A federal appeals court in San Francisco today said people do not have the right to carry concealed weapons in public under the Second Amendment, the Associated Press reports. The decision comes in a lawsuit over the denial of concealed weapons permits by a sheriff. The 11-judge panel added that law enforcement officials can require applicants for a concealed weapons permit to show they are in immediate danger or have another good reason for a permit beyond self-defense.  

Vanderbilt University Law School was ranked by U.S. News and World Report as having one the lowest yields – the percentage of accepted students who enrolled – in the country at 11 percent. Yale University earned the top spot with a 74 percent yield for the 2015-2016 year. 

In the wake of Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Derrick Schofield's resignation, NBC News takes an in-depth look at problems that have plagued Tennessee’s prisons. Gov. Bill Haslam has praised Schofield’s term, which included changes to security policies, but staffers and prisoners have painted a very different picture of the state’s prison system. The report takes a look at issues with population management, lack of training for employees and “near-crisis levels” at West Tennessee State Penitentiary. 

The Administrative Office of the Courts is seeking attorneys who are interested in contracting with the AOC for judicial hospitalization services in the General Sessions Courts in Blount, Davidson, Hamilton, Hardeman and Wilson Counties. Attorneys will represent indigent respondents facing involuntary emergency judicial hospitalization. The contract arrangement establishes compensation based on dockets. Applications by county and more information are available here. 

Nashville attorney Richard Busch from the firm King and Ballow is representing two California songwriters who have filed a copyright lawsuit against pop star Ed Sheeran. The songwriters, Martin Harrington and Tom Leonard, claim Sheeran ripped off their song as the basis for his hit, “Photograph.” Busch has won many landmark music copyright cases in his career, including one on behalf of Marvin Gaye’s family against Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams over their song “Blurred Lines.” Read more from The Tennessean. 

Knoxville denim business owner George Marcus Hall was sentenced today to nearly three years in prison for running an illegal gambling operation and using his business to launder the profits, WATE reports. Hall, owner of Marc Nelson Denim, pleaded guilty last year to charges including directing and owning an illegal gambling operation.  

Section members and others attending the upcoming TBA Annual Convention in Nashville will have the opportunity to observe or take part in a number of TBA Sections meetings. It’s a good opportunity to introduce yourself to a section that you may be interested in joining. You do not have to be registered for convention in order to attend the Sections meetings. View the schedule here. 

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation today announced that Jenny Howard will serve as general counsel for the department. Howard, who joined TDEC in 2012, previously served as deputy general counsel and legislative liaison.

The state registry of election finance board voted to audit and investigate the finances of state Rep. Jeremy Durham, The Tennessean reports. Attorney General Herbert Slatery, who is already investigating the Franklin Republican for alleged inappropriate conduct, believes Durham moved money between the title company he owns and his campaign committee. The board will also ask for subpoenas to be issued for Durham, his campaign, his business and various bank accounts.

The 2016 Law Practice Conference For New Lawyers on June 29 will offer advice on solo and small firm practice, best practices in billing and how to form successful client relationships. The course is scheduled from noon to 4:15 p.m. at the Tennessee Bar Center. The program, approved for four dual credits, will also be available in a live webcast.