The Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association (TTLA) has created the Larry Daughtrey Courage in Journalism Award to be given periodically to a journalist who has covered civil justice issues of public interest to Tennesseans. The award is named after reporter and journalist Larry Daughtrey, whose career began during the civil rights movement and spanned nearly 50 years. Judges will be looking for someone who has ethically shined light on issues that might otherwise have been forgotten, presented complex issues to the public in a fair and understandable way, and displayed courage in their journalism. The deadline to receive nominations is May 15.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti will begin fiscal year 2023-2024 with 10 more attorneys who will comprise a new “strategic litigation unit.” As part of a $56.2 billion budget, the legislature approved the new positions at a cost of $2.25 million, giving Skrmetti a $52.95 million payroll for 363 positions with an average salary of $146,600. The Tennessee Lookout reports that Skrmetti’s Chief of Staff Brandon Smith says the new attorney unit will focus on “proactive litigation defending the separation of powers and the constitutional rights of Tennesseans, the defense of state laws presenting significant federalism issues, and pursue transparency and accountability for certain corporate activities that undermine the democratic process and harm consumers.”

In addition to not disclosing years of luxury travel and a real estate deal, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas also failed to disclose that billionaire Harlan Crow paid for Thomas’ grandnephew’s boarding school tuition. According to a ProPublica investigation, Thomas did not report the tuition payments from Crow on his annual financial disclosures. Several years earlier, Thomas had disclosed a gift of $5,000 for his grandnephew’s education from another friend.

Representatives Justin Jones, D-Nashville, and Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, have officially filed for reelection. The two representatives were expelled after protesting on the House floor in April in support of the public’s calls for gun reform. Both were reappointed to their seats within days of expulsion and have been serving as interim representatives. The special elections are estimated to cost somewhere between $70,000 and $120,000 in Nashville and around $400,000 in Memphis, according to News Channel 5 and the Daily Memphian.

The autopsy report of Tyre Nichols, the motorist who died after being beaten by Memphis police officers, reveals that Nichols was killed by blunt force trauma to the head. The Commercial Appeal reports that Nichols' family viewed the autopsy report Wednesday, nearly four months after Nichols' death, and attorney Ben Crump said the manner of death was homicide.

Retired U.S. Magistrate Judge B. Waugh Crigler died April 26 at age 74. A resident of Charlottesville, Virginia, Waugh earned his law degree in 1973 from the University of Tennessee College of Law, where he was a member of the Tennessee Law Review and was admitted to the Order of the Coif and the Legal Honor Society Phi Delta Phi. Waugh joined the chambers of the Hon. Robert Taylor in the Eastern District of Tennessee as a law clerk and later practiced in Culpeper, Virginia, in what became Davies, Crigler, Barrell and Will PC. In 1981, he was appointed U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Virginia, a position he held until his retirement in 2013.

The Memphis branch of the NAACP criticized Tennessee’s response to gun violence after a shooting Wednesday at Fox 13 News. The group questioned the apparent ease with which the assailant was able to obtain an assault rifle. Local chapter President Van Turner called on Gov. Bill Lee and the General Assembly to call a special session this summer to consider gun reform. The group also announced it is in support of Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy’s decision not to charge Preston Hemphill, an officer who was involved in the initial attempted arrest of Tyre Nichols in January. The Daily Memphian has the full report.

Despite calls from various groups, Metro Nashville Police (MNPD) says it will not be releasing the Covenant School assailant’s writings at this time. Some Covenant parents have told MNPD they do not want the writings to be made public, and Metro Law Director Wally Dietz says, “We believe family members of the victims should have the opportunity to present any concerns or objections to the Court at that time.” WPLN reports that Metro plans to eventually release a redacted version of the journal found in the assailant’s car.

Join us for the live virtual Local Government Forum May 12 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. CDT. Government law is an ever-changing practice area with a unique blend of constitutional, statutory and case law. This year’s program features a legislative update, sessions on sovereign citizens and annexation, as well as a session titled "The Ethical and Professional Challenge of Police in Schools." Register here.

This year's Dispute Resolution Forum makes its return in person, also offering a Zoom simulcast. Join colleagues for carefully crafted sessions tailored to both lawyers and mediators featuring accomplished speakers from the ADR vocation. Topics include crafting a settlement, the art of negotiation, a discussion of litigation and/vs. arbitration in court, handling pro-bono cases, and more. The forum will take place on May 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CDT at the Nashville office of Butler Snow, 150 3rd Ave. S., Nashville 37201.