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Trump Nominee for Civil Rights Chief Defended Corporations in Discrimination Suits

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jul 3, 2017
Eric Dreiband, a Jones Day partner who defended companies like R.J. Reynolds and Abercrombie & Fitch in discrimination lawsuits, has been picked by the Trump administration to become the chief of the Justice Department’s civil rights division. The ABA Journal reports that Dreiband, a former Bush administration official in the Labor Department, was not a popular choice among civil rights activists. Vanita Gupta, former head of the division during the Obama administration, said he was “woefully unqualified” for the job.

Supreme Court to Review Sports Betting

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jul 3, 2017
The U.S. Supreme Court will take on New Jersey’s fight against the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, a federal law that redistricts legal sports betting to Nevada, ESPN reports. The state passed a referendum in 2011 in support of legalized sports betting but was sued by the NCAA, NBA, NFL, NHA and Major League Baseball to halt it. The Court’s decision could have wide-reaching repercussions if it were to side with New Jersey.

Former ‘Amazing Race’ Contestant to Challenge Rep. Marsha Blackburn

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jul 3, 2017
A film writer and producer from Williamson County has emerged to challenge U.S. House Rep. Marsha Blackburn for the 7th Congressional District seat, The Tennessean reports. Justin Kanew, a former contestant on “The Amazing Race,” will run as a Democrat. Kanew said it was the ongoing battle over health care that made him step up to take on the longtime incumbent. "This is exactly the kind of thing that shows there are people putting corporations and the wealthy ahead of the people of Tennessee,” Kanew said of the Republican health care plan.

U.S. House Budget Proposal Would Cut LSC by 24%

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jul 3, 2017
The proposed budget for fiscal year 2018 from the U.S. House of Representatives includes money for the Legal Services Corporation but cuts its funding by 24 percent, the ABA Journal reports. It is a departure from the Trump administration’s budget, which slashes LSC funding entirely. The House budget also includes big increases in funding for immigration enforcement, with a $64.5 million hike for the Executive Office for Immigration Review and an extra $82 million for the U.S. Marshals Service to support an increased detainee population.

Hargett Denies Trump Request for Detailed Voter Data

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 30, 2017
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett has rejected a Trump administration request for detailed voter data, The Tennessean reports. In a letter from the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity sent to all 50 states, a host of information was requested from each state, including election security and voter data. Kris Kobach, vice chair of the commission, asked that states share the name of all registered voters, their address, date of birth, political party, the last four digits of their social security number and voting history.

Middle Tennessee U.S. Attorney Secures $2.7 Million False Claims Settlement

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 30, 2017
The acting U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee reached a settlement with Innovative Therapies and its parent company, Cardinal Health, in a $2.7 million False Claims Act case, the Nashville Post reports. The company was accused by a whistleblower of marketing and billing a product as “durable medical equipment,” even though the product did not meet standards for a durable device. The whistleblower in the case will receive $488,700 under the terms of the False Claims Act.

Knox Co. Sheriff Approved for ICE Partnership

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 30, 2017
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office has entered into a partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to act on its behalf, WBIR reports. The agreement is a part of the controversial 287 (g) program that critics say leads to significantly higher deportations for minor offenses. Knox County Sheriff JJ Jones believes it will make the Knox County detention facility more efficient. The agreement was signed on June 15 and is valid until June 2019.

Tennessee, 9 Other States Threaten Suit Over Immigrants Brought to U.S. as Children

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 30, 2017
Attorney General Herbert Slatery has joined nine other state attorneys general and one governor in signing a letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions urging the Trump administration to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which allows young immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally as children to stay in the country. The Tennessean reports that the signees threaten to challenge the program if the federal government does not agree to phase it out.

Matheny Running for 6th District Congressional Seat

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 30, 2017
State Rep. Judd Matheny (R-Tullahoma), who previously declared he would run for U.S. Congress only if incumbent Rep. Diane Black did not seek reelection, has announced he will run for the 6th District seat regardless, Humphrey on the Hill reports. Matheny said in a statement that he believes the “federal government must not be allowed to dictate Tennessee’s definition of marriage, our bathroom policies or the makings of a school lunch.” He promises to hire a full time staffer in Nashville to work with the Tennessee General Assembly on a day-to-day basis.

TBI Investigating Death of Man Who Died in Cookeville Police Custody

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 30, 2017
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is looking into the death of a man who died while in custody of the Cookeville Police Department, The Tennessean reports. The man came into contact with police after authorities received a call that he was walking along I-40. After an officer arrived, the man reportedly became combative. He was handcuffed and placed on the ground, after which he became unresponsive. Officers suspected opioid overdose and administered naloxone, but it did not revive him.
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