The Hamilton County Concurrent Grand Jury for May-August provided high praise for the court system and strongly recommended the establishment of a veterans' court, noting that both the Trump and Biden administrations have funded mental health and drug court programs, which Gov. Lee also supports. The grand jury heard and deliberated on 192 cases, returning 162 indictments. It also received detailed information about various crimes, the challenges faced by law enforcement officers, and various programs aimed at addressing issues such as mental health and drug-related crimes. Additionally, the group recommended increased resources for drug enforcement training and better facilities and technology. The Chattanoogan has the grand jury’s full report.

The Hamilton County Commission has approved payment of additional legal bills, bringing the total cost of the Weston Wamp-Rheubin Taylor lawsuit to approximately $290,000. Both parties have decided to drop the case in Chancery Court and plan to work amicably together in the future, with County Mayor Wamp expressing a desire to move past the legal dispute and focus on the county's important work. The Chattanoogan has the breakdown of the total costs.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has revealed that it did not turn over all of the patient records requested by the Tennessee Attorney General's office in a billing investigation. The Tennessean reports that initially, VUMC informed over 150 patients that their comprehensive health records had been provided to the attorney general's office, but it later confirmed that records for only 82 patients were actually provided. The investigation, described as a "run-of-the-mill" fraud investigation by Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, has raised privacy concerns and led to two patients suing the hospital, claiming distress and hostility toward transgender people in the state.

Elected officials and community stakeholders in Memphis, including law enforcement leaders and state legislators, yesterday convened in a non-public public safety summit hosted by the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office. The gathering aimed to foster collaboration and address the root causes of crime in the city, with legislators considering potential legislation to address aggravated assaults and juvenile offenders within the criminal justice system. The Daily Memphian reports that they agreed on various initiatives to combat the city's crime crisis, focusing on violence prevention programs, addressing crime hotspot areas, providing rehabilitative services and sharing data among agencies. Preliminary results are expected in six to 18 months, with ongoing efforts to solve public safety issues.

The ACLU of Tennessee has filed a lawsuit to block the enforcement of the Adult Entertainment Act, which critics argue effectively bans drag shows. The Tennessee Lookout reports that this action comes after District Attorney Ryan Desmond warned organizers of Blount County Pride that he intended to enforce the act at their upcoming Sept. 2 event. While a federal judge previously declared the law unconstitutional, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has advised that the ruling only applies in the Memphis area, leading to continued enforcement threats in other parts of the state.

The Biden administration is requesting an additional $4 billion from Congress to replenish FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, bringing the total request to $16 billion. The Hill reports that this funding is needed in response to recent extreme weather events, including the Maui wildfires and Hurricane Idalia. President Joe Biden has emphasized the urgency of approving this funding to aid disaster-affected communities, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) today urged Congress to take swift action to approve it.

The Tennessee Bar Association closed at 2 p.m. CDT today and remain closed through Monday in observance of Labor Day. The TBA's office will reopen on Tuesday at 8 a.m. CDT. Visit the TBA.org website for information on CLE or other TBA programs and for staff contact information.

The University of Tennessee College of Law has received a $2 million gift in the name of the Chattanooga-based law firm of Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers PC, a longtime supporter of the law school. The gift will support UT Law’s Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution, Legal Clinic, the Douglas Blaze Professorship, and scholarships for students interested in pursuing legal careers in advocacy. Dean Lonnie Brown said, “Because of the firm’s generosity, we have been able to build and sustain a first-rate advocacy program that consistently produces graduates who are distinctly prepared to hit the ground running once they begin practice. We are profoundly grateful for the firm’s continued commitment and support.”

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission meeting today in Franklin selected three nominees to forward to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration in filling a vacancy in the 21st Judicial District. They are: Nolensville lawyer Russell D. Gill, Brentwood lawyer Erin W. Nations and Franklin lawyer David H. Veile. The vacancy on the court, which serves Williamson County, is due to the Sept. 29 retirement of Circuit Court Judge Michael W. Binkley. Read the announcement from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

A former Memphis Police Department officer was sentenced today to 18 months in prison and one year of supervised release for violating an arrestee’s civil rights by using excessive force against him, the Department of Justice announced. According to court documents, Armando Bustamante admitted that while on duty in January 2021 he used his service weapon and hands to strike an arrestee in the head without legal justification. “The Justice Department will aggressively prosecute those law enforcement officers who abuse their authority and violate federal civil rights laws.” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.