The Court of Criminal Appeals today ruled it would not overturn a lower court's decision denying a venue change for Metro police officer Andrew Delke, the Tennessean reports. Delke was charged with murder in 2018 after he opened fire on Daniel Hambrick who was running away from him during a foot chase. In today’s decision, the court refused to intervene in the middle of the state court proceedings. Nashville Judge Monte Watkins originally denied the venue change request, but later granted Delke the opportunity to appeal that decision. Delke and his defense team claim he was acting in self-defense. He has pleaded not guilty.

In its first bill of the new legislative session, the state Senate passed a measure that would protect religious adoption agencies if they choose to discriminate against same-sex couples, the Tennessean reports. The bill states that no licensed adoption agency would be forced to participate in child placement if it were to “violate the agency's written religious or moral convictions or policies." It also protects the agency from lawsuits for refusing placement based on religious objections and from being denied a license or grant application for public funds because of such a refusal. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Paul Rose, R-Covington, and was passed 20-6, with five Republican members declining to vote.

The lynchings of two African Americans in Jackson during the late 1800s will be recognized with a historical marker on the Madison County courthouse lawn, AP News reports. The Madison County commission initially rejected the marker, but approved it in August thanks to efforts by the Jackson-Madison County Community Remembrance Project, led by University of Tennessee-Martin professor Cindy Boyles, other educators, private citizens, church leaders and the Equal Justice Initiative. The marker will recognize Eliza Woods, who was lynched on the courthouse lawn after being falsely accused of murder in 1886, and John Brown, who was removed from jail by a mob and lynched on the same lawn in 1891. A dedication ceremony for the marker will take place in April.

Rep. David Byrd, R-Waynesboro, today confirmed that he will not seek reelection, the Tennessean reports. Though Byrd announced this decision during a closed-door GOP caucus meeting in August, he remained quiet on the subject, prompting rumors that he had changed his mind. He confirmed the decision today with the Tennessean, saying “at this point I’m still not running”. Byrd has faced calls for resignation since 2018 when he was accused of sexually assaulting three women when they were underage in the 1980s. Byrd has never publicly denied the allegations.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee will host two general advice clinics this week in Johnson City and Kingsport. The Johnson City clinic will take place tomorrow from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the American Legion, 409 E. Market St. The Kingsport clinic will be held on Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the United Steel Worker’s Building, 243 E. Charlemont Ave.

The TBA’s Immigration Law Winter Forum on March 9 will provide updates and trending issues in immigration and an overview of the many procedural and policy changes that have taken place during the last few years. The program offers 4.5 hours of CLE and begins at 9 a.m. at the Tennessee Bar Center in Nashville. Get registered here.

This month's episode of the TBA BarBuzz podcast is now available. BarBuzz is a monthly show from the TBA Podcast Network that recaps legal happenings from across Tennessee, upcoming events at the bar, attorney shout outs and more. Other shows in the network include Sidebar, a podcast featuring human interest stories from Tennessee attorneys, HealthyBar, which focuses on attorney well being, and TBA YLD Presents: War Stories. All shows are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn and the TBA's website. Simply search the show's title or "Tennessee Bar Association" wherever you listen to podcasts.

The war stories of great lawyers can be funny, dramatic, sad or downright strange and the TBA's Young Lawyers Division is bringing them all to you with the new podcast: TBA YLD Presents: War Stories. Catch the trailer for this new show that will feature young lawyers and storytellers from across the state and stay tuned for episode one, premiering next week on the Tennessee Bar Association Podcast Network. It also will be available on the TBA's website or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Former Savannah city manager Garry Welch has announced his bid for the GOP nomination to represent House District 71, TNJ: On the Hill reports. That is the seat currently held by Rep. David Byrd, R-Waynesboro, who recently told colleagues he would not seek reelection amid allegations of sexual misconduct with teenage girls in the 1980’s. Welch, who retired in 2018 after serving 12 years as city manager, says he is well qualified to represent the district, which covers all of Hardin, Lewis and Wayne counties and part of Lawrence County.

Ahead of a special report on the legal industry being published tomorrow, the Nashville Business Journal spoke with local lawyers, asking them, “What employee perk sets your firm apart?” The list ranged from ghosts to extra days off. DarKenya Waller of Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands, for example, applauds LAS’ parental leave policy, while Charles Robert Bone talks up Bone McAllester Norton’s “Summer Fun Days.” Check out the NBJ slideshow with responses from 14 attorneys.