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Knox Judge Grants Woman Rights of Husband in Same-sex Divorce

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 10, 2017
A Knox County judge has granted a woman the legal rights of a husband as part of a same-sex divorce proceeding, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. In a reversal of his decision in the case last year, Judge Greg McMillan approved the divorce of Erica Witt and Sabrina Witt, and designated Erica Witt as the father of the couple’s daughter, who was conceived through artificial insemination. The ruling appears to contradict a recently passed Tennessee law that was inspired by the Witt case. That law requires courts to define terms in state law by their “natural and ordinary meaning.” 

Judge Tosses Charges for Accused Murderer at Third Trial

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 10, 2017
In a third trial for Raynella Dossett Leath, a judge threw out murder charges before a jury could decide, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. Special Judge Paul Summers waited until just before the jury was about to begin deliberation to announce that he found evidence of Leath’s guilt insufficient to even allow the jury to decide it. This is Leath’s third trial in which she stood accused of killing her second husband. The first trial ended in a hung jury. The second trial resulted in a conviction, but the results were thrown out because the judge was compromised. 

Former AG Gonzales Calls Comey Firing ‘Disappointing’

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 10, 2017
Bush-era U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said today that the firing of FBI Director James Comey was “disappointing,” the Tennessean reports. Gonzales specifically criticized the way the Trump administration chose to make the move, in which Comey reportedly heard about his own dismissal from television. While agreeing that Comey’s handling of the investigation of former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was “inconsistent with Department of Justice policies,” he questioned the timing of Comey’s ouster, which occurred while an investigation into administration ties to Russian government agents was still ongoing.

Journalist Arrested for Repeatedly Questioning Federal Official

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 10, 2017
A journalist was arrested at the West Virginia Capitol yesterday for repeatedly questioning Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, the ABA Journal reports. Dan Heyman of Public News Service was charged with willful disruption of state government processes and released on $5,000 bail. Heyman said he was wearing a press badge and no one told him he was in the wrong place. The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia called the incident “a dark day for democracy.”

Former ABA President Robinson Dies

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 9, 2017
Former American Bar Association President William T. (Bill) Robinson has died, the ABA Journal reports. He was 72. Robinson was member-in-charge of the Florence, Kentucky, office of Frost Brown Todd, and also maintained a license in Tennessee. He was a member of the TBA and the ABA, where he served as president in 2011-2012. During his tenure, he fought passionately to secure adequate court funding, focusing on the human consequences of underfunded courts. He “will be missed by the entire ABA family and legal community,” current ABA President Linda Klein said in a statement.

Senate Gives Final Approval to State Budget Bill

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 9, 2017
The Tennessee Senate signed off last night on a $37 billion state budget, which will now head to Gov. Bill Haslam for approval, the Tennessee Journal reports. Only Sen. Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) and Sen. Lee Harris (D-Memphis) voted against the proposal. The House approved the budget last week. 

House Votes to Attribute Liberty to God in Tennessee Constitution

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 9, 2017

The Tennessee House voted last night in favor of adding language to the Tennessee state Constitution attributing liberty to God, the Tennessee Journal reports. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Micah Van Huss (R-Jonesborough), seeks to add a sentence that reads: “We recognize that our liberties do not come from governments, but from Almighty God.” The bill will not head to the Senate for consideration until next year.

DOJ to Ask for Dismissal of State Refugee Suit

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 9, 2017
The federal government will ask for dismissal of Tennessee’s lawsuit over refugee resettlement, the Tennessean reports. Attorneys for the Department of Justice said the state lacks standing and “their claim is unripe.” DOJ attorneys said they’d like until June 1 to prepare for their request for dismissal. In March, Tennessee became the first state to sue the federal government over refugee resettlement, citing violation of the 10th Amendment.

Scam Alert: Imposters Seeking Legal Aid Donations

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 9, 2017
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning citizens to be on the lookout for a scam soliciting donations to the "Legal Aid Society." The scam would likely come from a caller pretending to be from the “national legal aid/defenders office.” Telephone numbers that have been used in this scam have been linked to several other imposter scams. Imposters can make a caller ID display appear with virtually any number, so trusting caller ID is not a reliable way to avoid the scam. The FTC urges anyone who receives a dubious call to report it on its website.

Family Sues Bonding Companies for Slaying

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 9, 2017
The family of Jalen Johnson Milan has filed suit against the bounty hunters and bondsmen accused of killing him, as well as two bonding companies that employed the cohorts, the Leaf-Chronicle reports. According to the suit, in a case of mistaken identity, seven bonding agents rushed a car that was occupied by Milan and began to break the vehicle’s windows. The driver of the car took off, and the men chased the vehicle and opened fire. Milan died a short time later. A Montgomery County grand jury indicted the seven men with first degree felony murder, three counts of attempted second degree murder, among many other charges.
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