The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) last Thursday released one of the Covenant School shooter's journals, without explanation, reports the Tennessean. In July 2024, Davidson County Chancellor I'Ashea Myles ruled that the writings would not be made public, agreeing with Covenant families that the shooter’s writings were protected by copyright laws and should not be treated as public records. Several news outlets, as well as Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, had petitioned for release of the journals, and the Tennessee Star claimed in September 2024 to have published 90 pages of the shooter's "manifesto." The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) in April released the final report on the Covenant School shooting, concluding that the shooter, Aubrey Hale, had sought notoriety, acted alone in planning and carrying out the attack, and left no reason for the attack or choice of target. In May, former Lt. Garet Davidson was indicted on charges of stealing documents related to the shooting.

Foley & Lardner LLP has announced the opening of its newest office in Nashville with the addition of three corporate partners to support the firm’s growing Health Care & Life Sciences and Manufacturing sectors. New partners Jesse Neil, Brent Bowman and Jon Gaston join the firm from Holland & Knight LLP. Two Foley litigation partners, Kevin Hyde and Lauren Loew, also will work from Nashville to help establish and grow the office. “Nashville is a perfect fit for us. It’s a vibrant market marked by robust growth and a strong pipeline of corporate investment, particularly in health care, life sciences, manufacturing, energy and infrastructure — industries that closely align with our firm’s strengths,” said Daljit Doogal, chairman and CEO of the firm. The new office is located at 501 Commerce St., Ste. 1650, Nashville 37203 and can be reached via phone at 629-312-9200. Read more in a press release from the firm.

Knox County Mayor Glen Jacobs today called for "immediate state intervention" at the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center, requesting that Gov. Bill Lee shift control of the center's operations from the current board of trustees to the Department of Children's Services (DCS). Jacobs says that move will protect the center while more permanent arrangements can be made for the Knox County Sherriff's Office to take control. Knox News reports that issues surfaced this week after the center fired its sole registered nurse and an information technology specialist under what Jacobs and Juvenile Court Judge Tim Irwin called "questionable circumstances." In a letter to the center, Jacobs and Irwin demanded the two employees be reinstated. The nurse, Stephanie Clowers, told the paper she had been documenting errors in medication distribution and poor practices, including one instance when a juvenile lost consciousness after ingesting another's medication. No one at the facility took his vitals, called poison control or summoned an ambulance, she stated. An investigation by ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio in 2023 found that the center had been using seclusion as a punishment for years, rather than as a last resort as the law requires.

The 3rd Judicial District Chancery Court is reminding attorneys that when they file orders in the Electronic Court Filing System (ECF), a certificate of service must be included as part of the order listing all parties just as if it had been filed on paper (Rule 11 Local Rules of Electronic Filing). This includes orders to close estates unless the parties have waived service of final order under oath. The court also reiterates that the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) does not replace the need for service of process. The NEF satisfies the responsibility of a filer to send service to other parties that are registered in the ECF System. Non-registered parties must be served via conventional means through USPS or email from the attorney. The case information contains a service list which will identify those registered users and those who must be served by traditional method. The email received as a registered user lists that same information as well. Attorneys are encouraged to refer to the local rules for more information on e-filing.

A trial date of Jan. 20, 2026, has been set for former Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy, Chattanoogan.com reports. Murphy resigned her position in June 2024 after Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) officers began looking into issues about her residency. She is charged with 17 felony and misdemeanor charges, including one count of illegal voter registration, one count of false entries on official registration or election documents, three counts of false entries in governmental records, three counts of forgery, three counts of perjury, and six counts of official misconduct. Murphy has pleaded not guilty. Community leaders have called her indictment and arrest "petty partisan politics."

The chair of Tennessee’s Registry of Election Finance, Tom Lawless, said Tuesday he will seek to revive a 2020 request for a criminal investigation into Cade Cothren and the Faith Family Freedom Fund PAC, citing new evidence from the recently concluded federal corruption case against Cothren and former House Speaker Glen Casada. Cothren, a former aide to Casada, and Casada were convicted this month on nearly 20 federal charges each in a kickback scheme. Lawless emphasized the urgency of reactivating the state-level investigation, which had been paused during the federal proceedings. The case involves allegations of illegal coordination with Chapel Hill Republican Rep. Todd Warner's 2020 campaign against incumbent Rep. Rick Tillis, R-Lewisburg, which Warner went on to win. Warner is not facing criminal charges. The Tennessee Lookout has the story.

On Wednesday, Davidson County Chancellor Patricia Moskal ordered the sealing of affidavits related to a Department of Children's Services (DCS) case that had been publicly available for years. The case stems from a petition by Memphis journalist Stacy Jacobson seeking access to documents related to the death of a 14-year-old boy. The initial documents contained redactions that the Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled were too broad. Moskal also heard arguments over new redactions in related files, during which Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Senior Attorney Paul McAdoo, representing Jacobson, urged the judge to make sure the redactions were limited to details truly identifying of the child. McAdoo also pointed out that certain newly made redactions were not previously made in publicly posted versions of the DCS documents. The Nashville Banner reports on the developments in its daily newsletter.

Celebrate Tennessee’s 229th birthday on May 31 with free, family-friendly activities Tennessee State Library & Archives (TSLA), the Tennessee State Museum and Bicentennial Mall State Park. The Tennessee State Museum will open at 10 a.m. CDT to the public and offer highlight tours, story time with reigning Miss Tennessee Carley Vogel, period games on the front lawn and a cupcake celebration. The TSLA will showcase Tennessee’s founding documents and new exhibits, and will host living history interpreters and indoor and outdoor activities, including a scavenger hunt. Tennessee’s three original constitutions also will be presented, displayed and guarded by the Tennessee Highway Patrol Honor Guard as part of the opening ceremony. Park rangers will offer free guided tours of Bicentennial Mall. Plan your visit.

An item in yesterday's TBA Today incorrectly identified former TBA President Jim Emison's law school. Emison received his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law (now Winston College of Law) in 1968 and his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University in 1965.

This summer marks 100 years since the infamous Scopes Evolution Trial, formally "The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes," that took place in Dayton, north of Chattanooga in July 1925. The case was a challenge to the Butler Act, a law that made the teaching of human evolution in Tennessee schools illegal. Dubbed “the trial of the century” at the time, noted attorney Clarence Darrow represented Tennessee school teacher John Scopes while three-time presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan prosecution the case for Tennessee. Opening June 24, the Tennessee State Museum will present Eight Days in Dayton: 100 Years of the Scopes Trial, a temporary display featuring artifacts from the museum's collection related to the trial, including the table where town leaders sat in Robinson’s Drug Store when planning the trial, textbooks related to the case, and a significant collection of original press photographs the museum acquired in 2022.