Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, The Daily Wire and The Federalist filed a lawsuit in federal court yesterday alleging the U.S. State Department is funding technologies that could censor right-leaning news outlets, Reuters reports. The group argues that the technology being used by the center could "render disfavored press outlets unprofitable," specifically citing funding that went to GDI and NewsGuard. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed in October to hear arguments by two Republican attorneys general alleging the administration suppressed conservative-leaning speech and social media.

A Nashville resident is seeking an expedited ruling by the Tennessee Supreme Court after a special three-judge panel of state court judges found Tennessee state Senate district boundaries to be unconstitutional. Attorneys for Francie Hunt filed a request yesterday, Tennessee Lookout reports. Simultaneously, a West Tennessee resident is appealing the panel’s finding that the House redistricting plan was constitutional. The challenge by Trenton resident Gary Wygant also seeks an expedited ruling. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti is opposing both motions. His office says Hunt has no standing to sue, while Wygant fails to show “good cause” to suspend the normal schedule since a new House map is not needed. The panel of state judges gave the General Assembly until Jan. 31 to redraw the Senate lines.

A group of law firms has signed a new pledge to extend diversity efforts to include attorneys with disabilities, Reuters reports. Attorneys with disabilities are underrepresented at U.S. law firms, with just 1.4% identifying as having a disability, according to the National Association for Law Placement. The new Disability Inclusion Commitments calls on firms to remove physical and digital barriers affecting lawyers with disabilities, bolster the hiring of disabled individuals, and conduct annual surveys in which employees can self-identify as disabled. Learn more from Diversity Lab, which will track firms’ progress.

For the first time, more Americans believe the death penalty is administered unfairly than fairly, according to a new Gallup survey. As reported by Axios, the survey showed the lowest level of support for the death penalty since 1972. Tennessee, like many other states, is grappling with how to handle capital punishment. Executions have been on hold for more than a year following a third-party investigation into "operational failures" at the Tennessee Department of Correction. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 29 states have abolished the death penalty or paused executions by executive action.

A previously unnamed Memphis police officer was fired from the Memphis Police Department in February for failing to intervene in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, new records show. Through a public records request, the Commercial Appeal obtained information from the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission that shows Adrian Blakes was fired on Feb. 23, about a month after the first five former officers were fired and charged. According to the paper, the records show that that Blakes lied to investigators about witnessing the beating.

The state has been awarded a federal grant to study the feasibility of establishing Amtrak passenger rail service between Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga and Atlanta, the Nashville Business Journal reports. The $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation initiates development efforts such as preparing a scope, schedule and cost estimate for the route. Chattanooga officials announced their leg of the route yesterday, Chattanoogan.com reports. Memphis officials announced their involvement today.

Nine attorneys from Tennessee were admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court during the 38th annual TBA Academy yesterday. TBA President Jim Barry moved for admission of the members during a regular court session in Washington, D.C. Attorneys admitted before the high court were Sean Aiello, Kenneth “Ken” Bryant, Charles Frazier, Theodore “Ted” Goodman, Ashley Jefferson, Billy Leslie, Randall “Randy” Russell, Rebekah Spotts and Sheree Wright. Following the swearing in ceremony, the group stayed to observe oral arguments in the case of Charles G. Moore et al. v. United States, which centers on the constitutionality of the federal mandatory repatriation tax.

A group of Catholic nuns has sued the board of Smith & Wesson in an attempt to force the gunmaker to abandon the manufacture and marketing of its assault-style rifles used in U.S. mass shootings, reports Reuters. The nuns filed the lawsuit in their role as Smith & Wesson shareholders, in what is known as a derivative lawsuit, the first against a gun manufacturing board, according to the nuns' attorney. The lawsuit, filed in Nevada state court, alleges Smith & Wesson's directors exposed the company to significant liability by intentionally violating federal, state and local laws.

Nashville attorneys April Nemer and Jake Nemer have announced the opening of the family law practice Nemer LLP. The attorneys previously practiced with Lindsey Amonette Nemer + Glassford PLLC. The new practice includes divorce and family law litigation, probate and estate administration and mediation. April Nemer attended Belmont University and New England School of Law. Jake Nemer attended Rhodes College and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. Both are Nashville natives.

A survey by consultancy Withum Smith+Brown found that leading law firms are less bullish heading into 2024 than they were coming into 2023, reports Law.com. About 42% of respondents said increased salary demands posed a risk to their cash position. The report also found more than 48% expected overhead to rise in 2024, compared with 27% in 2023. Even before top law firms began adopting salary increases, the outlook was already described as “tepid” and “volatile.” Legal industry analysts noted high billing rates may have helped firms stave off further cuts next year.