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Federal Judge Rules Immigration Agents Violated Rights of Detained Juveniles

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 30, 2017
A judge ruled this week that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials have been violating the rights of detained immigrant juveniles, the ABA Journal reports. Los Angeles federal district judge Dolly Gee found that some facilities fail to meet the standards set by a 1997 settlement, with infractions such as spotty access to clean water, insufficient food, poor sleeping conditions and intentional use of air conditioning to create very cold temperatures. The ruling also found instances of juveniles being detained for longer than the allowed 20-day waiting period.

Prosecutors Drop Charges Against Teens Accused of Starting Gatlinburg Wildfire

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 30, 2017
Prosecutors have dropped charges against two Anderson County teens accused of setting the deadly Gatlinburg wildfires, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. Defense attorney Gregory P. Isaacs said the state can’t prove that the boys, both underage, caused the fire. The boys were hiking a trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and tossing lit matches onto the ground around the trail on Nov. 23, five days before the blaze overtook the area. Another hiker captured the scene on camera.

Deadline Tomorrow for ABA Law Day Award Submissions

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 29, 2017
Tomorrow, June 30, is the deadline for submissions to the 2017 American Bar Association Law Day Awards. The awards highlight the best programs that promote public understanding of law and integrate this year’s theme, “The 14th Amendment: Transforming American Democracy.” Categories include best student/classroom program, best public/community program and best interpretation of the theme. Download an entry form here.

Trump Nominates Belmont Law Professor for U.S. Attorney

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 29, 2017
Belmont University law professor Donald Cochran has been nominated by President Donald Trump to become the next U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, The Tennessean reports. The appointment is pending U.S. Senate confirmation. Before joining the faculty at Belmont, Cochran worked as a federal prosecutor in Alabama, during which he successfully aided in the high-profile prosecution of Ku Klux Klan members that orchestrated the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. 

Task Force on Juvenile Justice Holds First Meeting

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 29, 2017
The newly formed bipartisan Ad Hoc Tennessee Blue Ribbon Task Force on Juvenile Justice, chaired by Speaker of the House Beth Harwell and Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, held its first meeting today. The task force is comprised of representation from Gov. Haslam’s office, legislators, prosecutors, law enforcement, juvenile court officials and representatives from key state agencies. Following a comprehensive study of Tennessee’s juvenile justice system, the group will create a series of recommendations. It will soon begin the compilation and review of data that will hopefully result in the enactment of effective juvenile justice reforms based on its recommendations as soon as the 2018 legislative session.

Federal Practice Seminar 2017: Suing the Government

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 29, 2017

On July 27, the 2017 Federal Practice Seminar will be held at the Bar Center. This year's annual forum will focus on best practices when you find yourself suing the federal, state or local government. Attendees will hear from both plaintiff lawyers experienced in bringing suit and defense lawyers who represent and defend the government. The seminar will also cover lawsuits brought under the Federal Torts Claims Act and Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act.

Football Players’ Attorneys Urge TSC Not to Review Ruling Seen as Victory for Rights of Accused

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 29, 2017
Defense attorneys for two former University of Tennessee football players accused of rape are urging the Tennessee Supreme Court not to review a lower court ruling that was a victory for those accused across the state, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. The ruling from the state Court of Criminal Appeals allowed the football players’ defense to access what their accuser and her friends said via text and social media before and after the accusations were made. Assistant Attorney General Nicholas Spangler wants the justices to review the case and allow prosecutors to be the gatekeepers for what the defense gets to see.

Trial for Former Pilot Executives Could Take Up to Six Weeks

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 29, 2017
The federal trial of eight former Pilot employees accused of involvement in a scheme to cheat customers out of promised discounts and rebates could take up to six weeks, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. Senior U.S. District Judge Curtis L. Collier on Thursday approved moving the trial to Chattanooga, instead of having the trial in Pilot’s headquarters city of Knoxville, as well as approved attorney requests to begin proceedings on Oct. 31. Pilot has paid $92 million in federal penalties and $85 million on a class-action settlement with 5,500 trucking companies.

State Department Adopting Guidelines to Define ‘Family Ties’ for Travel Ban Exemptions

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 29, 2017
The U.S. State Department has reportedly adopted guidelines to define which immigrants are exempt from the Trump administration’s recently reinstated travel ban, the ABA Journal reports. The guidelines say that immigrants with close family or business ties to the United States will be allowed to enter, as required by the Supreme Court ruling that allowed the ban to take effect. The guidelines define close family as a parent (including an in-law), spouse, child (including in-laws), and sibling (including stepsibling or half-sibling). It does not include grandparent, aunt, uncle, grandchild, niece, nephew, cousin or a fiancé. Also allowed are those who have a relationship with a U.S. entity that is “formal, documented, and formed in the ordinary course, rather than for the purpose of evading” the ban.

Controversial Immigration Ordinance Dead in Nashville

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 28, 2017
Metro Nashville Councilmembers sponsoring the “Nashville Together” immigration ordinance will withdraw their bills after Mayor Megan Barry called on the council to rethink the legislation, The Tennessean reports. The legislation sought to prevent Metro from using city funds and facilities to enforce federal immigration law unless the action was accompanied by a federal warrant signed by a judge. Metro Director of Law Jon Cooper issued a legal opinion that said the ordinance is not enforceable.
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