Prosecutors are opposing motions to sever the trials of former Memphis Police Department officers charged in the killing of Tyre Nichols. The five officers, accused of second-degree murder and related charges, are currently charged as co-defendants. The Daily Memphian reports that the state argues that the officers should be tried together, emphasizing factors such as the simplicity of the case, the shared evidence and witnesses and the absence of prejudicial statements from the officers. The officers' motions had cited concerns about confusing the jury, differences in involvement and potential conflicts in their defense strategies as reasons for severance.

The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art is facing legal challenges in its construction project at a new downtown location. The lawsuit against the museum is brought by Friends for Our Riverfront, alleging that the project violates an easement established in the early 19th century. The Daily Memphian reports that attorneys for the museum estimate that halting construction temporarily could cost the project between $5 million to $7 million, and they are requesting a bond to cover this cost. The museum's response questions the timing of the lawsuit and cites historical court cases supporting its position on property rights.

Florida based law firm Bernheim Kelley Battista has announced the opening of a Nashville office. BK Law focuses on personal injury, product liability and consumer advocacy, reports the Nashville Post. The local office will be led by managing partner Gregory Marangos. Marangos, a graduate of University of New Hampshire School of Law, practiced with related firm Bernheim Dolinsky Kelley from 2015 to 2017 and has practiced with Steinger, Greene & Feiner since 2017.

The Harpeth Conservancy has reached a settlement in an administrative lawsuit against the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the Water Authority of Dickson County over bacterial and algae pollution in Trace Creek in White Bluff. The Tennessean reports the conservancy was represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center. The suit was filed last year after residents noticed slime growing around a discharge pipe in the White Bluff Wastewater Treatment Plant. The water authority made operational changes at its sewage treatment plant to correct the problem while the suit was pending. As part of the settlement, the water authority will continue to work to eliminate the growth and monitor pollution levels.

Members of the TBA Young Lawyers Division visited Belmont University College of Law today to speak with students about their entry into the profession and to share some of the benefits of TBA membership. Membership, which is free for law students, will allow them to network and increase their professional knowledge through attending CLE programs. Students were also encouraged to apply for the Class of 2024 Diversity Leadership Institute. Thanks to YLD presenters Anthony Adewumi, Charles Ferguson and Billy Leslie, as well as Belmont’s Director of Career and Professional Development Alix Rogers for their contributions to the event. Email Laura Labenberg for more information about upcoming YLD visits to Tennessee’s other law schools this fall. See photos from the event.

The Knoxville Bar Association presented its inaugural Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award yesterday to the law firm of Lewis Thomason. Brooklyn Sawyers Belk of the KBA presented the award to Rod Fields, the managing partner of Lewis Thomason’s Knoxville office. The award honors legal organizations that demonstrate a commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion within the legal profession. Lewis Thomason was recognized for its demonstrable commitment to attracting and retaining diverse attorneys, providing leadership opportunities and offering annual inclusivity training. Read more about the event.

President Biden yesterday announced four new nominees to serve as federal judges across four states, reports Reuters. The latest district court nominees include a Black federal prosecutor nominated to be a judge in New Jersey and a Muslim American for a seat on Oregon's federal bench. Biden has nominated 188 federal judicial nominees since taking office in 2021. Of those nominees, 62% are people of color and 62% are women, according to the White House. The Senate has confirmed 140. Read more about the nominees.

Among the 38,000 or so first-year law students who began their studies this year are 51 who did not make the cut when they applied two years ago. Instead of rejecting them outright at the time, 22 law schools sent these aspiring lawyers — most of whom were racial minorities — into a new, year-long program to prepare them for the rigors of legal education. The program, called LexPostBacc, is hosted by AccessLex Institute and guarantees law school admission and scholarships for those who finish. The first cohort had a completion rate of 69%, Reuters reports. Among the participating schools is Tennessee's Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law.

Baker Donelson has named J. Allen Roberts as the new managing shareholder of its Nashville office. Roberts succeeds Brigid Carpenter, who has been in the role since 2017, the Nashville Business Journal reports. Carpenter will remain with the firm, where her practice focuses on product liability defense and class-action defense. A Nashville native, Roberts has been with the firm for more than 11 years. He will continue his practice, which focuses on corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions and public and private equity.

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals promised a swift ruling on the fate of Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors following a hearing last week. A three-judge panel of the court heard arguments Friday on whether to set aside a lower court’s ruling temporarily blocking the law, Tennessee Lookout reports. The court previously intervened on an emergency basis, allowing the law to take effect until it could hear arguments in the case. Also on Friday, the court heard a nearly identical challenge to a ban on gender-affirming care for minors in Kentucky.