The Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday allowed a state law that bans gender-affirming care for transgender youth — including treatments like puberty blockers and hormone therapy — to remain in effect while a legal challenge continues. WPLN reports that the court cited the recent Dobbs v. Jackson ruling, which ended the federal right to abortion, arguing that the law does not discriminate on the basis of sex. The decision reversed a lower court ruling, which had imposed a temporary partial injunction. The ACLU of Tennessee and Lambda Legal, which challenged the law, said in a statement that “Denying transgender youth equality before the law and needlessly withholding the necessary medical care their families and their doctors know is right for them has caused and will continue to cause serious harm.” Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti praised the ruling. Read his statement here.

Attorneys from Nashville’s Sister City of Caen, France, visited the state capital today. Members of the Bar of Caen went to the Tennessee Supreme Court with several local attorneys, including past TBA presidents Sherie Edwards and Gail Vaughn Ashworth. The group heard from Justice Roger Page and Court of Appeals Judge Andy Bennett. They also toured the court and museum. See photos from the event.

Registration is now open for the Knoxville Bar Association's Law & Culture Journey to Panama, April 1-4, 2024. The four-night program based in Panama City includes visits to the Panama Canal and Gamboa Rainforest. Optional extended excursions on April 6-7 can be arranged uon request. Click here for more information. Early bird deadline is tomorrow.

The Tennessee Supreme Court issued several rulings this week. First, it clarified that the economic loss doctrine, which limits the recovery of economic losses under tort law, applies only to products liability cases, not to contracts for services, and should not be expanded. This decision allowed a construction subcontractor to recover damages on its tort claims against a general contractor. Second, the court addressed the concept of personal jurisdiction, ruling that for a Tennessee court to have authority over a case, there must be a sufficient connection between the defendant and the state. Lastly, the court held that defendants convicted of vehicular homicide by intoxication cannot receive probation as specified in the 2017 amendment to the probation eligibility statute.

It's time for #TeamTBA! Meet the people behind the scenes and learn more about the moving parts, projects and staffers of the Tennessee Bar Association. Sheree Wright is the TBA’s new executive director! She leads the team in daily operations and works with the Board of Governors and other TBA leaders to carry out the mission of the bar. Before joining the TBA, she served as a senior associate general counsel at Vanderbilt University and was active in the Nashville, Tennessee and national legal communities. Wright says that her favorite part of the job is meeting TBA members and hearing about the wonderful things they are doing for the community and the profession. Her hobbies include cooking, reading and going to the gym, and says that if she could bring back a fashion trend, she’d pick 1950s clothes a la the first season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. That’s a wrap on this installment of #TeamTBA! Contact information for all staff is available here.

The Nashville School of Law will host a reception to welcome the newest member of the Tennessee Supreme Court, Justice Dwight E. Tarwater on Oct. 5 from 4:30-6 p.m. CDT at 4013 Armory Oaks Dr., Nashville 37204. The event is sponsored by the Tennessee Bar Association, the Lawyers' Association for Women, the Nashville Bar Association and Nashville School of Law. Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be served. RSVP at this link.

Nashville Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC) honored two Nashvillians as “Community Heroes” during its 6th annual Mediation Matters breakfast at Hillwood Country Club. Heather Howell Wright and Bill Norton, attorneys at Bradley, served as co-chairs of the fundraiser. Norton is a founder of NCRC and was one of 2022’s community hero honorees. Judge Lynda Jones was the keynote speaker. Community heroes who were honored include Bette Christofersen, longtime community volunteer and mediator and Kim Wolfe, court clerk at Metro Nashville General Sessions Civil Court. Founded in 2000, NCRC provides free mediation to low-income individuals and groups throughout Nashville and surrounding counties. Mediation empowers people to resolve conflict quickly and effectively, which keeps kids in school, adults employed and families safely housed. See photos from the event.

Registration is now open for the TBA's Law & Culture in Ireland CLE program scheduled for May 2024. Two travel options are available: a four-night trip to Dublin and a six-night trip to Dublin and Belfast. In conjunction with CLE Abroad, travelers will engage with local experts, academics, officials and change makers who will offer in-depth commentary on the EU and UK legal-political systems, economics, environmental justice, history and religion. In Dublin, the group also will explore ancient castles, visit landmarks, museums and notable legal institutions, and sample local cuisine. In Belfast, travelers will learn about the region's unique political history, Good Friday Agreement, ongoing reconciliation efforts and peace process. Add on trips to the West Coast and Cliffs of Moher also are available. View a brochure for the trip or learn more online.

It's time for #TeamTBA! Meet the people behind the scenes and learn more about the moving parts, projects and staffers of the Tennessee Bar Association. Seretta Maxwell is the TBA's newest continuing legal education (CLE) coordinator. She assists in the production of CLE programming and provides customer service for attorneys who are taking courses online or in-person. If you've called the TBA with a question about registering for a course or getting CLE credit, you have probably talked to Seretta! She says that helping someone who is having trouble purchasing or registering for a course is her favorite part of her job — solving problems is her jam! When she's not answering CLE questions, Seretta loves to cook. "I love to eat, pretty much anything, and my son and I cook together twice a week." The #TeamTBA series offers members a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the TBA and how each staff member makes the association run. Check back next week for a new staff profile in TBA Today and on the TBA's Facebook and Instagram accounts.

The Appalachian Public Interest and Environmental Law (APIEL) Conference is an annual gathering of lawyers, scientists, students and members of the general public to discuss environmental issues and happenings in Appalachia, public policy and grassroots initiatives. This will be the 14th Annual APIEL Conference, featuring topics such as the Kingston Coal Ash litigation and ethical considerations for environmental lawyers. The conference will run Oct. 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT at the University of Tennessee College of Law. There will be a pre-APIEL social event on Oct. 20, from 6-9 p.m. at Albright Grove Brewing Company for speakers and attendees to meet and connect. There will also be a post-APIEL social event on Oct. 21 from 6-9 p.m. at Hi-Wire Brewing. Click here for more information and to register.