The activist at the center of the fight to remove the Nathan Bedford Forrest bust from the state Capitol filed papers Monday to challenge Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Nashville, in the 2020 democratic primary, the Nashville Post reports. In February during a protest over the Bedford Forrest bust, Jones, 24, was arrested and charged with assault after allegedly throwing a paper cup into an elevator occupied by then-House Speaker Glen Casada. Cooper has served in Congress for nearly three decades. 

U.S. Attorney General William Barr will be in Memphis tomorrow to announce the launch of Project Guardian — a nationwide plan to reduce gun violence, the Daily Memphian reports. He’ll be joined by U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee Michael Dunavant and other federal officials at the press conference, which will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the Davis-Horton Federal Building, 167 N. Main St., Memphis 38103.

Rebecca Ketchie of Wilson Worley PC is the new president of the Kingsport Bar Association. Ketchie assumed the role in September, succeeding Marjorie A. Thornton of the Hanor Law Firm. Ketchie has a background in municipal law and land use planning and currently practices in Wilson Worley’s litigation section. The TBA’s website has more information on metro, local and county bar leaders.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced today that Tennessee will receive a $95 million grant to help with its public safety efforts, Fox17 reports. The grant will support violent crime reduction, opioid/substance abuse reduction efforts, school safety, victim services, transitional housing for domestic violence victims, law enforcement activities, justice mental health and juvenile justice. The TBI was given nearly $2 million, while police departments in Nashville and Memphis also received funds through the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act program for their respective office peer support programs.

A new lawsuit claims Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron overlooked a highly-qualified candidate for the position of Probation and Recovery Court director and chose instead to hire County Commissioner Steve Ervin, described in the lawsuit as “woefully unqualified”. Former Recovery Court counselor Melissa Kilpatrick filed the suit in October and claims that, while she was the more qualified candidate, she was denied the promotion because she is a woman. The lawsuit also alleges that, after Kilpatrick made a formal complaint against Ervin for sexist remarks, she faced retaliation by “being terminated for inability to get along with others.” Kilpatrick is seeking $750,000, attorney’s fees, litigation costs and a court order naming her to the director’s position, replacing Ervin. Read more at the Daily News Journal. 

The Career Services Office of Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law in Knoxville this week opened its fall Career Closet, a collection of “like new” suits and professional clothing given by Tennessee attorneys and judges. LMU law students are encouraged to shop the closet for clothing they may need for interviews or job opportunities, free of charge. More than 30 law students shopped the fall Career Closet, which will now close until the spring. Donations will be needed in the new year. For more information, email Law.CareerServices@lmunet.edu.

The Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville (ABC) announced today the addition of new board members and officers. Kirsten Jacobson, staff attorney at the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, and Devon Holbrook, associate at Bass, Berry & Sims PLC, were appointed to the organization's board of directors. Kelly Frey, partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, was named vice chair for the 2019-2020 term. ABC also hosts a Young Leaders Council intern each year and Kara Johnson of the Tennessee Attorney General’s office will serve in that role.

New for 2019 and brought to you by the TBA’s Federal Practice Section, the Federal Practice Winter Forum will take place Dec. 3 at the Tennessee Bar Center. The program will include a judges panel and sessions on prosecutorial discretion and criminal justice, executive clemency, and criminal justice reform. Earn up to three hours of CLE credit (2 general and 1 dual).

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, and HealthyBar, which focuses on attorney well being. All three 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.

An ongoing insurance fraud investigation has resulted in the arrest of Kelsey Ketron on three sealed indicments from a Rutherford County grand jury. Ketron is a former state Republican party executive committeewoman and daughter of Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron. The charges stem from Ketron’s practices when she was vice president of Universal International Insurance, owned by her father. She faces more than 70 separate felony charges, including 30 counts of impersonating a licensed professional, 14 counts of money laundering and 12 counts of aggravated perjury. Ketron resigned from her state post and the insurance company after her home and offices were searched by local and federal law enforcement agencies. She is set to appear before a judge on Nov. 25. Read the full story at the Tennessean.