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New Laws Taking Effect July 1

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 27, 2017
WKRN has a roundup of new laws that will take effect July 1. The new laws include the “Tennessee Hearing Protection Act of 2017,” which allows silencers on guns, a bill aimed at protestors that will prohibit the blocking of public streets, and tougher rules for public employees who commit misdemeanor offenses during their employment. Additionally there are now harsher fines for convicted voter fraud, increased sentencing for people convicted of violence against police officers, and a rule allowing nurses to treat minors for STDs without parental consent.

Nashville Director of Law Says Immigration Ordinance Not Enforceable

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 27, 2017
An opinion from Metro Nashville’s Director of Law has the mayor asking the council to reconsider a controversial immigration ordinance proposed by the Metro Council, The Tennessean reports. Director of Law Jon Cooper said in an opinion that under state law the Metro Council cannot prevent the Nashville sheriff from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. Mayor Megan Barry said in a statement that the council should rethink the bill, which advanced on first reading last week. The “Nashville Together” ordinance would prohibit Nashville from using local resources to assist in enforcing federal immigration laws.

Shelby County Commission Opposes Ending Federal Oversight of Juvenile Court

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 27, 2017
The Shelby County Commission approved a resolution last night opposing the end of federal oversight of the Memphis-Shelby County Juvenile Court, the Memphis Daily News reports. Last week County Mayor Mark Luttrell and other officials sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions asking for relief from the five years of Justice Department oversight. Commission chairman Melvin Burgess expressed dismay that commissioners were not informed of the plans for the request and lamented that no one involved in the decision making was a person of color. Luttrell said that he will veto the resolution.

Republican National Committee to Hold Annual Meeting in Tennessee

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 27, 2017
The Republican National Committee will hold its annual summer meeting in Nashville the year, the Nashville Post reports. The event will be held at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel Aug. 22 - 25, and will welcome members, staff and party leadership. Keynote speakers have not yet been announced, but similar events this year have hosted big names, such as U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.

Journalist Must Admit to Embellishing Articles to Sue Over Infringement for Tupac Biopic

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 27, 2017
In order to sue a movie studio for copyright infringement, journalist Kevin Powell must admit that he embellished articles he wrote for Vibe magazine about the life of rapper Tupac Shakur without the late musician’s permission, The Hollywood Reporter reports. While true details about Shakur's life should be considered a part of the public domain, in a complaint filed in New York federal court on Friday, Powell admits to having made up a character that was based on a real-life figure in the rapper’s life. The suit alleges that the character, as well as other details from Powell’s articles, were lifted by Lionsgate Films for the Shakur biopic All Eyez on Me.

To Avoid State Takeover, Hawkins County OKs Wheel Tax

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 27, 2017
The Hawkins County Commission, recently threatened with a state takeover for failure to produce a balanced budget, has passed a $40 wheel tax increase, the Kingsport Times News reports. The vote doesn’t save the county from takeover just yet, however, as the voters of Hawkins County could potentially petition to require a special election referendum to put the tax increase on the ballot. The county had a July 1 deadline to balance the budget to avoid state interference.

Judge Lifts Blackout on Gatlinburg Wildfire Records

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 27, 2017
Government records on the handling of the Gatlinburg wildfire can now be released to the public by order of Judge Jeff Rader, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. Records were kept under wraps for weeks, even after the ruling, which was prompted by the state attorney general’s request for clarification on what records the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency could release about the deadly blaze. The only details the judge barred from release are the names of the two teenage boys accused of starting the fire.

3rd Vandy Football Player Found Guilty; Lawyer Says Judge Should Review Verdict

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 26, 2017
Brandon Banks, the third former Vanderbilt football player to go to trial for a 2013 rape, was found guilty of two of seven charges on Friday, WKRN reports. He was found guilty of one count of aggravated rape and one count of aggravated sexual battery, which could get him 15 years in prison. The Tennessean reports that lawyer Mark Scruggs will ask the judge to consider whether the jury’s verdicts were inconsistent in the case, claiming that jurors did not understand the “aggravated element” of the charges.

ABA Launches Homeless Youth Legal Network

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 26, 2017
The American Bar Association today announced the creation of the Homeless Youth Legal Network, spearheaded by the ABA Commission on Homelessness & Poverty, Commission on Youth at Risk, and Section of Litigation Children’s Rights Litigation Committee. The network aims to serve homeless youth seeking legal assistance, help service providers working with homeless youth and train lawyers who want to help. The ABA will base some of the network’s practices on 12 model programs from across the country.

One Day Before Whistleblower Protections Signed, Memphis VA Whistleblower Fired

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 26, 2017
One day before President Donald Trump signed a new law protecting whistleblowers at Veterans Affairs facilities, one such whistleblower in Memphis was fired, The Commercial Appeal reports. The Memphis VA alleges Sean Higgins demonstrated “disruptive behavior,” but Higgins claims the firing was in retaliation from administrators who he had accused of unethical behavior. 
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