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Gov. Lee Calls for Special Legislative Session to Replace Casada

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 27, 2019
The Tennessee House of Representatives will vote on its next speaker Aug. 23, when Gov. Bill Lee is calling lawmakers to return to Nashville for a historic special legislative session, the Tennessean reports. Lee signed a proclamation making the call today, saying a special session to elect a new speaker was "in the best interest of our state." Current House Speaker Glen Casada, R-Franklin, will resign from his leadership position Aug. 2 — his 60th birthday — though his replacement likely will be determined in a July 24 House Republican Caucus meeting.

Suspect in Christian/Newsom Murders Will Be Tried Before a Knox Jury

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 27, 2019
News Type: Legal News
When Eric Boyd finally faces trial in a now 12-year-old double homicide that drew international attention, he will do so in Knox County, Knox County Criminal Court Judge Bob McGee ruled today. Knoxnews reports that Boyd's will be the eighth trial in the 2007 slayings of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom. Boyd was already tried and convicted in U.S. District Court in 2008 on charges he hid Lemaricus Davidson – the alleged ringleader in the fatal attack on the couple – after the slayings. Though a suspect in the slayings from the start, Boyd was not initially indicted on murder charges.

Environmental Law Conference Planned for September in Knoxville

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 26, 2019
News Type: Upcoming
The 10th Annual Appalachian Public Interest Environmental Law Conference will be Sept. 27 - 29 in Knoxville. The conference will be held at the University of Tennessee College of Law campus. It is organized by the UT Law Environmental Law Organization. Find out more information or register.

UT Law Clinic Recognized for its Pro Bono Work

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 26, 2019
News Type: Legal News
The University of Tennessee Legal Clinic has been recognized by the Tennessee Justice Center for its pro bono work, the first time the honor has been given to a university group rather than to a private law firm. “For years, the UT Legal Clinic has provided pro bono representation to Tennessee children and families,” said TJC Director Michele Johnson. “The result of their work has made a tremendous difference in the lives of numerous Tennessee children and families in need of vital health care services.”

ABA President Critical of 'Unsafe and Unhealthy' Conditions for Children in Federal Facilities

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 26, 2019
News Type: Legal News
The American Bar Association is "appalled" by reports of hundreds of children being held in unsafe and unhealthy conditions in federal facilities, according to a statement issued by ABA President Bob Carlson. "The U.S. Department of Justice has argued that bedding, soap, showers and toothbrushes are not necessary to maintain the 'safe and sanitary' conditions for immigrant children in federal custody" that the 1997 Flores Settlement Agreement sets as a minimum standards for their care, Carlson said. He also called for federal authorities to end the practices and provide attorneys access to facilities operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Lee Talks Criminal Justice Reform at Tennessee Judicial Conference

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 26, 2019
News Type: Legal News
Gov. Bill Lee was recently welcomed to the 66th Tennessee Judicial Conference where he spoke on criminal justice reform, one the signature issues of his administration. At the conference, Lee explored why he feels reform is so crucial and emphasized that state judges have a huge role to play in helping to plan and implement that reform. Lee spoke about how his perspective on criminal justice reform was influenced by his experience volunteering in a men’s prisoner reentry program, and he floated the idea of seeking alternatives to imprisonment for some offenders.

SCOTUS Tosses Tennessee Liquor Store Residency Law

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 26, 2019
News Type: U.S. Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court today tossed out a Tennessee law that required liquor store owners to live in the state two years before they could open a business here, the Commercial Appeal reports. In a 7-2 decision, the justices said the regulation illegally infringed on interstate commerce protections provided by the U.S. Constitution. Their ruling eliminates a barrier for out-of-state owners trying to get a liquor license and conduct business in Tennessee. It came in the case of a Memphis couple that tried to open a liquor store after they moved from Utah to Tennessee to find better care for their daughter with a disability.

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Auer Deference

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 26, 2019
News Type: U.S. Supreme Court
The legal drive to rein in the power of federal regulators hit an unexpected stumbling block yesterday as the Supreme Court narrowly rejected an opportunity to overturn Auer deference, a precedent in which courts let federal agencies interpret their own regulations, Politico reports. The case involved a challenge to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ partial denial of retroactive benefits to a Vietnam War veteran. An appeals court deferred to the VA’s decision, but after the high court ruling, Kisor’s claim will be sent back down for another review. Chief Justice John Roberts split with his Republican-appointed colleagues by refusing to strike down the longstanding legal rule. In his criticism of the decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch said that Auer deference remained an affront to the role of judges and to the public’s right to know — in advance — what legal standard it is bound by.

Your Access to Expert Commentary

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 25, 2019
Seeking expert commentary on the law? Access legal insight and commentary from more than 15,000 expert legal bloggers with the addition of Lexblog in Fastcase 7. LexBlog is included with your Fastcase benefit. The TBA is upgrading to Fastcase 7 on July 22.

Tennessee AG Participates in National Effort to Fight Illegal Robocalls

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 25, 2019
News Type: Legal News
The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office yesterday participated in “Operation Call it Quits,” a nationwide effort by the Federal Trade Commission and its law enforcement partners to stem the tide of illegal robocalls. “Operation Call it Quits” includes four new cases and three new settlements from the FTC. Collectively, the defendants in these cases were responsible for making more than a billion illegal robocalls to consumers nationwide. Yesterday's announcement brings the number of cases the FTC has brought against illegal robocallers and Do Not Call violators to 145. Click here to learn how to stop unwanted calls.
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