The Tennessee Attorney General's (AG) office hired Memphis lawyer and former U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton earlier this summer to review Tennessee State University (TSU) financials and corporate governance, the Tennessean reports. The probe was requested by TSU's newly appointed board of trustees "in order for us to continue to move the university forward" said chair Dakasha Winter. Gov. Bill Lee signed off on the appointment and in a letter directed Stanton to review “policies, procedures, protocols, fiscal records, capital expenditures, capital master planning, and corporate governance” from 2021 to present. The letter also suggested that “litigation to protect TSU's interests” may be required. This review comes after the state spent millions of dollars on audits that found leadership issues at TSU but no evidence of fraud or malfeasance. Stanton, an attorney with Butler Snow, previously was appointed by the state to conduct a review of its lethal injection procedures, and was tapped in May by Metro Nashville to review a police oversight complaint.

A newly expanded Hamilton County Jail is set to open this week following $32 million In improvements, Chattanoogan.com reports. County Sheriff Austin Garrett said booking of prisoners would begin Tuesday afternoon after a ceremony with local officials. The jail will feature an “elaborate body scan” to deter drug smuggling and 400 security cameras for surveillance. Garrett said the renovations were kept below the projected cost. The facility in Silverdale opened in 2021 and currently houses 1,100 inmates. In related news, the county recently received a $250,000 grant through the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program to create a treatment pilot program that will offer medications and therapeutic support for incarcerated individuals struggling with opioid use. Mayor Weston Wamp announced that initiative.

The Nashville Youth Campus for Empowerment (NYCE) broke ground last week on a new 14-acre facility, which will replace the current juvenile detention center located on Woodland Street near Nissan Stadium, WSMV reports. NYCE will be the nation's first family-oriented, trauma-informed center, "redefining" how young people and their families are served by the juvenile justice system, according to the Juvenile Court Clerk’s office. In addition to serving as the home of the Davidson County Juvenile Court and a pre-trial housing facility for justice-involved youth, the center will house resources and agencies that can provide immediate service delivery to families in need along with green space, courtyards and spacious meeting rooms. Juvenile Court Judge Sheila Calloway, who proposed the new facility in 2016, adds "this investment will pay off exponentially through improved public safety and positive outcomes for youth in our community.”

Rafiah Muhammad-McCormick, community-outreach coordinator for Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, knows first-hand the many challenges victims of crime and their families face. Her son was shot and killed in her backyard. She later applied for victim reimbursement from the state’s Criminal Injuries Compensation program, which she found to be confusing, discouraging and intimidating, the Daily Memphian reports. Muhammad-McCormick successfully advocated for improvements to the fund this past legislative session, including extending the time frame for reporting a crime, and expanding the list of family members eligible for reimbursement and free mental health services. Muhammad-McCormick also works to expand general awareness about the fund. An upcoming event planned for Aug. 17 in Memphis will provide one such opportunity,. “Healed People Heal People” will take place at Centenary United Methodist Church, 584 E. McLemore Ave., Memphis 38106.

Johnson City Manager Cathy Ball's public statements about a condo purchase from accused serial rapist Sean Williams have been questioned following the release of text messages. According to the Tennessee Lookout, Ball previously stated she was unaware of Williams' identity when entering the contract and withdrew her offer upon learning the truth. However, new evidence suggests she continued pursuing the deal despite knowing Williams was a fugitive and attempted to withhold information about him. These revelations contribute to a growing scandal involving the Johnson City Police Department and its various dealings with Williams, and could impact multiple lawsuits that have been filed against the department and the city.

WPLN News has conducted a year-long investigation into the complexities of navigating Tennessee's justice system for domestic violence victims, and now is offering a comprehensive resource guide with information on available protections and support services. By mapping out resources across the state, including family justice centers and service providers, WPLN says it hopes to empower victims with knowledge about their options. The guide also sheds light on the challenges victims may face, such as inconsistent law enforcement responses and the complexities of the legal process, and seeks to equip victims with the tools they need to seek safety and justice.

In a recent ruling, U.S. District Judge William Young determined that Caryn Strickland, a former public defender, had failed to establish during a non-jury trial in North Carolina that her right to equal protection under the law and due process were violated. Strickland had alleged her supervisor, J.P. Davis, engaged in inappropriate conduct and that the U.S. Judiciary's response was inadequate. Despite acknowledging flaws in the investigation, Young found no constitutional violations and noted that Strickland's career suffered as a result of her "good faith" claim of sexual harassment. Young emphasized the need for judicial reform in these cases. "If we judges are serious about sexual harassment, we must own the process." Reuters has the story.

The U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals extended its block on President Joe Biden's student debt relief plan, known as the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, which aims to reduce monthly payments and expedite loan forgiveness for borrowers. The extension follows a request from seven states, which argued that the plan exceeds the Education Department’s legal authority. Reuters reports that the court's ruling prevents the plan's full implementation, although it affirms that previously forgiven loans remain unaffected. The ongoing legal battle builds on prior challenges, including a broader $430 billion plan that was blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2023.

The Nashville Banner’s podcast “Banner & Company” recently featured Nashville’s federal Public Defender Henry Martin, the longest serving federal defender in the country. Martin originally thought he would spend a few years in the role, and then return to private practice. That was almost 40 years ago. Over his long career, Martin has worked with some of Nashville's finest legal minds, represented fascinating clients and argued in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. This current term will be his last. Learn more about Martin’s career in the episode.

Recovery Court participants in the 23rd Judicial District have the opportunity to give back to their community in a big way, Director Doug Beecham writes in a news release. The program, serving five counties, requires residents to live and work in Dickson while in recovery. Participants are involved in various community service projects, from disaster relief to brightening the days of elderly residents. "We don't just live here," Beecham says. "We're a vital part of the community." Circuit Court and  Recovery Court Judge Suzanne Lockert-Mash added her support, emphasizing the program's focus on helping others as a crucial step in participants' own recovery journeys.