The TBA’s 36th Annual Health Law Forum took place in the Nashville area last week. Close to 300 attendees heard updates on digital health, cybersecurity, regulatory fraud and abuse and using AI in a health care context. Speakers also provided legislative, case review and ethics updates. The keynote address was delivered by David Higginson, executive vice president of Phoenix Children's Hospital. Section Chair Ian Hennessey, general counsel for Alliance for Multispecialty Research in Knoxville, produced and moderated the two-day event. At the section’s annual meeting and luncheon on Friday, he passed the Section Cup to incoming chair Imad Abdullah, senior vice president and chief legal officer with Regional One Health in Memphis. Members of the section also voted on leadership for the 2024–2025 bar year at the luncheon. Thanks to all who helped plan or speak at the event, which remains the TBA’s highest attended in-person CLE program.

The Tennessee Department of Corrections 2024 Annual Report shows the state’s prisons are more understaffed and violent than before the pandemic. According to The Tennessean, the report shows the number of guard posts left unfilled increased last year after falling from a high in 2021. Parole and probation officer positions had a much lower vacancy rate in Fiscal Year 2024, but now is the highest it has been since 2014, the earliest year statistic are available. Employment data from Tennessee’s four privately managed prisons are not included in the department’s reporting. In addition, the report found that in all Tennessee prisons, including those privately managed, there were more assaults reported last fiscal year than in any year since 2015.

Judge S. Curtis Rose recently won a special election to fill the bench of the 2nd Judicial District Circuit Court and was sworn in on Aug. 29 with his family attending the ceremony. "I enjoyed the opportunity to have my family there with me for that moment," Rose said. "One of the special moments that occurred was that my 94-year-old grandmother was able to attend and was also able to vote for her grandson in an election." His grandmother expressed her joy and pride, reminiscing about Judge Rose's grandfather and father, both of whom she said would have been proud of this milestone. Previously, Rose served as a municipal judge in Kingsport. Read more from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

The TBA’s 36th Annual Health Law Forum kicked off yesterday in Franklin with a welcome from TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr. The two-day event is the premier health law program in the state, providing essential insights from health law providers, practitioners and regulators. Watch for a full report from the forum in Monday's issue of TBA Today. Lanquist spoke to the group about the opportunity to engage around policy issues that are important to the practice of law in Tennessee. He encouraged those in attendance to connect with TBA's Grassroots Advocacy efforts. One of the primary government affairs issues TBA remains committed to is improving delivery of legal services for indigent clients. The TBA is focused both on securing adequate resources to compensate the lawyers who do this important work and investing in new approaches to improve the indigent representation system in a way that benefits attorneys, the larger justice system and the public.

A three-judge panel, made up of Nashville Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal, 10th Judicial District Judge Sandra Donaghy and 25th Judicial District Chancellor Kasey Culbreath, on Thursday issued a ruling specifying certain conditions that fall under an exception for medical emergencies in Tennessee's law prohibiting abortion, reports the Tennessean. The ruling also blocks the state from taking disciplinary action against physicians for performing medically necessary abortions covered by the exceptions, which include previable preterm premature rupture of membranes and fatal fetal diagnoses that lead to maternal health conditions. The panel heard arguments in April on whether to issue the temporary injunction blocking the state's abortion ban for women who are suffering severe pregnancy complications or facing cases of lethal fetal conditions.

Buck Orrison from TBA's Member Insurance Solutions sat down with TBA’s Communications Coordinator Azya Thornton and answered members' questions regarding group health insurance in a recorded webinar. Enrollment for TBA's group health insurance is open now through Dec. 13.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, organizations that serve victims of natural disasters are continuing to provide updated resources. The National Consumer Law Center has updated some of its natural disaster resources, including free publications for advocates assisting victims of natural disaster and others working to rebuild. In Tennessee, the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services' website Help4TN and helpline 844-HELP4TN are always available and have specific resources and legal support for storm survivors. Lawyers from across the state are invited to complete this online form to volunteer to help disaster survivors. The TBA Disaster Resources page offers general information for those impacted by disasters, as well as those seeking to provide assistance. The TBA's Helene Disaster Response page has information and resources specific to this disaster.

The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals delivered a ruling Friday that temporarily halted two permits needed to begin construction on a pipeline project proposed to fuel the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) combined-cycle natural gas facility at the site of the coal-fired Cumberland Fossil Plant that is being retired, the Associated Press reports. The panel's split 2-1 decision prevents Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company LLC from starting to build the 32-mile pipeline through Dickson, Houston and Stewart counties, which was reported to start as soon as this week. TVA’s plans to open more natural gas plants have brought opposition from advocates seeking a redirection from fossil fuels and into solar and other renewable energy. The case is set for oral arguments on Dec. 10. 

Tennessee Bar Journal Editor Julia Canada Wilburn spoke on a panel today at the National Association of Bar Executives (NABE) Communications Section Workshop in Raleigh, North Carolina. She focused her remarks on working with journal editorial boards. Other panelists talked about magazine layout and design, operations and finding new advertisers. The Communications Section holds its annual professional development workshop each fall in different cities across the country. TBA staff have a long history of participation and leadership in the section.

A federal judge has delayed sentencing for Desmond Mills Jr., one of the former Memphis police officers charged in the death of Tyre Nichols. U.S. District Judge Mark Norris moved the sentencing date to early next year after a petition from Mills’ attorney, the Daily Memphian reports. The move to postpone sentencing comes after two other former officers asked for acquittals of their convictions on charges related to Nichols’ death. Mills agreed to a federal plea in November 2023.