The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board will hear arguments during the bureau’s upcoming educational conference. The case, Martinez v. ACG Roofing Inc., involves an insurance coverage dispute and multiple alleged employers. The arguments will take place on June 15 at 1:45 p.m. CDT at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro.

Shelby County Criminal Judge A. Melissa Boyd was publicly reprimanded on May 8 by the Board of Judicial Conduct. According to the reprimand, Judge Boyd solicited resources and cash donations on Facebook to benefit a school, and the posts seeking those contributions from the public show her wearing her judicial robe. The board noted that judges “are expected to maintain the highest standards of conduct at all times and conflating judicial office to advance the private interests of others is prohibited.”

Nashville divorce and family law attorney Audrey Anderson is running for the Davidson County Circuit Court Part IV seat. The Nashville Post reports that she was previously a finalist for the seat but in January, Gov. Bill Lee appointed another local attorney. Anderson has almost 25 years of experience working on divorces, adoptions and other family law matters — the purview of the Part IV court — in Davidson County.

Former Nashville nurse RaDonda Vaught, who was convicted of homicide in 2022 after a medication error killed a patient, is seeking to have her nursing license reinstated by the Board of Nursing. The Associated Press reports that Vaught argues the board acted improperly by revoking her license after initially expressing support during her trial. Vaught’s attorney pointed out that the Department of Health initially reviewed Vaught’s errors and concluded the case “did not merit further action.”

U.S. Rep. George Santos, R-New York, was arrested today on 13 counts: seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives. Reuters reports that nine House Republicans have so far called on Santos to resign, including six from his home state of New York. But House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana, said the caucus would withhold judgment on Santos: "In America, there's a presumption of innocence, but they're serious charges. He's going to have to go through the legal process." The Hill reports that Santos has pleaded not guilty.

A civil lawsuit has been filed in Wilson County against the Chili's Southwest Grill & Bar in Lebanon and parent company Brinker International. The suit alleges that the restaurant knowingly overserved Sandra Lee Strickland, 71, and allowed her to leave intoxicated. Strickland was later involved in a wreck at the Lebanon Public Square on April 25, 2022 that killed 27-year-old Ashley Bailey. Strickland is charged with DUI first offense, vehicular homicide, two counts of reckless endangerment with a vehicle and failure to stop at the scene of an accident. The Tennessean has the full report.

On May 16, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Shelley D. Rucker will preside over two naturalization ceremonies during which approximately 100 people are expected to take the Oath of Allegiance to become American citizens. The ceremonies will be held at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. EDT in the Third Floor Courtroom of the Joel W. Solomon Federal Building, at 900 Georgia Ave. in Chattanooga.

Barbara Kingsolver's novel Demon Copperhead yesterday was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Strawberry Plains attorney Dawn Coppock reviewed this powerful story focusing on the child welfare system in the March/April issue of the Tennessee Bar Journal.

Failure to show up for court has serious consequences for individuals and the court system as a whole, and the reasons may be as mundane as lack of transportation, family obligations or simply forgetting to appear. Jurisdictions throughout the country are seeking ways to get more people through the courthouse doors. The North Carolina Court Appearance Project was created by court stakeholders in New Hanover, Robeson and Orange counties, with technical assistance support from The Pew Charitable Trusts and the University of North Carolina School of Government Criminal Justice Innovation Lab. In August 2021, each county convened a group of judges, prosecutors, public defenders, clerks and members of law enforcement to study nonappearance rates and root causes and to propose solutions. Pew Trusts has published a summary of the findings.

Gov. Bill Lee has announced that the Tennessee General Assembly will convene for a special legislative session focused on public safety on Aug. 21. A press release from Lee's office states, in part, “There is broad agreement that action is needed, and in the weeks ahead, we’ll continue to listen to Tennesseans and pursue thoughtful, practical measures that strengthen the safety of Tennesseans, preserve Second Amendment rights, prioritize due process protections, support law enforcement and address mental health.” Tennesseans are encouraged to share their feedback using this form.