Nashville author Sheri Sellmeyer will be featured in the Tennessee State Museum's TN Writers | TN Stories series on April 11 to discuss her new book, "Nashville’s New Americans: Tracing the Journeys of Our Immigrant Neighbors." Through its profiles of 39 immigrants from 38 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America and Australia, "Nashville’s New Americans" provides a case study from one of the fastest-growing cities in the country on the contributions immigrants are making to its culture and economy. Reserve a free ticket here. Sellmeyer is chair of the Family Reconciliation Center Board of Directors. The center is a nonprofit guest house that provides free lodging to people visiting incarcerated loved ones. She is married to Barry Kolar, who served as TBA's interim executive director and assistant executive director for many years.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue will host a free webinar for new businesses on April 8 at 8:30 a.m. CDT. Participants will learn about state tax obligations for new businesses in Tennessee, as well as other resources that may assist their businesses. Each new business webinar, offered quarterly, covers topics such as tax registration, sales and use tax, business tax, franchise and excise taxes, and how to get help from the department and other relevant state agencies. Register for Wednesday's webinar.

The Tennessee Supreme Court and the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) have issued a warning to Tennesseans about a text and email phishing scam that references an outstanding parking and/or toll violation and appears to be from the Tennessee Supreme Court. The message includes a link and/or QR code that leads to a fake website. “We want everyone know that these text messages and emails are not coming from the Tennessee Supreme Court,” said Chief Justice Jeff Bivins. “Please know that our state courts do not send text messages or emails out regarding past due tickets. This is a scam.” The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation recommends taking the following steps if you receive one of these scam messages: Ignore it. Do not respond to the message, click any links, or scan the QR code. Read more from the AOC on what to do if you receive such a message.

Tipton County General Sessions Court Judge M. O. Eckel III on April 1 swore in the three founding members — Dondi O. Albritton, David Bitzer and J. Houston Gordon — of the county Veterans Court Board, a first-of-its-kind advisory body dedicated to serving veteran defendants in the community. According to a press release, rather than establishing a resource-intensive formal treatment court, Eckel designed an independent advisory board modeled after the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) framework. The board will review cases and provide fact-based advisory reports to the court, the district attorney and defense counsel, ensuring transparency and due process at every step. "Every veteran who stands before us deserves more than a one-size-fits-all approach to justice," Eckel says. This Board ensures that we will always have the expert, veteran-centered insight needed to reach the most informed decision possible for each of them." See photos from the event.

The next free advice clinic for Black-owned small businesses and nonprofits is set for noon to 1 p.m. CDT on April 16 in Nashville. The clinic, sponsored by the Arts & Business Council's Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts and Bradley, provides assistance with business formation and corporate governance, review of contracts and guidance in navigating local ordinances and state regulations. Space is limited, so early registration is recommended. Attorneys should email vlpa@abcnashville.org to volunteer.

The Tennessee Supreme Court censured Dyer County attorney Matthew Wayne Willis on March 30. While representing a client before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, the court says Willis used Artificial Intelligence (AI) to aid him in preparation of a reply brief. The court found that more than 70% of the citations were fictitious, and Willis took no action to check the accuracy of the citations. Willis stated that he believed a paralegal in his office performed a full citation check including verifying references to the technical record, transcript and legal authorities. But the court found that he failed to verify his paralegal checked the citations before filing the brief. His actions were found to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 5.3 and 8.4.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on March 31 censured Green County lawyer Catherine Elizabeth Fezell. On May 14, 2024, Fezell was scheduled to appear for a court docket to represent clients in multiple matters. When she failed to appear, she was contacted by court personnel inquiring about her whereabouts. Upon arrival at court, Fezell was observed by multiple witnesses, including court staff and colleagues, to appear to be under the influence. Due to her apparent condition, she could not appear before the court, and the scheduled hearings had to be reset. The Board of Professional Responsibility found that Fezell violated Rule of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3 and 8.4(d).

The federal judiciary has requested $9.7 billion in funding for fiscal year 2027, including $920.9 million for courthouse security — a 3.2% increase driven by a 57% surge in serious security incidents against judges last year — and ongoing problems with outdated equipment. The budget also seeks $10 million for a new case management system and nearly $50 million for cybersecurity upgrades following multiple cyberattacks, including a foreign hack targeting sealed court documents. Additionally, the judiciary is requesting $1.8 billion for federal public defenders to address rising caseloads, particularly in immigration and death penalty cases, after a 16-month hiring freeze and a recent shortage of funds to reimburse private attorneys assisting indigent defendants. Bloomberg Law has the story.

Retired Circuit Court Judge Marie Williams was honored at a portrait unveiling ceremony in Chattanooga's Hamilton County Circuit Court last week. The event celebrated her nearly three decades as the first woman to serve as a state court judge in the county. Williams attended the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law and became one of very few female civil litigators in the city before being appointed to the bench in 1995. She subsequently was reelected five times without opposition. Colleagues praised her leadership and practical judgment, with one judge highlighting her steady guidance in keeping courts accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her portrait, commissioned by the Chattanooga Bar Association and painted by artist Sergei Chernikov, now hangs in Division III of the Historic Hamilton County Courthouse. Read more from Chattanoogan.com. See photos from the event.

Memphis Mayor Paul Young on Monday announced that Memphis Police Department (MPD) officers involved in an alleged  confrontation with protesters at Saturday's "No Kings" rally have been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation. The officers are under scrutiny for allegedly deploying pepper spray on march marshals and making several arrests. A coalition of 25 community organizations say the officers acted aggressively against a peaceful crowd and have called on leaders to release the names of those involved. The Daily Memphian and the Commercial Appeal report on the developments.