TikTok is challenging the U.S. government's efforts to force a sale of the platform, arguing that it is protected by the First Amendment. The company has drawn comparisons to other foreign-owned media outlets in the U.S., contending that its ownership structure does not negate its constitutional rights. The Justice Department previously argued in a legal brief "neither TikTok's China-based parent company ByteDance, nor the platform's global and U.S. arms, TikTok Ltd. and TikTok Inc., were entitled to First Amendment protections because they are foreign organizations operating abroad” or owned by one, as reported by ABC News. While the government cites national security concerns, TikTok maintains that it has made significant efforts to address these issues and that the proposed sale is an overreach. Oral arguments in the case are scheduled to begin in September.

A federal judge in Florida has temporarily blocked the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) rule prohibiting agreements signed by workers not to join their employers' rivals or launch competing businesses. The decision comes after a similar ruling from a Texas judge earlier this year. The FTC maintains the ban will take effect for most Americans on Sept. 4 despite these rulings, Reuters reports. Supporters of the ban argue it protects worker mobility, while opponents claim it hinders businesses' ability to protect confidential information.

Shelby County Commissioners advanced a referendum proposed for the Nov. 5 election that would potentially allow the commission to hire its own legal counsel independent of the county attorney’s office if approved by voters. The ballot question advanced in the first and second reading with four aye votes. According to the Daily Memphian, the proposal comes amid ongoing tensions between the commission and the county administration. Despite concerns that the measure would result in “duplicative” services, a number of commissioners say that having their own legal counsel would provide greater autonomy and oversight in county affairs.

Former Shelby County Judge A. Melissa Boyd was booked back in jail after a judge ordered that diversion be terminated in a harassment case against her. Details on why the warrant was issued were not made available, according to ABC 24, but she was released on her own recognizance. She now will serve one year of probation. Boyd resigned from the bench in April amidst allegations of substance abuse and failure to adhere to court-ordered conditions, including a no-contact order and completion of treatment programs.

Derek Scott, a law school graduate with a history of opioid use disorder, spent three years trying to obtain his law license in Tennessee but faced opposition due to his use of buprenorphine to maintain sobriety. He ultimately was licensed, but his story has received national attention and the U.S. Justice Department now reportedly is investigating his case. According to NBC News, despite protections offered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for individuals with substance use disorders, Scott encountered discrimination when the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners demanded he cease use of the medication as a condition for licensure. In related reporting, the news source looks at the issues and stigma surrounding medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and the barriers many individuals in recovery face.

A new state law will take effect Jan. 1, 2025, which will mandate that all alcohol servers licensed with the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission must receive training on the role of alcohol and drugs in sexual assault and best strategies to prevent drugging in establishments, reports the Tennessean. Servers also will be required to have more training on sexual assault, date rape drug awareness and human trafficking. Dozens of downtown bars have signed on to the Safe Bar TN program, a network of bars, restaurants and community organizations working together to prevent alcohol-involved sexual violence and create safe nightlife venues.

The Our State, Our Languages Coalition, comprised of five Tennessee-based immigrant rights groups, has filed a federal complaint against the state alleging that the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security and Driver Services Division fail to provide sufficient language access to the driver’s exam in violation of civil rights law. Currently, Tennessee's written driving test is only available in English, Spanish, German, Japanese and Korean, and the road test is only offered in English. Nashville Public Radio reports that federal guidance states agencies should provide translation or interpretation if at least 1,000 people or 5% of the population have limited English proficiency. In Tennessee, that would include Arabic, Chinese, Somali, Kurdish and more, according to the coalition.

The deadline has been extended for attorneys to apply for appointment by the Hamilton County Commission to fill the General Sessions Court seat that Judge Alex McVeagh will be vacating at the end of the month. Officials said the required notice of the application deadline did not make it into the Sunday Chattanooga Times Free Press as required. The new deadline to apply is Aug. 19 at 3 p.m. EDT. Chattanoogan.com has the amended timeline for filling the vacancy. According to the news outlet, 13 applications have been filed thus far.

The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office is warning consumers about two recently reported government imposter scams. In the jury duty scam, scammers may pose as court officials or law enforcement officers claiming that the person has missed jury duty and is now subject to fines or arrest unless a fee is paid immediately. In the customs and border patrol scam, the caller may say that illegal items such as drugs were shipped in a person's name and have been intercepted, or that there is a warrant out for the person's arrest. More information on what to do and what agencies to contact if targeted by scammers can be found on the attorney general's website.

Lisa Bressman has been promoted to the role of vice dean of Vanderbilt Law School, effective for the 2024-2025 academic year. As vice dean, Bressman is responsible for a range of academic and administrative matters, including planning law school curriculum; overseeing the Legal Research & Writing Program, the Master of Legal Studies Program and the Undergraduate Minor in Legal Studies; and managing routine faculty personnel processes. She served as associate dean of academic affairs from 2010 to 2016 before beginning a second term in 2021. She also served as co-director of Vanderbilt’s Regulatory Program from 2006-2010. Bressman earned her law degree from the University of Chicago.