Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas A. Varlan announced earlier this week that Debra C. Poplin has been selected to the position of United States magistrate judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Poplin, who currently serves as clerk of court for the Eastern District, will begin her term on Feb. 13, 2018, following the retirement of Chief Magistrate Judge C. Clifford Shirley Jr. See the full press release here. 

Users of the new iPhone X from Apple will be able to unlock their phones using facial recognition technology, prompting questions from civil liberties groups about whether or not police can use the new feature to access users' information. The ABA Journal reports that, while the Riley v. California decision established that police would need a warrant to search the contents of a phone, whether they can force you to unlock it is unclear. Read the full story here. 

State Attorney General Herbert Slatery released an opinion on Wednesday that said school districts in Nashville and Shelby County must release student contact information, including student names, addresses, and years attended, to the Achievement School District (ASD). The opinion also said that while districts must give up the data, they can temporarily delay the information requests in order to allow parents to opt out. Nashville has already sent out letters alerting parents of their right to opt out. The ASD runs charter schools in Memphis and Nashville and wanted the information to market their schools to families. Education Commissioner Candice McQueen sought Slatery’s opinion after both school districts denied the request to hand over the data. Read the full story at the DNJ. 

A portrait hanging ceremony honoring Judge Todd J. Campbell will be Sept. 29 at 3:30 p.m. in Courtroom 874 of the Estes Kefauver Federal Courthouse at 801 Broadway in Nashville. Judge Campbell will be honored for his service to the court and the people of the Middle District of Tennessee. The ceremony will be followed by a reception.

Baker Donelson has announced it will begin using artificial intelligence software, Kira Systems, to help conduct due diligence for transactions and contract review analysis. Kira uses machine learning technology to help lawyers extract and analyze key provisions from structured and unstructured contracts. “A combination of innovative staffing, legal process methodology and the use of AI and other advanced technology creates the opportunity for significant advances and efficiencies in the approach to contracts," says Chief Strategic Officer Bruce C. Doeg. See the full press release here. 

Legal chatbot DoNotPay is now allowing users to file suits against credit-reporting agency Equifax, in light of last week’s news of a massive data breach, the ABA Journal reports. The online platform can help file negligence claims by walking users through a set of questions that generates a PDF they can file in small claims court. The service is free and available to the public in all 50 states. "It is particularly exciting that a lawyer is never needed in the process," Joshua Browder of DoNotPay said. "The class action lawsuit against the company will only give successful consumers around $500 (with the rest going to greedy lawyers in commissions). I hope that my product will replace those lawyers, and, with enough success, bankrupt Equifax.”

A California judge ruled Wednesday that prosecutors can proceed with money laundering charges against controversial classified advertising site Backpage.com, WSMV reports. Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Larry Brown also tossed out 15 pimping conspiracy charges, saying they cannot be filed because of a federal law protecting free speech that gives immunity to websites that post content created by others. This ruling comes months after another judge dismissed the entire case as violating free speech and federal protections. 

House Speaker Beth Harwell and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally today launched a committee to examine the potential effects of legalizing medical marijuana in Tennessee, the Tennessean reports. A letter from the two says that the Joint Ad Hoc Committee on Medical Cannabis is "authorized and directed to study, evaluate, analyze and undertake a comprehensive review regarding whether the legalization of cannabis for medicinal purposes is in the best interest of the state." The committee will be chaired by Sen. Steve Dickerson, R-Nashville, and Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby.

The Hamilton County Board of Education is asking a federal appeals court to review a ruling that it violated federal guidelines protecting students with disabilities, the Times Free Press reports. The ruling stems from a 2013 incident in which a second-grader with Downs syndrome was removed from Normal Park Elementary. Federal Judge Curtis Collier said in July that the school district violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a federal law prohibiting discrimination against those with disabilities. 

The law license of Bobby Gene Gray was transferred to disability inactive status today, pursuant to Section 27.3 of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, after he had been temporarily suspended from practice due to conduct that poses a risk of substantial harm to the public. Gray cannot practice law while on disability inactive status. He may be reinstated by the Tennessee Supreme Court upon showing clear and convincing evidence that he is fit to resume the practice of law; however, he cannot be reinstated until he has requested, and been granted, reinstatement from the temporary suspension.