Two new bills pending before the Tennessee General Assembly aim to protect domestic violence victims while their attacker is awaiting a court date, the Tennessean reports. One would require defendants accused of committing lethal acts of domestic violence to wear a GPS monitoring device as a condition of bail. The other would raise the bail amount in these cases, making it more costly to secure pretrial release. The bills are supported by Alex Youn, who has become a victim advocate after his sister, Marie Varsos, and mother, Debbie Sisco, were killed last April by Varsos’ husband, who was on bail from previously attacking Varsos. Youn testified before the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee and Senate Judiciary Committee last week. Both bills passed the House subcommittee and now are headed to the full Criminal Justice Committee. The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to consider the bills this week.

Tennessee lawmakers are considering legislation that would consider some types of violent crime — such as shooting into crowds of people — as community terrorism. A bill by Rep. G.A. Hardaway, D-Memphis, passed out of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee last week and is set to be considered by the full committee on Wednesday, Action 5 News reports. “Terrorism, as defined on the national and international stages, is about using intimidation to instill fear in a population,” Hardaway says. He argues that indiscriminate shooting “is nothing more than an effort by criminal gangs who are terrorizing the community.” State Sen. Sara Kyle, D-Memphis, is sponsoring the Senate version of the bill.

Shelley T. Gardner has announced her candidacy for reelection as 15th Judicial District public defender, Wilson Post reports. A Wilson County native, Gardner earned her law degree from the Nashville School of Law in 2001. She joined the office in 2002, and in 2018, Gov. Bill Haslam named her public defender. Gardner’s campaign says she has handled more than 15,000 criminal cases in all five counties in the district and served as a member of the district’s Judicial Drug Court team since 2002. In other roles, Gardner serves as vice president and president-elect for the Tennessee District Public Defender’s Conference, and as a board member for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Joe Biden’s nominee to replace Justice Stephen Breyer on the U.S. Supreme Court, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee today to introduce herself and make an opening statement. She told senators that she sees Breyer as a judicial model and would “hope to carry on his spirit,” The Hill reports. Jackson once clerked for Breyer and if confirmed, would replace him when he retires this summer. Members of the committee also made opening statements but asked no questions. Questioning will begin tomorrow at 9 a.m. EDT. Watch the proceedings on the committee’s website. Photo: Associated Press

YWCAs across the country are participating in the Stand Against Racism Challenge, a virtual learning tool designed to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege and leadership. The challenge will launch on April 4 and involve 21 days of activities such as reading an article, listening to a podcast or reflecting on a personal experience. The challenge is designed to help participants discover how racial and social injustice impact communities and identify ways to dismantle them. Join the challenge with the YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley or YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee.

The Department of Homeland Security is discontinuing a policy expanded under former President Donald Trump that allowed for expedited removal of individuals who were undocumented, had committed fraud or misrepresentation, or had been in the country for less than two years. In a statement to Newsweek, the agency said it conducted a thorough review and found that ending the program "was consistent with the Department's need to prioritize its limited enforcement resources.” The department estimates that some 25,000 migrants waiting in shelters south of the U.S.-Mexico border could be affected by the change.

Former state Sen. Katrina Robinson was sentenced Friday to time served and one year of supervised release after having been found guilty on two counts of wire fraud in September 2021, The Commercial Appeal reports. That means she will not serve any prison time. The supervised release will include standard conditions such as collection of DNA, police access to financial information and mental health counseling. U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman said several factors went into her ruling, including all the good Robinson has done in the community as a nurse during COVID-19 and founder of The Healthcare Institute. Lipman also cited the "very significant" loss that Robinson has already endured, including the loss of her position as a senator, potential loss of her nursing license and financial loss. While Robinson said she believed the sentence was appropriate, she still plans to appeal the guilty verdict.

The American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary has given a “Well Qualified” rating to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Joe Biden’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. The committee voted unanimously on the rating after evaluating Jackson’s professional qualifications including integrity, professional competence and judicial temperament. Chair of the committee, retired Judge Ann Claire Williams, will testify on the rating before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 24. Read the ABA’s full letter the Senate Juciary Committee here.

The Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth (TCCY) earlier this month honored Davidson County Juvenile Court Judge Sheila Calloway with the Senator Douglas Henry Public Official of the Year Award at its annual Children’s Advocacy Days. Calloway was recognized for her work on the behalf of Tennessee children, specifically her implementation of a trauma-informed youth justice system that’s helping to change the lives of Nashville youth. “It’s truly an honor to be recognized as someone who is also a servant,” Calloway said. “I absolutely love my job and love what I do. I do it not to be honored or admired; I do it because it’s what I love and it’s my passion.” Read more from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

A number of lawyers were reinstated recently after being suspended for administrative violations. Five were reinstated after completing required CLE hours: one from 2009 and four from 2021. In addition, one lawyer was reinstated after paying the 2021 professional privilege tax. Finally, 14 were reinstated after paying required fees: one who was suspended in 2015, two in 2021 and 11 in 2022. The TBA has records of all administrative suspensions and reinstatements going back to 2005. See all lists here.