U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger today ruled a sweeping federal sexual assault lawsuit against the University of Tennessee will proceed, The Tennessean reports. Judge Trauger did grant one dismissal request from the university’s lawyers, saying the statute of limitations had expired for one plaintiff's claims of “deliberate indifference” to sexual assaults by UT athletes before her alleged sexual assault in 2013.

The Nashville Bar Association’s annual Law Day celebration was held April 29, which coincided with the 50th anniversary the U.S. Supreme Court case, Miranda v. Arizona. The theme of the event – Miranda: More than Words – explores the protections under the U.S. Constitution and the courts’ role in safeguarding these rights. 

The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether the stripes, chevrons and color blocks on cheerleader uniforms can be copyrighted under federal law, Reuters reports. The court announced yesterday it will review an August 2015 ruling by the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati that revived a lawsuit by Memphis-based Varsity Brands Inc. The company accuses Star Athletica LLC of infringing on its designs. The ABA Journal said the case could affect a broad array of costumes, including those worn at comic conventions. The court is likely to hear arguments and decide the case in its next term.

The Nashville Business Journal has published its 2016 Best of the Bar winners. The 79 winners will be recognized at a cocktail reception June 2.  

Last year, nearly 2,000 of Tennessee law enforcement’s juvenile arrests were of children ages 6-12. The highest ranking offense for that age group was simple assault, The Tennessean reports. "Arresting children of that age is just not appropriate, except in extreme circumstances,” Craig Hargrow, director of juvenile justice for the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. Juvenile justice experts argue the focus needs to be on “alternative restorative practices” instead of police action. 

Beacon Center Legal Foundation filed its first statewide legal challenge on behalf of a Memphis resident who wants to change the state’s occupational license requirement for shampooing. According the the foundation, hair washers must complete educational training and receive a license before they are allowed to wash hair in Tennessee. However, Beacon says, there are no schools currently operating in the state that offer the course that is a mandated component of the hair washing license. “These laws are designed by people already in the business who are attempting to unfairly shield themselves from competition at the expense of hard working Tennesseans,” said Braden Boucek, Beacon Director of Litigation. 

Philip Oliphant was named Director of Advocacy for Memphis Area Legal Services. He previously worked as a litigator for the last nine years in the Memphis City Attorney’s office. Oliphant also served as chief of staff for Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Bernice Donald in 2011.  

The annual $400 professional privilege tax must be filed and paid by June 1. Professionals who are subject to the tax may file and pay it online. More information is available from the Tennessee Department of Revenue. 

Gov. Bill Haslam said today that he will allow the guns-on-campus bill – which permits full-time faculty and staff of state public colleges and universities with handgun-carry permits to carry their guns on campus – to become a law without his signature. Under the bill, employees are required to notify the local law enforcement agency with primary responsibility for security on their campus. Read more from The Tennessean. 

Gov. Bill Haslam has signed the Fantasy Sports Tax Act, which legalizes and regulates fantasy sports betting, The Times Free Press reports. The legislation (SB 2109) will create an exemption from state anti-gambling provisions. Attorney General Hebert Slatery issued a legal opinion in April declaring that fantasy sports were illegal gambling in Tennessee under existing law. Fantasy sports giants DraftKings and FanDuel hired a Nashville lobbying firm and former House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner to lobby for the legislation on their behalf.