In many states, teenagers who share sexually explicit images of themselves are punished with decades-old laws that were meant to be applied to adults who exploited children. But an opinion piece in The New York Times asserts new sexting laws that criminalize teenage sexting are being unfairly applied. “A better solution would be to bring child pornography laws in line with statutory rape laws by exempting teenagers who are close in age and who consensually create, share or receive sexual images,” the author writes.  

The Board of Directors for CASA Nashville and the CASA staff announced that Julieanna Huddle was promoted to executive director. Huddle has served CASA Nashville as volunteer and training manager for the past four years.  

The U.S. Supreme Court today announced it will hear a Colorado case challenging whether jurors' claims of racially charged comments by another juror can overcome the need for secrecy in jury deliberations, The Associated Press reports. The appeal is from a Hispanic man who claimed he did not have a fair trial because a juror made offensive comments about Mexicans. Attorneys were told about the comment after the jury convicted the man of sexually harassing two women in a bathroom. 

A legal opinion from state Attorney General Herbert Slatery said a proposed amendment to the Tennessee Constitution regarding public school funding would not negatively impact the state's equal protection provisions. The Times Free Press reports Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, requested the opinion about his proposed amendment that would allow state lawmakers "to devote as much - or as little - funding as they wish to public education.” The proposed amendment, HJR 0493, comes after Hamilton County and other school systems have sued the state over the school funding formula. 

The bill that would lower the legal penalties for repeated drug possession and increase penalties for repeat DUI offenders is now headed to Gov. Bill Haslam’s desk. The Tennessean reports the state Senate yesterday approved the measure (HB 1478) with a 32-0 vote after the House signed off on it last week. 

The state Senate on Monday voted to make the Holy Bible the state’s official book by a 19-8 margin, The Tennessean reports. The state House approved the measure (SB1108 / HB0615) last year, and now the speakers of the House and Senate must sign off on the legislation before it can officially head to Gov. Bill Haslam’s desk. A spokesperson for Gov. Haslam today said the "governor has constitutional questions and personal reservations about this legislation," the Associated Press reports. 

The Tennessean reports at least 23 women from across the state are running as Democrats in hopes of entering the male-dominated Tennessee legislature. Most of the women, whose ages range from 28 to 77, are running for public office for the first time. Sydney Rogers is running for the seat of House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, and communications professional Holly McCall is seeking the seat of Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin.

The Young Lawyers Division has elected Christian Barker of Barker Nashville PLLC as vice president to serve for the 2016-2017 bar year. He will go on to serve as president-elect, then as president of the YLD during the 2018-2019 membership year. Barker has served as the division’s Public Service Committee Chair for the 2015-2016 bar year. The election was held via electronic ballot and was open to all young lawyers in the TBA.  

The retrial of former Vanderbilt football player Cory Batey began today in Nashville, WSMV reports. Batey’s trial has been severed from Brandon Vandenburg, who is also facing charges for an alleged rape inside a campus dorm room in 2013. Courtney Teasley, a new member of Batey’s defense team, told the jury that Batey was drunk and acted “as a puppet following commands from his teammates” during the incident. Batey and Vandenburg were found guilty in 2014 on multiple charges including aggravated rape. 

A report released last week revealed detention at Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County has become more dangerous after Shelby County Sheriff Bill Oldham took over detention operations on July 1. David Roush, a consultant with Juvenile Justice Associates of Michigan, explained in the report that detention for juveniles should not be operated by local law enforcement and cited concerns about unapproved restraint techniques constituting excessive force. The latest review comes after a 2012 U.S. Department of Justice investigation revealed deficiencies in the court system. Read more from The Commercial Appeal.