Kids in Tennessee are more likely to be shuffled from one temporary home to another during their first year in foster care than foster kids living anywhere else in the nation, a new report from the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth has found. The commission, which is required by state law to issue an annual assessment of the welfare of the state’s children, writes about high levels of “foster care instability” in its latest report. Richard Kennedy, the commission’s executive director, said meeting these challenges will require more than lawmakers involvement. “We desperately need foster care homes,” he said. Tennessee Lookout explores the issue.

A series of recent surveys has found that a majority of Americans believe that U.S. Supreme Court justices let partisan views influence major rulings. Declining faith in the institution seems rooted in a growing concern that the high court is deciding cases on politics, rather than law, The Hill reports. While support for the court “sank swiftly last summer in response to Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization” decision, the anger runs deeper. “Liberals are fuming about a confluence of lucky timing and political maneuvering that enabled a Republican-controlled Senate to approve three conservative justices in four years …”. Others point to the involvement of one justice’s wife in the political arena. The news source unpacks these and other developments that have impacted public views of the court.

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, has unveiled a new tool designed to enhance public transparency in the legislative process, Chattanoogan.com reports. In announcing the tool, Sexton said the dashboard “will also give every Tennessean the same access to the legislative process as their elected officials.” Members of the public will be able to view all House committee and floor calendars, legislation, amendments and video of all House legislative initiatives. To access the dashboard visit wapp.capitol.tn.gov and then log in or create an account.

West Tennessee Legal Services (WTLS) is seeking two attorneys in its Jackson office. The first position would provide civil legal assistance to domestic violence and crime victims. Practice areas include child custody, visitation and post-divorce contempt and enforcement. The second position would involve working with sexual assault victims and LGBTQ+ domestic violence victims. Remote work is a possibility for this position. Areas of focus include orders of protection and divorces. For both positions, prior experience working with victims or low-income communities is preferred.

Save the date for the 2023 International Law Forum, set to be held in person in Nashville on March 17. The program is being produced by International Law & Practice Section Chair Joseph Prestia, an attorney in Knoxville. Watch for more information coming soon.

The 113th Tennessee General Assembly convenes tomorrow at noon CST for the first half of the two-year legislative term. Toll lanes, changes to the state abortion law and money for Memphis sports stadiums are some of the top items lawmakers will address during the new session, the Tennessean reports. The paper highlights six issues to watch and four lawmakers who likely will be making the news.

In a new blog post, Tennessee Court of Workers' Compensation Claims Judge Dale Tipps provides a basic overview of the procedures for filing settlements with the court. He reminds attorneys that the process varies from office to office due to differences in staffing and facilities and the personal preferences of the judges, but highlights four requirements that apply in all locations. Tipps also reviews form SD-2 and provides examples of frequently made mistakes. Learn more in his post.

Tennessee Republican leaders are seeking to cut the size of the Nashville Metro Council in a move seen as retribution for its rejection of a bid to host the 2024 Republican National Convention, the Nashville Post reports. House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, and Senate Finance Committee Chair Bo Watson, R- Hixson, filed legislation today that would cap the size of metropolitan and municipal legislative bodies in Tennessee at 20 members. Though Nashville is not mentioned by name, its council is the only such body in the state larger than the proposed maximum. The bill does not prescribe how the city would reduce the size of the council, currently made up of 35 district representatives and five at-large representatives.

Francis M. "Trey" Hamilton III, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, announced last week that the office collected $21 million in criminal and civil actions in 2022. The office also announced that working with partner agencies, it collected $8.3 million in asset forfeiture actions. U.S. attorneys are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States. Under federal law, funds are deposited in the Justice Department’s Crime Victims Fund and then distributed to federal and state governments to pay restitution to crime victims. Forfeited assets are deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund and then used to compensate crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes. Chattanoogan.com has the story.

The U.S. Supreme Court today rebuffed an effort by Republican state officials to revive a Trump-era policy that barred certain immigrants from gaining lawful permanent residency if they were deemed likely to require government benefits. A group of Republican state attorneys general had challenged a lower court ruling that barred them from seeking to reinstate Trump’s "public charge" rule after the Biden administration rescinded it. The current administration’s action reinstated the previous policy, which defined immigrants as public charges only when they were likely to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence. U.S. News & World Report has analysis from Reuters.