Tennessee Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti on Friday filed a brief in the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that the federal district court correctly rejected NetChoice’s demand for emergency relief from Tennessee’s Protecting Children from Social Media Act. The law requires social media companies to verify a new user’s age; obtain parental consent before allowing minors to create accounts; and allow parents to supervise, modify and deactivate their child’s account. NetChoice, a trade organization that represents tech giants like Google, Meta, Pinterest, Snapchat and X, sued Tennessee in October 2024 seeking to enjoin the act’s basic protections. Read more in a press release from the AG's office.

Enrollment is now open for the Tennessee Bar Association’s BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee group health insurance plan, available exclusively to TBA members. The plan offers guaranteed issue coverage with no health questions or pre-existing condition exclusions and may deliver savings compared to your current health plan. Don’t wait! Enroll today and give your firm the benefits it deserves. Watch this Q&A with Buck Orrison with TBA Member Insurance Solutions to get answers to your questions about coverage in the coming year. Not part of a group? TBA also offers a dedicated health plan for solo attorneys.

Registration is open for this year's Disability Law Forum. Join colleagues Oct. 23 via Zoom for three virtual sessions that will cover a variety of topics applicable to disability law practitioners. These include a session with Jennifer Cronenberg from the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR), a course dedicated to preparing for an administrative law judge hearing, and a Disability Determination Services/Office of Hearings Operations update with Kim Joseph and James Stanfield. Other speakers include Lena Beal, John Dreiser, Emma Drozdowski Webb and Christopher George.

The Tennessee Bar Association offers group health insurance exclusively for members through BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. Many firms have found meaningful savings and access to a strong national provider network for their attorneys, employees and covered dependents. Enrollment opens Oct. 6; start planning now! Even if you've already renewed your current coverage, you may still move to the TBA plan. Contact Buck Orrison to schedule a 15-minute consultation to review your current plan and see what options are available. Solo attorney? Explore our separate health plan built just for solo practitioners.

Democrats in Congress are pressing three major law firms — Paul Weiss, Kirkland & Ellis and Skadden — for details on potential free legal work for the Commerce Department, which they argue may violate federal law and go beyond previously announced pro bono commitments. Lawmakers Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Adam Schiff of California and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut pointed to reports that the firms assisted with tariff negotiations and Intel’s $8.9 billion deal involving the U.S. government, calling the work coercive and outside the stated focus on veterans, anti-Semitism and justice reforms. Bloomberg Law reports that the lawmakers warned the arrangements may stem from what they characterize as Trump administration “shakedown” deals that traded the rescission of punitive executive orders for promises of nearly $1 billion in free legal services. The firms face an Oct. 6 deadline to respond, but Democrats lack subpoena power to compel disclosure.

The Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville is hosting a free legal clinic for artists Nov. 5 at the Country Music Association. The clinic offers 30-minute consultations with volunteer attorneys for income-qualified creatives across Tennessee. Volunteer attorneys can expect questions on contracts & licensing, copyright, business formation, nonprofit governance and the like. Email vlpa@abcnashville.org for more information or to volunteer.

The State Building Commission in August approved a $4,000 private donation to go toward the construction of the “memorial for unborn children” on the grounds of the state capitol. The monument was first proposed in 2018 and sponsored by Rep. Jerry Sexton, R-Bean Station, and Sen. Steve Southerland, R-Morristown. WKRN reports that Democrats had argued that the monument's construction would have serious implications for abortion and women, and that the memorial wasn’t necessary because there is already one honoring children who have died in Nashville’s Centennial Park.

Out-of-state PACs are pouring millions into Tennessee’s special congressional race in District 7, with most of the money spent attacking Rep. Jody Barrett, R-Dickson, for opposing school vouchers and a 2024 tax rebate plan. The School Freedom Fund, bankrolled solely by billionaire Jeff Yass, has spent over $500,000 against Barrett, though it hasn’t endorsed another candidate. Matt Van Epps, endorsed by retiring Republican Rep. Mark Green, has received more than $500,000 in outside PAC support. Much of that money can be traced to a PAC funded by the parents of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, WPLN reports. Other frontrunners, including Lee Reeves and state Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, have relied heavily on personal loans to their campaigns, while on the Democratic side, Darden Copeland and Rep. Bo Mitchell of Nashville lead fundraising, with state Rep. Vincent Dixie, D-Nashville, receiving some support from an out-of-state PAC. Early voting ends today; the primary election is Oct. 7.

The Justice Department (DOJ) has ordered all 93 U.S. attorney’s offices to prosecute adult sponsors of unaccompanied migrant children (UAC) for crimes such as trafficking, fraud and immigration violations, according to a memo from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Each district must appoint a coordinator, track cases and seek DOJ approval before declining prosecution, signaling a tougher enforcement push under the Trump administration. Bloomberg Law reports that the move follows Republican criticism of Biden-era policies that loosened vetting requirements, which they say increased risks of exploitation, though advocates argue stricter rules deter family members from stepping forward. The directive reflects Trump’s broader effort to overhaul the UAC program, with expanded vetting, renewed data-sharing between agencies and $300 million in new funding.

State Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, is accusing Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti of improperly revising and withdrawing a prior legal opinion, written by former AG Herbert Slatery, to allow Gov. Bill Lee to deploy National Guard troops to Memphis at President Donald Trump’s request. Yarbro argues the move violates both the U.S. and Tennessee constitutions, which prohibit military involvement in policing, and says it undermines the rule of law. Skrmetti defends the change, stating attorney general opinions are not binding and that the office withdraws opinions when it finds the state of the law has changed or the analysis was incorrect. Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, contends the governor has clear authority over the Guard. Yarbro maintains state law authorizes changes or omissions only when the legislature passes new laws or a court makes a conflicting ruling, and warns that ignoring constitutional limits amounts to “tyranny.” Tennessee Lookout has the story.