Following a heated debate, the state legislature last night passed a bill stripping state funds from the University of Tennessee’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion of funding for one year. The Associated Press reports the funds – a total of nearly $337,000 – will be used for minority scholarships instead. 

The American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility issued a formal ethics opinion this week that addresses the propriety of referral fees and explains that clients must consent to such arrangements. The opinion also provides examples of when a lawyer does or does not have a conflict of interest, according to the ABA Journal. 

Ellen Levy, owner of Levy’s Clothier for Men & Women in Nashville, will host an in-store book signing event with former TBA President Bill Haltom, author of Milk & Sugar: The Complete Book of Seersucker, on April 29. Laurie Haspel Aronson of century-old retail brand Haspel – the company credited with introducing the seersucker suit – will join Haltom at the event, scheduled from 3-6 p.m. The event is part of Levy’s annual “Dressing for Steeplechase” event, ahead of the Iroquois Steeplechase. Read more from The Tennessean. 

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands launched a new education program with the Coffee County General Sessions Court to support pro se litigants. A Legal Aid Society staff member from the Tullahoma office will provide a free, monthly presentation to self represented litigants while the General Sessions Court is in recess from its civil docket. The program will begin by focusing on detainer actions and may expand to include presentations for other case types. The Legal Aid Society representative will provide educational materials, explain court procedures and clarify the legal rights and responsibilities of renters and landlords.  

The Tennessee Court of Appeals has restructured how it assigns cases to panels. All cases before the Court of Appeals are considered by panels of three judges. Under the new procedure implemented April 1, cases that are submitted on briefs without oral argument will be assigned to a panel that consists of one judge from each of the three grand divisions – East, Middle and West. For oral argument cases, judges will sit at least once a year in all three sections. The new system is expected to ensure that more than 75 percent of the oral argument dockets consist of judges from two or more sections. 

WKRN reports the state Legislative Black Caucus and other lawmakers today called for a Department of Justice investigation into the handcuffing of students at Murfreesboro's Hobgood Elementary for allegedly not stopping a fight that happened off-campus. “The action by the police is an example of the over disciplining of children of color,” said caucus member Rep. Brenda Gilmore, D-Nashville. 

U.S. Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland praised lawyers for their work with low-income Washingtonians yesterday in his first public remarks since his nomination last month, The Associated Press reports. The appearance at the federal courthouse in Washington – where he is the chief judge of the appeals court – was part of the White House’s effort to familiarize the public with him. Garland has met with roughly 40 senators so far, but there are no signs that Republicans will allow hearings on his nomination. 

A Fitbit fitness tracker recently provided crucial evidence when data pulled from the device contradicted the claims of an alleged rape victim. A Pennsylvania woman claimed an intruder raped her in the middle of the night, but according to the affidavit, data from the Fitbit showed “she was awake and walking around the entire night prior to the incident and did not go to bed as reported." The woman was ordered to two years of probation and community service. Read more from The Wall Street Journal. 

Volkswagen is expected to compensate $5,000 to each U.S. car owner that was a sold vehicle that pollutes more than is legally allowed, USA Today reports. The deal could help the automaker avoid a trial before U.S. District Court Judge Charles R. Breyer in San Francisco. Breyer had set a deadline for today for Volkswagen to submit a plan after the automaker admitted last year that it installed “defeat devices” in certain diesel automobiles in order to pass emissions tests.

A debate over the constitutionality of injunctions that restrict alleged Memphis gang members from publicly associating with each other in court-ordered zones landed in front of Environmental Court Judge Larry Potter on Tuesday. Assistant Public Defender Barbara Sidelnik argued the injunctions are “overly broad” and violated her client's constitutional rights. Assistant District Attorney Colin Campbell said the orders are “a way for citizens to take back their communities from gangs,” The Commercial Appeal reports. Potter said he will deliberate before issuing a ruling at a later date.