A federal appeals court in New Orleans last week upheld a district court judge's ruling blocking enforcement of President Joe Biden's 2021 executive order, which required all federal employees to take a COVID-19 vaccine. The Associated Press reports that the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected arguments that Biden, as the nation’s chief executive, has the same authority as the CEO of a private corporation. The ruling from the full court reversed an earlier ruling by a three-judge panel that had upheld the vaccination requirement. Biden issued the order in September 2021. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown issued a nationwide injunction the following January.

The Women’s Political Collaborative of Tennessee will celebrate 50 years of action on Wednesday with an event and awards presentation. The event will take place beginning at 5:30 p.m. CDT at the Woolworth Theater, 223 Rep. John Lewis Way N., Nashville 37219. Nashville lawyer Margaret Behm with Dodson Parker Behm and Capparella will be honored with the group’s inaugural Barbara Haynes Lifetime Achievement Award, which is named for the city’s first female general sessions court judge. Legislative Advocate Awards will be presented to La Quita Martin and Jenny Ford, and Community Advocate Awards will be presented to Metro Councilwoman Tanaka Vercher and Joyce Searcy. Learn more or register online.

Belmont University recently received the 2023-2024 Silver Military Friendly School designation for the ninth consecutive year. The designation recognizes support for veterans and military-affiliated students who attend the university. Within the College of Law, a unique intersectionality exists for military-affiliated students, the school reports. A recent release highlights students who are earning their law degrees while serving in the armed forces. Read more to learn more about a 2L who is a student judge advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps, a 3L who is attending law school through the Air Force’s Funded Legal Education Program and a recent graduate who served in the U.S. Army Reserve while earning his degree.

ABA Day 2023 is back in person this week in the nation’s capital. TBA President Tasha Blakney, President-elect Jim Barry, YLD President Brittany Faith, ABA Resource Committee Chair Jonathan Cole and Interim Executive Director Barry Kolar are in Washington, D.C., through Wednesday to build relationships with new House and Senate members and advocate for issues important to lawyers. The group has heard from ABA leaders on issues to be discussed in legislative meetings and from the Legal Services Corporation about the need to increase access to civil legal services. See the full schedule for the week.

The TBA is excited to announce the special guest for its April 12 discussion on the book "Memphis" will be the author herself, Tara Stringfellow. This national bestseller was named as one of the top books for 2022 by Amazon, The New York Times, The Boston Globe and NPR, among others. Stringfellow, a Memphis native, renowned poet, semifinalist for the Fulbright Fellowship and former lawyer, will offer insight into this powerful book that only the author can provide. TBA West Tennessee Governor Will Perry will lead the discussion. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear directly from the author about this story of family, legacy and meditation on the city itself. Learn more and register here.

Memphis lawyer Edward J. "Ed" McKenney Jr. with Harris|Shelton|Hanover|Walsh has received the 2023 Distinguished Municipal Attorney Award from the Tennessee Municipal Attorneys Association. Award recipients are selected by the association’s membership. McKenney has been with the firm since 1979, focusing his practice on municipal law, employment law defense, education law, business litigation, personal injury and contract disputes. He is a former president and longstanding member of the association.

Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Mary Wagner has dismissed Alicia Franklin's lawsuit against the city of Memphis. The suit claimed the police department could have prevented the kidnapping and killing of Memphis teacher Eliza Fletcher if it had adequately investigated Franklin's rape allegation a year earlier. Wagner relied on the state’s “Public Duty Doctrine,” which protects government employees from being sued for their actions or inactions, the Commercial Appeal reports. Franklin alleges that she was raped by Cleotha Henderson (also known as Abston) in September 2021. Her rape kit was tested a year later only after Henderson’s DNA was identified in connection with Fletcher’s death. Days after he was arrested in the Fletcher case, Henderson was indicted for abducting and raping Franklin.

The Nashville Metro Planning Department today released two possible redistricting maps to satisfy legislation that requires Davidson County’s 40-member Metro Council to cut back to 20 members. One option would seat 17 district councilmembers with three countywide at-large representatives, while the other would seat 15 district council members with five at-large representatives. A public hearing on the proposals will be held April 4, according to the Nashville Post. While continuing to work toward a solution, the metro government has asked the courts for a temporary injunction, arguing the law is unconstitutional and requires unrealistic deadlines.

A federal judge in Nashville has granted a preliminary injunction ordering Tennessee’s Judicial Advisory Commission to open its meetings to the public, Chattanoogan.com reports. Dan McCaleb, executive editor of the online news organization The Center Square, filed a suit last year to open the meetings. He argued that the First Amendment right of press access to government meetings applies to the commission’s meetings, which had been closed to the public and press. In the ruling, Judge Eli Richardson wrote that the Administrative Office of the Courts must open the meetings to the public either by livestreaming or by allowing in-person attendance. The Tennessee Supreme Court established the commission to recommend court rules of practice and procedure.

Following former state Sen. Brian Kelsey’s request to withdraw his guilty plea in a federal campaign finance case, the judge overseeing the matter has canceled a sentencing hearing set for March 28. The prosecution now has an April 14 deadline to respond to Kelsey's motion to withdraw his plea, the Tennessean reports. Kelsey's co-defendant, Joshua Smith, asked the court to delay his sentencing as well while the Kelsey situation is decided. The judge agreed to postpone that hearing as well.