The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against Fayette County, alleging that the Board of County Commissioners violated the Voting Rights Act when it adopted its 2021 redistricting plan. According to a news release from the agency, the new plan allegedly denied the city’s Black voters an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. The suit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, argues that commissioners “deliberately rejected multiple districting plans that would have combined Black communities in districts that would allow Black voters to elect representatives of their choice.” According to Tennessee Lookout, Fayette County Mayor Rhea “Skip” Taylor confirmed the county is reviewing the lawsuit, but declined further comment.

The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals panel recently heard arguments on whether the state’s voter registration policies disenfranchised some 500,000 residents with felony convictions. The Nashville Banner reports that the case stems from a 2020 class action lawsuit filed by the Tennessee State Conference of the NAACP, which claims that the policies violate the National Voter Registration Act by being overly complex and inequitable. A federal judge had temporarily blocked the rules in April, but the state successfully appealed to maintain them during litigation. At the hearing, the state's attorney argued that the NAACP lacked legal standing to challenge the rules, while the NAACP contended that the state's actions hinder voter registration efforts.

A federal judge has upheld a court-imposed gag order against Nashville lawyer Daniel Horwitz. The Tennessean reports that Senior Judge Julia Smith Gibbons of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, who was assigned to hear the case for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, dismissed a lawsuit brought by Horwitz and the nonprofit public interest law firm Institute for Justice. After the ruling Horwitz pledged to “continue to fight” for the right to speak out. The gag order, imposed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffery Frensley, prevents Horwitz from speaking publicly about a case he brought against private prison operator CoreCivic.

The U.S. Supreme Court has turned down former state senator Brian Kelsey’s plea to consider his conviction and sentencing for campaign fraud. Action News 5 reports that the court denied certiorari in the case on Monday without providing an explanation. In 2022, Kelsey pleaded guilty to violating campaign finance laws and conspiring to defraud the Federal Election Commission to benefit his 2016 campaign for U.S. Congress. He later tried to withdraw his guilty plea, arguing that federal prosecutors violated his plea agreement. That request was denied, and he was sentenced to 21 months in prison. Kelsey then petitioned the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld the lower court’s actions. That decision was then appealed to the Supreme Court.

Chattanooga city and Hamilton County officials are pushing the federal government to consider the TVA downtown office complex for the site of a new federal courthouse. Arguments for that location include urban revitalization and expanded economic growth for the downtown area, according to Here Chattanooga. According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, however, federal planners have identified a four-acre block on Vine Street as the most advantageous location for the new courthouse. Read more in a news release from the General Services Administration. A $218 million budget has been approved for acquisition, design and construction of a new federal courthouse to replace the nearly 100-year old Joel W. Solomon Federal Building.

Make plans now to join colleagues from across the state at the TBA’s 2025 Annual Convention, set for June 11-14, in the Nashville suburb of Franklin. Annual favorites such as the Bench/Bar program and luncheon, Lawyers Luncheon and the swearing in of TBA’s new president will return, as will the Wednesday night welcome reception and an expanded Thursday evening reception. This year’s convention also will include a tech showcase component, allowing attendees to get a more hands-on experience with exhibitors. The four-day event will take place at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, located 20 minutes from downtown Nashville with easy access to I-65 and free parking. Stay tuned for more information!

A Knoxville man died after being held by Knox County Sheriff’s Office jailers at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility for less than a day, Knox News reports. David Batts was admitted to a local hospital on Jan. 7 with several cuts and an extremely bruised and swollen face. He died the following day. Lance Baker, a lawyer representing Batts’ family, released a statement to Knox News alleging that Batts was “tased and struck multiple times by Knox County officers” at the jail. The paper has filed multiple public records requests for video footage of Batts from both the Knoxville Police Department (KPD) and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. “KPD officers did not use any force to detain Batts at the bus terminal. He was completely alert and appeared fine physically when he left in the ambulance,” a KPD spokesperson told Knox News in an email. A spokesperson for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said the agency has not been asked to investigate the death.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is now accepting applications for a circuit court judge in the 11th Judicial District, which covers Hamilton County. The vacancy was created as a result of the appointment of Judge Michael J. Dumitru to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Applicants must complete an application and submit it to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) by noon CST on Feb. 5. The application and instructions are available on the AOC's Judicial Resources page. The commission will hold a public hearing to interview candidates on March 11 at 9 a.m. EDT in the 11th Judicial District. Qualified applicants must be licensed attorneys who are at least 30 years old, have been residents of the state for five years and live in the 11th Judicial District. For more information contact Assistant General Counsel John Jefferson.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) is facing a legal battle over its handling of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). A class-action lawsuit accuses DHS of delays in processing initial and recertification applications, issuing timely and accurate notices and providing prompt appeal decisions, according to Fox 13 Memphis. The lawsuit alleges that, as a result, applicants and SNAP beneficiaries have experienced hunger, malnutrition and financial hardship. The complaint seeks court acknowledgment of DHS’s failures and injunctions requiring the agency to correct its mistakes.

For the first time in several years, fewer guns were stolen from cars in Nashville in 2024 compared to 2023. Nashville Public Radio reports the thefts had been one of the city’s most persistent problems since 2013, when the state legislature passed a law allowing guns to be carried in cars. The Metro Nashville Police Department reported that 928 guns were stolen from cars in 2024, more than 281 fewer firearms than in 2023. It is the lowest number the city has recorded since 2019. Data from the FBI shows that Memphis, Chattanooga and Nashville are among the top 20 cities in the country for guns stolen from cars.