A new documentary from Al Jazeera English’s “Fault Lines” will explore juvenile sentencing in Tennessee, which leads the U.S. in longest mandatory jail sentences for juveniles convicted of murder, the Tennessee Lookout reports. “51 Years Behind Bars” will highlight the case of Almeer Nance, who is serving a mandatory minimum 51 years in prison for an armed robbery in Knoxville that left a man dead in 1996, when Nance was 16 years old. The Tennessee Supreme Court is currently considering a challenge to the 51-year mandatory minimum sentence for juveniles convicted of murder. The 25-minute documentary is available on YouTube.

The Tennessee Supreme Court will now make the final decision on whether Robbie Starbuck will be allowed back onto the ballot in the 5th Congressional District Republican primary, the Tennessean reports. Davidson County Chancellor Russell Perkins ruled last week that the party’s private meeting to remove Starbuck from the ballot violated the state’s open meetings act. That decision was appealed by the Secretary of State’s office. The high court yesterday temporarily blocked Perkins’ ruling and gave Starbuck’s lawyers until this morning to file a response. The justices will conduct an expedited review of the case. In a previous lawsuit, the Secretary of State’s office said June 10 was the deadline to finalize ballots. Early voting starts July 15.

Congress will tonight begin its committee hearings on the events leading up to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, WPLN reports. Nearly 20 Tennesseans have been charged for their part in the insurrection against certifying the 2020 presidential election. Several are still awaiting sentencing. Most of those who have been sentenced are facing three years of probation after pleading to a misdemeanor. One man, Nicholas Brockhoff, who was seen spraying officers with a fire extinguisher before entering the Capitol through a broken window, has remained behind bars since May 2021. WPLN has the status of each Tennessean who has been charged.

The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday voted 223-204 to pass gun reform legislation following a rash of mass shootings across the country, including the recent elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, WPLN reports. The “Protecting Our Kids Act” raises the minimum age to purchase many semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21, establishes new restrictions on selling large-capacity ammunition magazines and compensates local governments for buyback programs among other reforms. Five Republicans crossed party lines and voted in favor of the bill. Tennessee’s two Democratic representatives voted for the bill and all seven of the state’s Republican representatives voted against it. The bill is not expected to pass the Senate, where a more modest reform measure is under discussion.

After a lengthy debate, the Shelby County Commission has voted to fund a new voting system for the November general election, the Associated Press reports. Commissioners voted 9-4 to approve $5.8 million for the new system, which will let voters choose between paper ballots marked by hand or updated digital touchscreen machines that produce a paper readout. The Election Commission has sued the county over the voting system issue, arguing the current system is down to three servers which might not survive the August election. County Commissioner Van Turner had argued it was too late to change the system before the next election. The machines will be purchased from Election Systems & Software, or ES&S.

The City of Franklin is seeking a city judge to render legal decisions and administer the city’s municipal court. The city judge will be able to continue to practice law and pursue other business interests to the extent permitted under the Code of Judicial Conduct. The judge will try all persons charged with violation of the ordinances of the city and shall have the power to levy fines, penalties, and forfeitures not exceeding $50, to administer oaths and to punish for contempt by fine and/or imprisonment in cases provided for in Title 29, Chapter 9 of the Tennessee Code Annotated. This is a four-year appointment that will be confirmed by ordinance of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Court experience and a minimum of 10 year’s experience practicing law is preferred. The TBA’s JobLink page has details on how to apply. Check out the full list of job openings from JobLink.  

Programming from this year’s Corporate Counsel Forum is available online as a 1-Click CLE package. The package, worth four hours of general CLE credit, includes updates in labor and employment law, administrative law changes, a discussion of intellectual property and more. Buy this package now or browse all of TBA CLE’s 1-Click Packages.

Next up from the Communications Team, meet Technical Systems Administrator Dave Bevis! If it requires a phone or a computer at the TBA, Dave’s your guy! When he’s not maintaining, developing and supporting the computer and comms systems at the TBA, Dave’s special hobby is woodworking, or as some of his co-workers might say, “buying woodworking equipment.”

The #TeamTBA series offers members a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the TBA and how each staff members makes the association run. Check back every Wednesday for a new staff profile in TBA Today and on the TBA's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

The Tennessee Republican Party is appealing last week’s decision to reinstate 5th Congressional District hopeful Robby Starbuck to the primary ballot, the Murfreesboro Post reports. Davidson County Chancellor Russell Perkins ruled last week that the party’s private meeting to remove Starbuck from the ballot violated the state’s open meetings act. He ordered Starbuck’s name be returned to the ballot. The Court of Appeals must first decide if they will hear the appeal and then potentially hear the case this week. The deadline to finalize ballots for the Aug. 4 primary is Friday.

The Legal Aid of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (LAS) raised more than $127,000 during its Breakfast of Champions fundraiser on April 6. The money raised will help LAS ensure Middle Tennesseans have access to the justice system, overcome unfair circumstances and receive equal justice under the law. Jennifer Kraus, weekend news anchor for Nashville’s NewsChannel 5, hosted the event, which featured powerful personal statements from several LAS clients and a keynote address from former Tennessee Titans football player Eddie George, who spoke on leadership, adversity and what it means to be a champion. Read more about the event from LAS.