The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2025 Judge Pamela L. Reeves Tennessee Professionalism Award has been extended to April 14. This year's award, presented by the TBA and Tennessee’s American Inns of Court, will honor a lawyer or judge residing in the Middle Grand Division whose life and practice display sterling character and unquestioned integrity, coupled with ongoing dedication to the highest standards of the rule of law and the highest standards of the legal profession in Tennessee. Nominees must be alive when nominations are submitted but they need not be an active member of an American Inn of Court or the TBA. The award will be presented at the TBA's Annual Convention, which will be held in Franklin June 11-14. Read about past award recipients.

Vanderbilt University Law School has moved up five spots from 19 to 14 in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings released Tuesday. New rankings for other Tennessee law schools include the University of Tennessee College of Law at 55 (down from 52 from last year), Belmont University College of Law at 84 (up from 91 last year), University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at 146 (down from 140 last year), and Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law at 169 (down from 165 last year). According to Reuters, the U.S. News rankings have traditionally been viewed as the single-most influential measure of the law schools among prospective students, but that may be on the decline. In a new survey of law school admissions officers by test prep company Kaplan, 62% said they believe the rankings “have lost some of their prestige over the last couple of years.” View the full list of rankings.

Tennessee Sports Wagering Council (SWC) has announced new rules and regulations that will take effect June 30. The rules revisions strengthen player protections and build on ongoing efforts to eliminate fraudulent activity on wagering platforms. The rules also add multi-factor identification requirements for different account activities, define more responsible gaming terms, and put new conditions on the processes for voiding or canceling wagers, among other changes. “Making these rule changes is a staff-wide effort working with the industry and consumers to solicit feedback and constantly reevaluate what’s working and what could be improved, and we appreciate everyone who participated in this public process,” SWC Chair Billy Orgel said. Read more in a press release. The revisions have been approved by the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office and are posted on the SWC’s website and with the Secretary of State’s Office.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division clothing store is now open! Members can purchase mens or ladies polos and Champion t-shirts or crew neck sweatshirts in either royal blue or white. The clothing comes with the TBA Young Lawyers Division logo in the pocket square area. Orders placed before May 1 can be picked up at the TBA Convention in Franklin, June 11-14. Members also have the option to have the items shipped. Click here for more information and to order. See sample photos of the clothing options.

April is Help4TNMonth, an annual public awareness campaign to highlight the need for free and reduced fee legal services in Tennessee and spotlight organizations that provide these services throughout the year. The Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Initiative is sharing updates via the Help4TNMonth digital campaign and calendar of events. For 2025, the initiative is focused on providing information for the public on “the where, why and how of legal resources across Tennessee.”

A former member of the Tennessee Inmate Disciplinary Oversight Board pleaded guilty to aggravated statutory rape Monday morning. According to the Commercial Appeal, Vanessa Murtaugh was indicted on one count of statutory rape by an authority figure and one count of aggravated rape. She resigned from her position on the board the next day. If convicted of both counts at trial, she could have faced 10 to 16 years in prison. Instead, under the plea deal, Murtaugh will serve four years of diversion and register as a sex offender.

After firing one Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) board member last month, the Trump administration now has fired board chair Joe Ritch, a Huntsville, Alabama, lawyer and community leader. The move leaves the governing body of the nation's largest public power provider with four members, which does not constitute a quorum, Knox News reports. The board voted at its February meeting to make Bill Renick of Mississippi its next chair, effective in May or earlier if Ritch was unable to fulfill his duties. Ritch, nominated for a second term by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2022, was set to serve until May 18. The federally owned and self-funded utility was created by Congress during the Great Depression. It produces electricity for 10 million people across seven Southeast states and provides economic development and environmental stewardship to the Tennessee Valley.

Three University of Tennessee at Knoxville students and one former student working on campus are at risk of deportation due to changes made by the federal government to their immigration status, according to an email Chancellor Donde Plowman sent Friday to the campus community. The university discovered the changes in a federal immigration database that processes documents for international students and exchange visitors, Knox News reports. The status change occurred after the students were identified in a criminal records check, making them ineligible to be enrolled or employed at the school and placing them at risk of deportation. UT found one student had been granted judicial diversion for a property crime, and another had been charged with DUI. The university has not determined the cause of the status change for the other two individuals. "The Center for Global Engagement’s International Student and Scholar Services is working to support these individuals as we continue to work to fully understand their situations," Plowman said in the email.

The U.S. Copyright Office has released Part 2 of its Report on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence (AI), addressing the copyrightability of AI-generated works. The report maintains that human authorship and creativity remain essential to obtaining copyright protection for works involving materials created by artificial intelligence. Part 1, released last summer, discusses legal and policy issues related to AI and digital replicas, while Part 2 analyzes the type and degree of human contributions needed to bring AI-generated works under U.S. copyright protection. The report also explores how other countries are approaching the copyrightability of AI-generated content and the policy implications of providing additional legal protection for such material, Reuters reports. The office's AI initiative, launched in 2023, aims to issue registration guidance for works incorporating AI-generated content.

The Tennessee Department of Treasury’s Criminal Injuries Compensation Program has provided more than $350 million in assistance to victims of violent crime since its inception in 1982. Financial aid has helped cover expenses such as medical bills, lost wages and mental health counseling. As part of National Crime Victims' Rights Week, which runs April 21-27, the program is joining organizations across the country to raise awareness of victims' rights, inspire communities and address unmet needs. State Treasurer David H. Lillard Jr. said in a press release that the office aims to increase awareness of online training resources to financially assist victims of crime. Tennesseans are encouraged to review the criminal injuries training available on the department's website.