In the recent legislative session, the Tennessee General Assembly passed a bill creating a statewide conservatorship management task force. Public Chapter 417, effective July 1, established a nine-member body to provide resources and assist in promotion of effective conservatorships. The task force will review concerns involving education, centralized documentation, preventative training regarding fraud and abuse protections, and more. The task force also will review the capacity of the public guardianship program and determine the need for an independent conservator panel or professional conservators. Representatives include designees from relevant agencies, the Administrative Office of the Courts, an active judge, legal aid office member and a designee from the Conservatorship Association of Tennessee, among others.

The federal judge who formerly presided over the criminal case of five former Memphis police officers charged in the 2023 death of Tyré Nichols has recused himself from two more cases involving lawyers on the Nichols case. The Daily Memphian reports that U.S. District Judge Mark Norris has recused himself from a case involving 10 defendants charged with drug trafficking, one of whom is represented by Stephen Leffler, who also represented former Memphis police officer Demetrius Haley. In the other case, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard is prosecuting drug trafficking charges. He also was a prosecutor in the Nichols case. Norris previously removed himself from the federal sentencing of five former officers charged in connection with Nichols’ death and a pending civil rights lawsuit brought over the death.

President Donald Trump on July 1 nominated Braden Boucek for U.S. attorney in the Middle District of Tennessee. According to The Tennessean, Boucek has 10 years of experience as a federal prosecutor, serving as an assistant U.S. attorney in Nashville from 2011-2015 and in the Western District of Tennessee from 2005-2011. He started his career in the Tennessee Attorney General's Office, followed by two years as an assistant district attorney in Williamson County. Most recently he was vice president of legal affairs at the Beacon Center before joining the Southeastern Legal Foundation as senior vice president of litigation. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Boucek would replace acting U.S. Attorney Rob McGuire, who plans to stay in the office after his interim role ends. The nomination came the same day Trump nominated Michael Dunavant to serve as the U.S attorney in the state’s Western District.

The Tennessee Bar Foundation inducted 29 new fellows at the group’s annual dinner in June. The new members were recognized for their contributions to the legal profession and the public good. Foundation Chair Jacqueline B. Dixon said of the group, "We are incredibly proud to welcome the Class of 2025 into the distinguished ranks of our Fellows. Their exceptional contributions elevate the legal profession and reinforce the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to support critical law-related programs across our great state." The foundation administers Tennessee's Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program and funds projects that provide civil legal services to low-income Tennesseans, improve the administration of justice and ensure greater access to justice for all. See the full list of new fellows.

Brentwood attorney Brandon Bass has taken office as president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association (TTLA) for the 2025-2026 term. He succeeds Danny Ellis of Chattanooga. Bass, who works for the Law Offices of John Day, has more than 15 years of experience representing clients in hundreds of injury cases including medical negligence, product liability, child sexual abuse, tractor-trailer and commercial vehicle accidents. Other leaders named include President-elect Troy Jones of Knoxville, Vice President East Audrey Dolmovich of Chattanooga, Vice President West Tiffany Carpenter of Memphis, Vice President Middle George Spanos of Nashville, Secretary Ali Toll of Goodlettsville and Treasurer Josh Cantrell of Franklin. See the full list of all board members in a release from the association.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has issued notice that the Tennessee General Assembly has ratified amendments to the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure and Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure. The amendments, adopted by the court in December 2024, took effect on July 1.

Tennessee Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti recently announced the opening of the new Civil Rights Enforcement Division (CRED), which is now accepting discrimination complaints under the Tennessee Human Rights Act and Tennessee Disability Act. This past legislative session, the Tennessee General Assembly approved SB861/HB910 to dissolve the Tennessee Human Rights Commission and create the Civil Rights Enforcement Division within the AG's office to provide civil rights enforcement. The division will serve as a specialized unit combating illegal discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and education in Tennessee. Tennesseans who believe they have experienced unlawful discrimination can file complaints with CRED here. Read more in a press release from the office. Any complaints pending with the commission must be filed again with CRED within 90 days according to The Tennessean.

A draft report from the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations is recommending that the state build a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) crime lab in Chattanooga to reduce the time needed to examine evidence in criminal cases. According to Chattanoogan.com, for years, law enforcement officers from the Chattanooga area have had to transport evidence primarily to Nashville. The proposed Chattanooga lab would be smaller than the state's other labs in Knoxville, Jackson and Nashville and would focus on drug-related evidence and toxicology. The draft report also finds that all three existing labs are running out of space and need to be expanded. The report calls for expanding lab space, hiring additional analysts and using process improvement methods to keep pace with rising caseloads. Despite recent hirings and investments that have improved some turnaround times at the labs, demand for testing continues to grow, the news source reports.

The Davidson County Jail recently failed a state inspection for the first time in several years due to overcrowding. Sheriff Daron Hall told News Channel 5 that the downtown Nashville facility is experiencing overcrowding and has no way to increase capacity. The current jail was built just five years ago and cost $200 million. Hall also says that the jail's Harding Place campus, south of downtown, must be replaced to increase capacity and for safety. He says the city is "spending over a million dollars a year on band aids on those facilities." Total capacity at the two campuses is about 2,300 inmates. Combined they are currently housing 300 inmates over capacity.

A federal judge on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump’s asylum ban for the southern border, determining it runs afoul of immigration laws protecting the rights of those seeking refuge in the U.S. The decision from U.S. District Court Judge Randolph Moss blocks an executive order that ended asylum for all but those who enter the U.S. at designated ports of entry. Moss found the order violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which lays out guidelines for who qualifies for asylum and how they can seek the protections. Moss also rejected the idea that Trump has inherent presidential authority over decisions of who enters the country. He postponed implementation of the ruling for 14 days to give the administration an opportunity to appeal. The suit was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of 13 anonymous asylum seekers, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center and the Florence Project. The Hill has more on the decision.