Articles

All Content

5,138 Posts found
Previous • Page 444 of 514 • Next

Sessions ‘Amazed’ that Hawaii Judge Blocked Travel Ban

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 21, 2017
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he was “amazed” that a judge “sitting on an island in the Pacific” could halt President Donald Trump’s travel ban executive order. Sessions' comment drew criticism from Hawaiian elected officials, the Hill reports. A federal judge in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Hawaii put a temporary suspension on Trump’s second travel ban in March. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, pointed out in a statement against Sessions’ comments that the AG voted to confirm the judge in question while he was still representing Alabama in the Senate.

Release Denied for Woman Who Committed Murder 20 Years Ago as Teen

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 21, 2017
Greene County Criminal Court Judge Alex Pearson denied the released of Karen Howell, who was imprisoned as a 17-year-old nearly two decades ago for murder, Knoxnews reports. Howell and five others admitted to kidnapping and murdering a family of four in 1997 and were sentenced to life in prison without parole. While the U.S. Supreme Court has since ruled that life without the possibility of parole is unconstitutional for juvenile offenders, Greene County prosecutors say the rulings apply to state laws that mandate life sentences, not plea deals like Howell's.

Attorney in Rape Trial: Women Are Especially Good at Lying

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 21, 2017
A Memphis-area businessman was found not guilty of rape today, after his defense attorney's closing arguments included that women are “especially good” at lying because “they’re the weaker sex,” the Commercial Appeal reports. Mark Giannini was accused of raping and choking a woman who came to his mansion for a job interview. Defense attorney Steve Farese also alluded to the victim’s clothing during his closing, saying her top wasn’t in evidence because “they” don’t want the jury to see it because it was revealing. Giannini has been charged with raping three women, beginning in 2002. 

Recidivism in Tennessee High, But Improving

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 21, 2017
Nearly half of all people released from prison will return within three years, according to data released by the Tennessee Department of Correction on Thursday, the Tennessean reports. However, recidivism has gone down by 3.4 percent, from 50.5 percent in 2010 to 47.1 percent in 2016. "These encouraging numbers demonstrate that we're on the right track," said TDOC Commissioner Tony Parker.

Real Estate Essentials CLE: Handling Divorce Issues

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 21, 2017

Register for the TBA's CLE examining the intersection of real estate and divorce law before it's too late! The program, which will be held at the Bar Center on May 8, will offer a panel presentation covering real estate practices in complaints and family law. Speakers will address financial problems that can occur post-divorce relating to credit problems, foreclosures and bankruptcy. Sessions will also address types of deeds and how they are handled in divorce cases.

Court OKs Arkansas Executions

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 20, 2017
The Arkansas Supreme Court will allow the state to use a lethal injection drug in upcoming executions, despite a supplier’s complaint that it was sold to the state to be used for inmate medical care only, WREG reports. Justices lifted a judge’s order preventing the state from using vecuronium bromide, clearing one of the main legal hurdles the state faces in its efforts to carry out two executions tonight.

MPD Officers Claim They Were Denied Promotions Due to Military Service

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 20, 2017
Three Memphis Police Department officers have filed a lawsuit against the city for not allowing them the opportunity to reschedule a promotional test that they missed due to their military service, the Commercial Appeal reports. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court Western Division and claims that about 20 officers experienced this problem. They are seeking an order to require the city to promote them or else offer a make-up test.

Justice Department Has No U.S. Attorneys in Place

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 20, 2017
Though U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has prioritized aggressive law enforcement, there is not a single U.S. attorney in place across the country one month after Sessions dismissed the remaining Obama-era U.S. attorneys, the Washington Post reports. The Justice Department also lacks many heads of top units, including civil rights, criminal and national security divisions. Filling the vacancies has been complicated by the absence of a deputy attorney general as well. Rod J. Rosenstein has been nominated but not yet confirmed for the role.

Bill Would Require State to Disclose Details of Police Shootings

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 20, 2017
The state Senate voted unanimously to make public the details of Tennessee Bureau of Investigation probes into officer-involved shooting deaths, the Times Free Press reports. Under current state law, TBI investigation records are exempt from public disclosure in an exclusion to the state's Open Records Act unless directed to by a court. The companion bill will be heard in the House next week.

Tennessee AG Says Bill Could Conflict with Gay Marriage Ruling

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 20, 2017
Attorney General Herbert Slatery says in a new opinion that legislation requiring the use of the “natural and ordinary meaning” of undefined words in Tennessee code -- including “husband,” “wife,” “mother” and “father” -- could conflict with the U.S. Supreme Court’s gay marriage ruling as well as state laws about interpreting gender-specific words as inclusive, the Times Free Press reports. The Senate could vote on the bill next week. The House passed it last month.
Previous • Page 444 of 514 • Next