Edward Blum, the activist behind the U.S. Supreme Court case that struck down affirmative action, set his sights on two new targets this week, Reuters reports. Students for Fair Admissions, Blum’s group behind the high court case, has a new campaign to end an affirmative action exemption at military schools. The group launched a website called "West Point Not Fair" and is asking those denied acceptance at military schools to contact it. Earlier this week, the nonprofit American Alliance for Equal Rights, founded by Blum, sued an Atlanta-based venture capital fund that supports Black women who own small businesses. The group says the Fearless Fund is violating a law barring racial bias in private contracts by allowing only Black women to participate in a grant competition.

The U.S. legal services sector lost 1,200 jobs in July, new Labor Department data released today shows. Legal sector jobs totaled 1,182,500 last month as scattered layoffs continue at large firms, Reuters reports. At least two firms – Katten Muchin Rosenman and Armstrong Teasdale – said this week they are laying off lawyers and professional staff in the wake of reduced demand. Today’s jobs report also revised numbers for June legal employment, reducing the total from 1,185,100 to 1,183,700 jobs.

A Davidson County judge is under scrutiny following a report from the State Comptroller's Office that found the judge created a "potential conflict of interest" by funneling federal grant funds to a for-profit business. The report does not name the judge, but the business in question is owned by General Sessions Court Judge Rachel Bell and her wife Dr. Dorsha James Bell, the Tennessean reports. NewsChannel 5 reported in May that Bell received a $200,000 federal grant to establish a restorative justice diversion program and used part of the funds to rent office space for Solutions Now in a building owned by her parents. Bell did not disclose her ownership ties to the company on the initial grant documents. She has said it was "always understood” that she owned the company based on discussions during the grant application process. The comptroller said the expenses were legitimate but her failure to disclose her association with the company “created an appearance of impropriety.”

Officials from the U.S. Department of Justice said this week they are "just getting started" in their pattern or practice investigation of the Memphis Police Department. According to the Commercial Appeal, officials from the department held their first meeting via a Zoom call to explain the investigation to Memphians, introduce themselves and allow residents to pose questions as they prepare for the investigation.

White County General Sessions Court Judge John Meadows now can hear adoption cases thanks to a private bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Paul Sherrell and Sen. Paul Bailey, both of Sparta. The legislation was approved by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Bill Lee during the last session, Sparta Alive reports. Under Tennessee law, only chancery and circuit courts have jurisdiction, power and authority to hear and decide adoption cases. The change was enacted to expedite adoption proceedings in the county, where residents often had to wait to be scheduled on a crowded docket and then travel to Cookeville for court appearances. According to the Department of Children’s Services, the change will “accelerate child placement, namely allowing for a judicial waiver to speed adoption finalization from six to three months if a court sees fit.”

After 28 years on the bench, Hamilton County Circuit Court Judge L. Marie Williams will retire as of Jan. 3, 2024, due to family concerns, the Times Free Press reports. Williams indicated her plans in a letter sent to Gov. Bill Lee on July 27. "Needs of my family, which were not anticipated when I sought re-election, now require me to retire," Williams said. Whoever is appointed to fill Williams' seat will have a quick turnaround for campaigning, with primary elections set for March 5 and general elections in August.

Florida-based Unbottleneck, a provider of remote staffing services, is growing its offerings in the legal sector, naming Nashville-based attorney Larry Bridgesmith as a strategic adviser. Services provided by the company include virtual legal receptionists, legal administrators, legal transcriptionists, legal operations managers and legal project managers. Bridgesmith has taught at Vanderbilt and Belmont universities and is a co-founder of the International Institute of Legal Project Management, the Nashville Post reports.

Nashville law firm Neal & Harwell has named John Southwood as its director of financial operations. Southwood previously served as director of financing and accounting at Waller Lansden for 14 years. He also was chief financial officer at Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry for 13 years before it merged with Bradley Arant Rose & White. Southwood holds an MBA degree in accounting from Vanderbilt University and an undergraduate degree from the University of the South. The Nashville Post has more on the story.

Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp says that the county's opioid epidemic is her top priority, and she will hire a chief opioid prosecutor, a new item specified in the county’s budget effective July 1. The chief opioid prosecutor is the newest category of chief prosecutors since Wamp took office last September. The Chattanoogan reports that a Tennessee statute allows a person who sells or delivers illegal drugs to be charged with second-degree murder if the drugs result in death. But Wamp said the connection is very difficult to prove, usually requiring an eyewitness or cell phone records. A dedicated prosecutor with experience can follow that thread, she said.

Tennessee Bar Association staff and leaders are in Denver this week joining colleagues from across the country for a series of bar leadership meetings. Senior staff members, led by Executive Director Sheree Wright, are taking part in National Association of Bar Professionals seminars on current trends, wellness, cybersecurity, technology and other topics. TBA President Jim Barry and other leaders will take part in National and Southern Conference of Bar Presidents meetings later in the week and delegates to the ABA House of Delegates will also join in at a Sunday night reception honoring TBA Immediate Past President Tasha Blakney.