A group of Chattanooga high school students recently participated in a unique summer camp focused on the Ed Johnson lynching case. The program, offered by the Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society, provided students with an immersive experience exploring the case’s legal and historical significance. Through site visits, expert lectures and hands-on projects, participants gained a deep understanding of the case and its impact on the American justice system. The program aims to inspire future generations of legal professionals and promote civic engagement. The Hamilton County Herald has the story.

A state law barring local governments from forcing police departments to adopt policies limiting their ability to conduct traffic stops might not actually impact Memphis' pretextual stop policy, according to a legal opinion sent to Memphis Mayor Paul Young by a top attorney of the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund. The letter, dated July 31 and shared with The Commercial Appeal, argues that the state law passed in March is preventative, but does not work retroactively. Though disputing the interpretation, the group does acknowledge that the Tennessee Attorney's General office issued an opinion on July 17 that affirmed the ordinance in Memphis, and the subsequent policy change enacted, violates the state law.

Vanderbilt Law School's Stanton Foundation First Amendment Clinic has welcomed Ryan Riedmueller as a clinical legal fellow. A former clerk for District Judge Anne R. Traum in the U.S. District Court, District of Nevada, Riedmueller will collaborate with students on cases defending First Amendment rights. “Ryan’s impressive background and passion for First Amendment advocacy make him ideally suited for this role,” said Clinic Director Jennifer Safstrom. The First Amendment Clinic protects the rights to free speech, press, assembly and petition while training law students to become experts in these areas.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, along with a coalition of 14 other state attorneys general led by Kansas, have filed a federal lawsuit to halt the Biden administration's plan to extend Affordable Care Act benefits to undocumented immigrants, includin 100,000 so-called "Dreamers," who were brought into the country as children. The final rule, scheduled to go into effect on Nov. 1, would grant taxpayer-subsidized health plans to more than 200,000 immigrants, including thousands in Tennessee. The suit argues that the plan violates the provisions of the law, which limit eligibility to U.S. citizens, nationals and individuals "lawfully present" in the country. Read more in a release. 

A $1 million gift made on behalf of Chattanooga-based law firm Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers will support students and faculty at the University of Tennessee College of Law. The school reports that the gift will fund scholarships for students interested in pursuing legal careers in advocacy as well as support for the College of Law Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution, Legal Clinic and Douglas A. Blaze Leadership Scholarship. The gift continues Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers longstanding support of the law school and students who intend to focus on advocacy, the school said in a release. Firm founder Jerry H. Summers, a 1966 graduate of the law school, also co-founded the school’s Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution.

The Tennessee Attorney General’s office has filed a notice of appeal after a three-judge panel threw out a state law that would have required the Nashville Metro Council to be cut from 40 seats to 20, the Tennessean reports. The panel ruled 2-1 at the end of July that the law violated the Tennessee Constitution’s Home Rule Amendment, which protects local governments from legislation targeting them. The law had been under injunction since April 2023, allowing Nashville to proceed with its August 2023 Metro Council elections with its full governing body. Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti released a statement today and provided a link to the filing.

Paralegals in Texas who are licensed under a proposed new program will be able to provide some legal services to low-income individuals, Reuters reports. Paralegals will have to abide by rules preliminarily approved by the state's top court. Joining other U.S. states that have created similar programs, the Texas Supreme Court said in an order that allowing licensed legal paraprofessionals to deliver limited legal services in areas including family law, estate planning, probate law and consumer debt law will help close the "justice gap" and address unmet civil legal needs.

As part of its 50th anniversary campaign, "Protecting the Promise," the Legal Services Commission (LSC) commissioned a survey to look at perceptions of civil legal aid. Results of the survey have been released and, according to the group, show that more than half of Americans (56%) mistakenly believe they are entitled to free legal representation for all civil matters if they cannot afford a lawyer. That number is even higher for young adults (18-34) with two out of three (67%) holding that belief, LSC said. Results also revealed that many Americans who experienced civil legal issues in the past three years did not seek legal help, thinking that the issues were not serious enough or that they could handle them on their own.

The Hamilton County Commission will select an attorney to fill the Hamilton County General Sessions Court seat that Judge Alex McVeagh will vacate when he takes office as circuit court judge on Sept. 1. Applications are now being accepted from qualified attorneys interested in the appointment, Chattanoogan.com reports. To apply, a letter of interest and resume should be filed with the Hamilton County Commission, 401 Hamilton County Courthouse, 625 Georgia Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37402. The application period will close on Aug. 13 at 2 p.m. EDT. Interviews with commissioners will determine the top six candidates, who then will appear before the commission on Aug. 21 at 11 a.m. EDT. The appointee will serve until the August 2026 general election. The winner of that election will serve until 2030, which is when the McVeagh’s term would have expired.

The American Bar Association House of Delegates (ABA HOD) this week approved a resolution urging bar admission authorities to create a reporting exception for applicants who have been victims of domestic or dating violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment or stalking so that they do not have to recount any legal, law enforcement, administrative or academic proceedings. Requiring would-be lawyers to “explain their history of abuse” and track down documentation related to their case “retraumatizes” them, according to the resolution. The requirement also may dissuade victims from reporting abuse because they worry about having to disclose it on their admissions application, the group said. Reuters reports on the resolution.