Memphis attorney Rehimhan "Rehim/Ray" Babaoglu died on Aug. 24. He was born in Milan, Italy, in 1946. His family immigrated to the United States in 1951, and he attended Rutgers University, graduating in 1969 with a degree in Russian language and literature. Babaoglu served in the U.S. Army Reserve in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and later he and his wife, Lydia, moved to midtown Memphis. Babaoglu attended Memphis State University College of Law, earning his law degree in 1974. After graduation, Babaoglu embarked on a 45-plus year career specializing in immigration law. He served both the Memphis Bar Association and Mid-South Immigration Advocates as a board member, and was on the board of directors of Memphis Area Legal Services for nearly 22 years, serving two years as chair. Services are private with a celebration for Babaoglu scheduled for a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Memphis Zoo, New Ballet Ensemble and School or the Captain Paul Watson Foundation.

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The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (LAS) will host nine legal clinics in Nashville during September, two of which will be veterans only clinics. For information on dates, times and locations, visit the LAS website.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti joined 15 other state attorneys general in urging the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to require any foreign-owned company to certify via an independent process that it is compliant with Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which prohibits the import of any product manufactured wholly or in part by forced labor as a condition of being listed on a U.S. based securities exchange. The attorneys general question the business practices and reports of alleged forced labor of the Chinese fast-fashion retailer SHEIN, which is potentially launching an initial public offering (IPO) later this year.

United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz yesterday traveled to Dyer County in the 29th Judicial District of West Tennessee to host a series of roundtable discussions with law enforcement, local prosecutors and community stakeholders. Roundtable participants had an open dialogue with the U.S. Attorney, addressing their issues and concerns and learning more about the department’s priorities, which include addressing gun violence.

The Hamilton County Concurrent Grand Jury for May-August provided high praise for the court system and strongly recommended the establishment of a veterans' court, noting that both the Trump and Biden administrations have funded mental health and drug court programs, which Gov. Lee also supports. The grand jury heard and deliberated on 192 cases, returning 162 indictments. It also received detailed information about various crimes, the challenges faced by law enforcement officers, and various programs aimed at addressing issues such as mental health and drug-related crimes. Additionally, the group recommended increased resources for drug enforcement training and better facilities and technology. The Chattanoogan has the grand jury’s full report.

The Hamilton County Commission has approved payment of additional legal bills, bringing the total cost of the Weston Wamp-Rheubin Taylor lawsuit to approximately $290,000. Both parties have decided to drop the case in Chancery Court and plan to work amicably together in the future, with County Mayor Wamp expressing a desire to move past the legal dispute and focus on the county's important work. The Chattanoogan has the breakdown of the total costs.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has revealed that it did not turn over all of the patient records requested by the Tennessee Attorney General's office in a billing investigation. The Tennessean reports that initially, VUMC informed over 150 patients that their comprehensive health records had been provided to the attorney general's office, but it later confirmed that records for only 82 patients were actually provided. The investigation, described as a "run-of-the-mill" fraud investigation by Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, has raised privacy concerns and led to two patients suing the hospital, claiming distress and hostility toward transgender people in the state.

A special invitation has been extended to those serving in the legal and law profession to celebrate the Annual Diocesan Red Mass at 5 p.m. CDT on Sept. 16 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 1695 Central Ave., Memphis 38104. As a time-honored tradition of the Catholic Church, the Red Mass is celebrated for judges, attorneys, law school professors, students and government officials, invoking guidance for all who seek justice.

Elected officials and community stakeholders in Memphis, including law enforcement leaders and state legislators, yesterday convened in a non-public public safety summit hosted by the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office. The gathering aimed to foster collaboration and address the root causes of crime in the city, with legislators considering potential legislation to address aggravated assaults and juvenile offenders within the criminal justice system. The Daily Memphian reports that they agreed on various initiatives to combat the city's crime crisis, focusing on violence prevention programs, addressing crime hotspot areas, providing rehabilitative services and sharing data among agencies. Preliminary results are expected in six to 18 months, with ongoing efforts to solve public safety issues.