The TBA Young Lawyers Division Mock Trial Committee is seeking sitting judges and attorneys to volunteer for the 2024 State High School Mock Trial Competition. High school students across the state will present their best arguments at district competitions in February. Teams prevailing at district will advance to the state competition, set for March 22-23 in Nashville. The problem — a criminal scenario centered around an evening of pranks and alleged revenge that goes terribly wrong — competition rules and other information is online. Those interested in helping should indicate their availability on this online form.

Four more women have joined a lawsuit challenging Tennessee's restrictive abortion law, which first was filed in September 2023, bringing the total number of plaintiffs to nine, including two doctors. The Associated Press reports that three of the women were denied abortions while experiencing severe pregnancy complications, forcing them to travel out of state for the procedure. The plaintiffs argue that the law violates pregnant patients’ right to life as guaranteed by the state’s constitution and are asking a three-judge panel to clarify the circumstances that qualify patients to legally receive an abortion. Among the circumstances they want included are fatal diagnoses. The Center for Reproductive Rights, which is representing the plaintiffs, also recently requested a temporary injunction on enforcing the law as the court case proceeds.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, along with the attorneys general of Montana and Kansas, on Friday led a coalition of 19 states in submitting a public comment letter challenging the legality of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s “Businesses Diversity Principles” proposal. The proposal would push businesses to “strive to meet diversity targets in their long-term workforce plans” and assess DEIA performance using “demographic data across all levels and departments.” The attorneys general argue that the policy violates the law and promotes racial discrimination. Read the press release and the letter.

A new program in Nashville aims to guide currently jailed potential voters through the voting process. The Tennessee Lookout reports that voter registration, navigating the absentee ballot request process, voting rights restoration support and civics education will be a part of the new program, which started in late December. Some people with felony convictions are permanently barred from voting under Tennessee law. Others with felony convictions may have voting rights restored. People with misdemeanor records alone or no criminal record at all can continue to vote, including from jail using absentee ballots.

Tadarrius Bean, one of the former Memphis police officers accused in the beating death of Tyre Nichols, is requesting that his federal criminal trial be moved outside Memphis. According to the Daily Memphian, Bean's attorney John Keith Perry wrote in his request and separate memorandum of support that he was requesting the move due to the amount of media coverage in the case and comments from city officials. He acknowledged that prosecutors would likely oppose a venue change given coverage of the case has been so widespread that moving the trial likely would not impact the outcome. The federal trial is currently set to begin May 6.

This year is the 150th anniversary of the Memphis Bar Association (MBA), which began as the Memphis Bar & Library Association in 1874. The association will celebrate with an event on Oct. 19 at The Museum of Science & History (formerly the Pink Palace Museum). The group also is planning a community service project to mark the milestone. Watch for details throughout the year from the association.

The U.S. legal services sector added 4,500 jobs in December and is projected to break its record high employment level, Reuters reports. Legal sector jobs totaled 1,190,500 last month, according to preliminary seasonally adjusted data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The count includes a range of legal workers, including paralegals and assistants, but the majority are lawyers.

The American Bar Association (ABA) reports that as of the end of 2023 it has received overwhelming support for its proposal to fully accredit online law schools. Nearly 30 comments — 42 pages — have been uploaded to the ABA's website in favor of the proposal, with only two of those being comments against. Most comments came from Purdue Global Law School (formerly Concord Law School at Purdue University Global) students, Law.com reports. Public comment on the proposal ends Jan. 8.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (LAS) recently announced that according to a newly released independent study, its Eviction Right to Counsel pilot program saved Davidson County residents more than $3.4 million over its first year. The two-year pilot program is aimed at providing outreach, education and legal aid to qualifying low-income renters. The program is a partnership between LAS and Conexión Américas, with additional assistance provided by the Nashville Hispanic Bar Association; the Nashville Conflict Resolution Center; the People’s Alliance for Transportation, Housing and Employment; and the American Muslim Advisory Council. It is the first program of its kind in Middle Tennessee to take a comprehensive approach to eviction, providing legal counsel for tenants while educating both tenants and landlords about their rights and responsibilities.

The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) Thursday announced that 10 officers would be reassigned following an investigation into a leak of the Covenant School shooter's writings. The Tennessean reports that those officers — who are not named by MNPD — will be reassigned next month from the specialized investigative unit to unnamed positions within the department. All 10 of the officers were questioned during an internal investigation of the leaks; seven were placed on administrative leave and four returned to duty Nov. 17. MNPD announced in December that it was unable to identify who leaked images of the shooter's writings to a radio host, who later shared them publicly.