The Nashville Metro Planning Department released on Friday two possible redistricting maps to satisfy legislation that requires Davidson County’s 40-member Metro Council to cut back to 20 members. One option would seat 17 district councilmembers with three countywide at-large representatives, while the other would seat 15 district council members with five at-large representatives. A public hearing on the proposals will be held April 4, according to the Nashville Post. While continuing to work toward a solution, the metro government has asked the courts for a temporary injunction, arguing the law is unconstitutional and requires unrealistic deadlines.

A federal appeals court in New Orleans last week upheld a district court judge's ruling blocking enforcement of President Joe Biden's 2021 executive order, which required all federal employees to take a COVID-19 vaccine. The Associated Press reports that the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected arguments that Biden, as the nation’s chief executive, has the same authority as the CEO of a private corporation. The ruling from the full court reversed an earlier ruling by a three-judge panel that had upheld the vaccination requirement. Biden issued the order in September 2021. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown issued a nationwide injunction the following January.

The Women’s Political Collaborative of Tennessee will celebrate 50 years of action on Wednesday with an event and awards presentation. The event will take place beginning at 5:30 p.m. CDT at the Woolworth Theater, 223 Rep. John Lewis Way N., Nashville 37219. Nashville lawyer Margaret Behm with Dodson Parker Behm and Capparella will be honored with the group’s inaugural Barbara Haynes Lifetime Achievement Award, which is named for the city’s first female general sessions court judge. Legislative Advocate Awards will be presented to La Quita Martin and Jenny Ford, and Community Advocate Awards will be presented to Metro Councilwoman Tanaka Vercher and Joyce Searcy. Learn more or register online.

Belmont University recently received the 2023-2024 Silver Military Friendly School designation for the ninth consecutive year. The designation recognizes support for veterans and military-affiliated students who attend the university. Within the College of Law, a unique intersectionality exists for military-affiliated students, the school reports. A recent release highlights students who are earning their law degrees while serving in the armed forces. Read more to learn more about a 2L who is a student judge advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps, a 3L who is attending law school through the Air Force’s Funded Legal Education Program and a recent graduate who served in the U.S. Army Reserve while earning his degree.

ABA Day 2023 is back in person this week in the nation’s capital. TBA President Tasha Blakney, President-elect Jim Barry, YLD President Brittany Faith, ABA Resource Committee Chair Jonathan Cole and Interim Executive Director Barry Kolar are in Washington, D.C., through Wednesday to build relationships with new House and Senate members and advocate for issues important to lawyers. The group has heard from ABA leaders on issues to be discussed in legislative meetings and from the Legal Services Corporation about the need to increase access to civil legal services. See the full schedule for the week.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue will hold a free webinar Tuesday at 9 a.m. CDT for people interested in learning more about the state's business tax for contractors. The session will cover business tax and licensing for in-state and out-out-state contractors. The webinar is one in a series of educational sessions held by the department each month. Learn more or register.

Memphis lawyer Edward J. "Ed" McKenney Jr. with Harris|Shelton|Hanover|Walsh has received the 2023 Distinguished Municipal Attorney Award from the Tennessee Municipal Attorneys Association. Award recipients are selected by the association’s membership. McKenney has been with the firm since 1979, focusing his practice on municipal law, employment law defense, education law, business litigation, personal injury and contract disputes. He is a former president and longstanding member of the association.

Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Mary Wagner has dismissed Alicia Franklin's lawsuit against the city of Memphis. The suit claimed the police department could have prevented the kidnapping and killing of Memphis teacher Eliza Fletcher if it had adequately investigated Franklin's rape allegation a year earlier. Wagner relied on the state’s “Public Duty Doctrine,” which protects government employees from being sued for their actions or inactions, the Commercial Appeal reports. Franklin alleges that she was raped by Cleotha Henderson (also known as Abston) in September 2021. Her rape kit was tested a year later only after Henderson’s DNA was identified in connection with Fletcher’s death. Days after he was arrested in the Fletcher case, Henderson was indicted for abducting and raping Franklin.

The Nashville Metro Planning Department today released two possible redistricting maps to satisfy legislation that requires Davidson County’s 40-member Metro Council to cut back to 20 members. One option would seat 17 district councilmembers with three countywide at-large representatives, while the other would seat 15 district council members with five at-large representatives. A public hearing on the proposals will be held April 4, according to the Nashville Post. While continuing to work toward a solution, the metro government has asked the courts for a temporary injunction, arguing the law is unconstitutional and requires unrealistic deadlines.

State Sen. Raumesh Akbari and Rep. GA Hardaway, Democrats from Memphis, have introduced legislation to create a pilot program that would allow juvenile court judges in Davidson and Shelby counties to keep someone in the juvenile court system until they are 24. The legislation is supported by Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon, who says extending jurisdiction to those in their mid-20s would provide greater opportunities for rehabilitation. Sugarmon’s predecessor, Dan Michael, unsuccessfully tried to convince the state legislature to increase the age to 25. Action News 5 has the story.