Former Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice William Muecke "Mickey" Barker, who died in 2023, began his career as a judge in the Hamilton County Circuit Court. On Monday, Circuit Court Judge Alex McVeagh held a special celebration to honor Barker by moving his formal portrait to hang over the jury box. Former TBA President Marcy Eason, who was sworn in to that position in 2007 by then-Chief Justice Barker, said, "It was a poignant and special day in court. Judge McVeagh now rules on the bench that began his mentor and dear friend's judicial path." See a photo from the event.

A federal judge once again has blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a policy that would deny citizenship to some babies born in the U.S., despite a recent Supreme Court ruling limiting nationwide injunctions. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante of New Hampshire granted provisional class action status to a lawsuit brought by immigrant rights advocates over the administration's interpretation of the Constitution's birthright citizenship provision, and then issued a new nationwide block on the policy. But he paused the ruling for seven days to allow for an expected appeal by the administration. Reuters reports on the ruling.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee today announced that it has reached a settlement with Overton County over allegations the county violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to accommodate individuals with hearing disabilities during public meetings. Complainants said the county ignored requests for hearing assistance, refused to use microphones and rejected offers to improve audio equipment, preventing them from fully participating. Under the agreement, Overton County will upgrade audio systems, install assistive listening devices and implement a process for individuals to request accommodations. Although the county did not admit liability, it cooperated with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to resolve the complaint.

The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has issued notice that it intends to adopt amendments to Local Rules 12(c)(5) and 40 and Internal Operating Procedure 40, effective Oct. 1. The court also notes that, effective July 1, amendments to Local Rule 18 were adopted due to an immediate need. The public is invited to comment on the amendments by Oct. 1. Comments may be addressed to Kelly L. Stephens, Clerk, 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, 501 Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse, 100 East Fifth St., Cincinnati, OH 45202-3988 or sent via email.

One hundred years ago today, the trial in The State of Tennessee v. John T. Scopes began with jury selection in Dayton, putting the tiny town between Knoxville and Chattanooga in the national spotlight. From July 10 until July 21, the "Scopes Monkey Trial," as it came to be known, tested the constitutionality of the state's Butler Act, which prohibited teaching evolution in public school science classes. Reflections on the trial include Russell Fowler's "History's Verdict" column in the July/August issue of the Tennessee Bar Journal, which looks back on the trial and its aftermath. A joint reporting project from the Nashville Banner and Nashville Scene considers how the case still resonates in today's legal and political landscape. Knox News takes a tour of the historic Rhea County courthouse and its Scopes museum, which preserves the historical facts of the trial. And the Tennessee State Museum presents "Eight Days in Dayton: 100 Years of the Scopes Trial" through Oct. 12, an exhibit featuring significant artifacts related to the trial.

The Tennessee Attorney General’s (AG) Office is warning consumers about scams related to the popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound (GLP-1 drugs). Skyrocketing consumer demand for these medications plus the high price tag and tight supplies have created opportunities for scammers to cash in, the office reports. Before seeking out alternative sources for these medications, consumers should be aware of the risks. The Tennessean reports that scammers in China, Turkey and India are selling counterfeit products that falsely claim to contain semaglutide, the active ingredient in prefilled injectable pens sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, which many doctors prescribe for weight loss.

Knox County has dismantled the long-standing leadership at the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center following reports of alleged poor medical care, missing medication and retaliatory firing of whistleblowers. An 18-month transition plan approved by county commissioners will place control of the facility under the Knox County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) effective Jan. 1, 2026, while oversight will be provided by a newly appointed board and continued check-ins by the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. The shift drew criticism due to concerns about the sheriff’s department, including a recent inmate death at the county jail. The overhaul follows the forced resignation of Richard Bean, who had run the facility since 1972 allegedy with little oversight and a handpicked board of trustees. Knox News has the story.

In this webcast replay, Stuart Teicher tells true stories about lawyers who break the law and the ethics rules they break (or could have broken). This session is about a judge who harassed his staff, played favorites with lawyers and conducted himself in a professionally questionable manner. Ethics topics include the connection between competence, withdrawal and mental health issues; how sexual harassment creates problems; the duty to report lawyer and judicial misconduct; and how the rule on supervision guides lawyers in creating an ethically positive office environment. Visit the TBA website to register.

Six weeks after being found guilty on 17 of 19 charges — including theft, money laundering, bribery and kickbacks — former Tennessee House Speaker Glenn Casada formally requested a new trial. His co-defendant and former chief of staff Cade Cothren has indicated he intends to do the same. The Tennessean reports that one reason Casada's attorneys say he is entitled to a new trial is that incriminating portions of the former lawmaker's FBI interview were played in court despite the government agreeing to redact them. In the motion for a new trial, attorneys wrote, “The bell could not be unrung — the jury heard the redacted statements, and there is no meaningful way to undo that error." U.S. District Court Judge Eli Richardson rejected a motion for mistrial after the interview was played in court. Casada and Cothren are scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 12, but that may be delayed given these new filings.

The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance’s (TDCI) Securities Division recently amended its current rules to allow certain investment advisers, private fund advisers and venture capital firms whose only clients are private funds and who meet the new rule’s definition to be exempt from registration and custody requirements. However, these firms will be required to notice file and annually renew the filing with the division. The division says there has been confusion as to who should be utilizing the new exemption with some relying on the de minimis exemption and believing custody requirements do not apply. To clarify, the division says that the de minimis exemption never exempted an investment adviser from the requirement to comply with custody rules. However, those who meet the requirements of the newly created private fund exemption, found at Tennessee Securities Rule 0780-04-03-.05 (1)(c), are not subject to the custody requirements. To help investors, the division has prepared an FAQ to provide greater clarification.