Dickson Judge Shipp Robbley Weems died Nov. 14, 2025, at age 77. While attending the Nashville YMCA Night Law School (now Nashville School of Law), Weems was a teacher at White Bluff Elementary School. At the age of 29, he became the youngest Dickson city judge of record. In 1986, he established the state's first Public Defender Pilot Program. Following its success, the state adopted the model, leading to the creation of the Public Defender’s Office as it exists today. Weems also served as the elected public defender in Dickson County and surrounding counties for several decades, then served as assistant public defender in Columbia and its surrounding counties until retirement. In 2025, Weems’ daughter established the Weems-Rezapour Family Scholarship for Justice and Public Service in his honor. The scholarship supports high school seniors in Florida (where she lives and practices) who demonstrate integrity, civic engagement and a commitment to careers connected to justice and community leadership. Donations in Weems’ memory can be made here.

The Shelby County District Attorney's (DA) Office reported quicker case resolutions and a 16% countywide crime reduction in its 2025 annual report. The Commercial Appeal reports that DA Steve Mulroy highlighted that general sessions court cases concluded in an average of 92 days, while felony cases required much longer at roughly 704 days. The office handled more than 123,000 cases in 2025, most of them misdemeanors, with 67% ending in convictions or guilty pleas and 7% in diversion. Mulroy credited the improvements to prioritizing violent crime, expediting case processing and reducing repeat offenses.

The Tennessee General Assembly has passed SB0016/HB0025, allowing middle and high school athletes a one-time school transfer without losing athletic eligibility, as long as the move occurs before the school year begins. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Adam Lowe, R-Calhoun, and Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, now heads to Gov. Bill Lee for approval. If signed, it would take effect July 1. According to the Daily Memphian, the bill seeks to respond to concerns about fairness in transfer rules and limit the ability of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) to restrict athletes solely for transferring once, while maintaining rules for subsequent moves. In anticipation of the bill passing, TSSAA already has adopted related rule changes, including conditional eligibility timelines and immediate eligibility for students whose schools close. In other education-related news, the state House has approved HB0047/SB0303 allowing, though not requiring, public schools to display the Ten Commandments, along with the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Constitution of Tennessee and the Bill of Rights. Chalkbeat reports that supporters of the bill argue the Ten Commandments are a foundational historical document relevant to K-12 education across the state. Critics say the measure raises constitutional concerns and infringes on the rights of students who do not practice Christianity.

A new audit by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance found that Caremark, a pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) and subsidiary of national drug store operator CVS Health, committed multiple violations, including preferential reimbursement to its own pharmacies, spread pricing, improper dispensing-fee payments, and failures in required appeals procedures. The report echoes concerns raised by the Tennessee Pharmacists Association in a statement saying the findings highlight discriminatory actions that hurt independent pharmacies. CVS told the Nashville Post that the company is working with regulators while opposing the newly proposed FAIR Rx Act (SB2040/HB1959), filed by Sen. Bobby Harshbarger, R-Kingsport, which seeks to eliminate PBM conflicts of interest. Bill supporters argue the audit proves the need for greater transparency, while PBM trade group Pharmaceutical Care Management Association disputes the findings.

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments will consider eight applicants when it meets to select nominees for an upcoming vacancy on the Court of Criminal Appeals Eastern Section. The vacancy is due to the appointment of Judge Kyle A. Hixson to the Tennessee Supreme Court. The applicants include Bryce William McKenzie, Paul Othneil Moyle IV, Alex E. Pearson, Marshall A. Raines Jr., Hector Ian Sanchez, Stacy Lee Street, Thomas J. Tabor Jr. and Brennan Maureen Wingerter. Public interviews of the applicants will take place March 5 in the courtroom of the Knoxville Supreme Court Building, 505 Main St., Knoxville 37902. At the conclusion of the interviews, the council will vote to send three applicants to the governor. Read more in a press release from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

This webcast replay on Feb. 18 at noon CST will offer valuable insights into enhancing digital presence and improving customer engagement for legal professionals. Adriana Linares from LawTech Partners covers topics such as case management, client portals, document management, financial management, timekeeping, billing and security. Originally presented as part of the TBA's Raising the Bar program, the presentation is designed to help lawyers streamline their workflows, reduce stress and improve overall efficiency. Register on the TBA's website.

The Tennessee Supreme Court this week amended Rule 9, Section 32.1 to add the phrase "or as otherwise provided in an order of this Court" to language regarding confidentiality in investigations of attorney misconduct by the Board of Professional Responsibility. Read the order and see the amended language. The court also announced the addition of Rule 57 regarding sanctions, which may be imposed on an attorney, a law firm or a party for certain behavior before the court. Read the new rule.

TBA members received two versions of TBA Today on Thursday. The first version sent at 5:41 p.m. CST had the incorrect deadline for voting in TBA's 2026-2027 election. The second version sent at 5:59 p.m. contained the correct time. Ballots are due tonight by 11:59 p.m. CST. TBA members were sent an email on Jan. 30 with a ballot for the two candidates running for TBA vice president. The email was sent from Intelliscan Inc. Members also were sent an email with profiles of the two candidates running for vice president. That email was sent from elections@tnbar.org. The candidate profiles also are available on the TBA website.

After Winter Storm Fern left more than 300,000 Tennesseans without power and caused widespread damage, President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration on Feb. 6 — but only for public assistance, not yet for individuals. FEMA is still reviewing whether uninsured or underinsured residents will qualify for federal aid, and there is no timeline for a decision. The storm killed 29 people, caused prolonged outages in Nashville and led to significant infrastructure repairs, prompting state officials to urge residents to document damages and file insurance claims. So far, 15 counties have been approved for full public assistance and eight more for emergency protective measures. The Tennessee Lookout has the story.

The Napier-Looby Bar Foundation will host its 18th Annual Barristers Banquet and Awards Program on Feb. 26 at the Cal Turner Center, 1011 21st Ave. N. in Nashville. The reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. CST, followed by the banquet and awards ceremony at 6:30 p.m. View the invitation or visit www.napierloobyfoundation.org to purchase tickets.