashville lawyer Kim Looney with K&L Gates. Thanks to Nashville lawyer Mary Beard and TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright for agreeing to moderate these panels. Be sure to check out all the educational programs at this year’s Convention. Still need to register? Get started here.

A bill requiring social media companies to verify the age of their account holders and force minors to get parental permission has been signed by Gov. Bill Lee, Fox Chattanooga reports. HB1891/SB2097, known as the “Protecting Children from Social Media Act,” requires anyone under the age of 18 to get consent from a parent or guardian to create a social media account. For those who have already created accounts, the companies will have to verify parental consent or block access to the accounts.

A Texas federal judge has stayed a lawsuit by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups that are challenging the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) near-total ban on employee noncompete agreements. U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker said that under the "first to file rule," a nearly identical lawsuit filed by tax service firm Ryan a day earlier should proceed first. Reuters reports on the decision.

Law firms are off to a strong start in 2024 after a lackluster 2023, Reuters reports. New data shows that demand for legal services was up 1.9% in the first quarter of this year over the first three months of 2023. Billing rates also continued to rise with a 6.6% increase in the first quarter compared with a year ago. Get these and other trends in Thomson Reuters Institute’s Law Firm Financial Index, which tracks key financial metrics across 186 large and midsize law firms.

Well-Being Week in Law kicks off today with an emphasis on physical well-being and staying strong. Goals include engaging in regular activity, adopting good diet and nutrition, getting enough sleep, limiting addictive substances, seeking help for physical health when needed and trying out a new physical activity. Get suggestions for implementing today's goals and inspire others by posting about your efforts with the hashtag #WellbeingWeekInLaw. Stay tuned for more well-being tips and resources throughout this week.

A number of lawyers have been reinstated to active or inactive status after being suspended for various administrative violations. They include 14 who had been suspended for CLE violations: 12 in 2023, one in 2022 and one in 2017; 14 who had not paid the professional privilege tax: 13 in 2023 and one in 2020; and 30 who had not paid the annual Board of Professional Responsibility fee: six in 2024, 15 in 2023, three in 2022, two in 2021, one in 2020, one in 2019, one in 2018 and one in 2009. See updated lists at the links above.

Cookeville attorney Laura Dykes will be honored next month with the Tennessee Bar Association’s Fifth Annual Claudia Jack Award. Named for the late Claudia Jack, a long-time champion of the poor and underprivileged and a public defender in Maury County, the award is presented to an outstanding public defender or court-appointed private practitioner who serves the legal community and clients in an exemplary fashion. Dykes has served as an assistant public defender for the past 35 years, working first in the Metro Davidson County office, then joining the 13th Judicial Office in Cookeville after her retirement in Nashville. In both of those positions, Dykes has been recognized for ethically and zealously defending clients. The award will be presented at the TBA Annual Convention in Memphis on June 14 during the Lawyers’ Luncheon. Read more in the TBA’s press release.

Missy Crutchfield is seeking to win the state Senate District 10 seat once held by her father, Ward Crutchfield, Chattanoogan.com reports. She is running as the lone Democratic candidate. In the Republican primary, incumbent Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, is being challenged by former Red Bank Commissioner Ed LeCompte. Crutchfield touts her work as vice president of Chattanooga State Community College, assistant to the chancellor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and administrator of the Chattanooga Department of Education, Arts & Culture. The primary is Aug. 1.