Meta has appointed former Tennessee congressional candidate and anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck to help address “ideological and political bias” in its AI systems. The Tennessean reports that the move stems from an August settlement of Starbuck’s defamation lawsuit, which alleged Meta AI falsely linked him to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Starbuck, who has led online campaigns against corporate DEI programs, says his goal is to ensure neutrality and fairness in AI. In a joint statement, Meta and Starbuck said they had resolved the matter to their mutual satisfaction. “Since engaging on these important issues with [Starbuck], Meta has made tremendous strides to improve the accuracy of Meta AI and mitigate ideological and political bias,” the statement reads. “Building on that work, Meta and Robby Starbuck will work collaboratively in the coming months to continue to find ways to address issues of ideological and political bias and minimize the risk that the model returns hallucinations in response to user queries.”

According to the Shelby County Juvenile Court's recently released annual report, data from the past three fiscal years shows that the court is jailing more children for longer periods than in the prior two fiscal years. Despite a decline in serious offenses, detention admissions rose from 872 in FY 2022 to 1,142 in FY 2024, with the average stay lengthening from 34 to 44 days. Critics argue this rollback in progress harms children and increases recidivism, while the court cites factors such as delayed evaluations, lack of guardians and insufficient community alternatives. The trend has strained the Youth Justice and Education Center, prompting Sheriff Floyd Bonner to withdraw his office from managing the facility in 2024 after warning of overcrowding, prolonged stays and inadequate staffing. MLK50 has the story.

Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) is now accepting applications for its Master of Science in Legal Studies program with concentrations in entertainment; anti-money laundering, fraud and compliance; and business law. The degree's first cohort will begin in 2026. A non-thesis program for business professionals and others seeking a deeper understanding of U.S. laws and the legal system, participants do not require a law degree to apply and will not be eligible to practice law with the degree. The program is housed in MTSU’s Department of Accounting in the Jennings A. Jones College of Business and offered in collaboration with the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment and the Nashville School of Law (NSL). Students will take evening classes for part of the program at NSL and additional classes through MTSU in hybrid, online and in-person formats.

The Spence Wilson Center for Interdisciplinary Humanities at Rhodes College will host a free public lecture on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. CDT by Harvard University professor and Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation Director Dr. Danielle Allen. Pre-registration is required. Allen will talk about her award-winning book "Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality," which revisits the founding document. View a flyer for the event. In advance of the declaration's 250th anniversary in 2026, Allen also is compiling resources to mark the milestone. Check those out on her lab's website.

The September/October issue of the Tennessee Bar Journal is available online and arriving in mailboxes next week! The cover story by Judge Zack Walden and Alix Rogers highlights the TBA Young Lawyers Division's inaugural Rural Judicial Fellowship, which paired six law students with six judges in rural areas across the state. Read feature stories from Amy Bryant on how well Tennessee is meeting recommendations from the National Guardianship Network and Hal Hardin on his fight for reciprocity to practice law in Texas. Columns include details from Edward Phillips and Brandon Morrow on how the state's civil rights enforcement landscape could be reshaped in the employment space, legislative changes that will affect tort and personal injury attorneys from John Day, and more changes in trusts and estates from Eddy Smith. Read TBA President Heidi Barcus' thoughts on servant leadership, a book review by a familiar name and about TBA's public service awards winners.

The September/October issue of the Tennessee Bar Journal is available online and arriving in mailboxes next week! The cover story by Judge Zack Walden and Alix Rogers highlights the TBA Young Lawyers Division's inaugural Rural Judicial Fellowship, which paired six law students with six judges in rural areas across the state. Read feature stories from Amy Bryant on how well Tennessee is meeting recommendations from the National Guardianship Network and Hal Hardin on his fight for reciprocity to practice law in Texas. Columns include details from Edward Phillips and Brandon Morrow on how the state's civil rights enforcement landscape could be reshaped in the employment space, legislative changes that will affect tort and personal injury attorneys from John Day, and more changes in trusts and estates from Eddy Smith. Read TBA President Heidi Barcus' thoughts on servant leadership, a book review by a familiar name and about TBA's public service awards winners.

State Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Eads, and state Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis, have asked the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to conduct an unannounced audit of the Memphis Police Department’s (MPD) crime statistics. In an Aug. 15 letter to TBI Director David Rausch, the lawmakers cited concerns that some felony crimes may have been downgraded to misdemeanors or recorded only as memos, keeping them out of official reports. Both legislators stressed they have no direct evidence but said an audit could restore public trust in crime data and help depoliticize the issue. MPD leaders strongly denied any manipulation, saying the department follows strict state and federal reporting standards and that errors are corrected through review and quality assurance. The TBI said it audits agencies every three years, with additional reviews possible if anomalies arise. It declined to confirm whether Memphis is currently under review. The Daily Memphian has the story.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Aug. 29 suspended Rutherford County attorney Andre Chase Rabideau from the practice of law for seven years after a hearing panel of the Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR) concluded that Rabideau failed to represent clients in a diligent manner, communicate with clients regarding the status of their case, inform clients of his administrative suspension and withdraw from representation. The court also found that Rabideau repeatedly made misrepresentations to clients concerning court dates and filings with the court; misrepresented the status of his license to a court; engaged in the unauthorized practice of law; accepted fees but failed to provide the professional services for which he had been retained; and abandoned representation of clients without notice to clients or permission of the court. These actions were determined to violate Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.15, 1.16, 3.2, 3.4, 5.5, 8.1(b), and 8.4(c), (d) and (g). The court imposed the following conditions on any reinstatement: completing a practice and professional enhancement program, completing any requirements imposed by the Tennessee Lawyer Assistance Program and paying restitution payments to four former clients. After reinstatement, Rabideau also must engage a practice monitor for two years.

The number of U.S. law school applicants rose 18% last year, the highest year-over-year increase since 2002, according to data released by the Law School Admission Council. Last year saw 76,599 applicants, an increase of 12,000 from 2023 when applicants were up 5%. American Bar Association-accredited law schools enrolled nearly 40,000 students in 2024. Reuters reports that most admissions experts and legal educators agree that a combination of a poor entry-level job market for recent college graduates and political events drove the surge. Additionally, experts said that strong employment rates among new law school graduates over the past half decade, as well as changes to the LSAT, also contributed to the increase.

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee will host a public reading of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 12 to celebrate Constitution Day. The event will be held on the steps of the Joel W. Solomon Federal Building, 900 Georgia Ave., Chattanooga 37402, from 11:30 a.m. to approximately 12:45 p.m. EDT. The public is invited to join the court and local bar associations to read the Constitution in segments of one minute or less. Those interested in participating should check in at the bottom of the courthouse steps upon arrival. Readings primarily will be assigned on a first-come, first-filled basis. For more information, email Russell Eslinger.