A prosecution unit assembled by Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich to target police brutality has filed criminal charges against two law enforcement officers, the Daily Memphian reports. The Conduct Review Team (CRT) was formed last summer after an investigation by the Institute for Public Service Reporting and The Daily Memphian found that the Memphis Police Department was not sending incidents of excessive force, even some severe cases, to prosecutors. A new policy adopted in March now requires MPD to send all excessive force cases to the five-member CRT, which analyzes bodycam video, records and other evidence to weigh officer actions against applicable criminal laws such as assault and official oppression. One MPD patrolman who allegedly pepper sprayed a handcuffed mentally ill man and a Shelby County Sheriff ’s deputy accused of assaulting a motorist have already been indicted following CRT investigations.

A group of Nashville labor unions, businesses, faith groups and community activists has launched a campaign to defeat the city’s property tax referendum, the Tennessean reports. The coalition, Save Nashville Now, says the proposal to roll back Nashville’s 2020 property tax increase and limit Metro government’s power over future increases could lead to “drastic” cuts to city services, undermine public safety and “hamper” Nashville’s recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Metro government and the Nashville Business Coalition sued the Davidson County Election Commission over its decision to place the issue on the ballot, which will go before voters on July 27. Charles Robert Bone of Nashville law firm Bone McAllester Norton PLLC will serve as the group's treasurer.

The U.S. Supreme Court has announced that it will review Mississippi’s ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, a direct challenge to the standards set by Roe v. Wade, WPLN reports. Tennessee has been among several states putting more restrictions on abortions, last month telling a federal appeals court that the state’s goal is to ban abortion when a fetus might be able to feel pain. SCOTUS will hear the case this fall and a ruling could be possible in a little over a year.

The Hamilton County General Sessions Court has launched a new online dispute resolution (ODR) program offering those with unpaid medical debts a chance to avoid court and negotiate for themselves. Those with debts owed to Erlanger Baroness Hospital can register for free on the TN Med Debt website and chat with a representative from the hospital where they can discuss payment plans or adjusted pricing. Users can also request help from a Rule 31-trained mediator. Tennessee has the 10th highest rate of medical debt in the country. Ninety-three out of 95 counties in the state have medical debt above the national average and one of four Tennesseans report that their credit history has been adversely affected by medical debt. Hamilton County General Sessions Judge Alex McVeagh, who was among the team that helped launch the ODR program, said in 2019 alone, his court handled roughly 15,000 civil cases, many of them for medical debt. The program hopes to make the entire process less costly and time consuming for citizens of the state, while also helping alleviate a clogged court system. 

Former U.S. Attorney for the Western Division, Mike Dunavant, has accepted a position with the state Comptroller’s Office, the Daily Memphian reports. In his new role, Dunavant will be the chief investigative counsel for the office’s Division of Investigations. He will focus on investigating allegations of fraud, waste and abuse in government and other publicly funded entities. “My heart’s desire is in public service, and I look forward to joining the outstanding team in the Comptroller’s Office to make government work better,” Dunavant said in a statement.

The Nashville office of Rainey, Kizer, Reviere & Bell PLC is looking to hire a full time associate attorney. The position requires strong academic credentials and 2-5 years of demonstrated experience in tort and insurance litigation. Salary is commensurate with experience and includes a comprehensive benefits package. Applications may be submitted to resume@raineykizer.com and should include a cover letter, resume, class rank, specific location of desired placement and three professional references. Application materials may also be mailed to Rainey, Kizer, Reviere & Bell, ATTN: Jennifer Howell, 209 East Main Street, Jackson, TN 38301.

The TBA Criminal Justice Section will host Criminal Law Basics 2021 on July 7 from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. CDT. This year’s program will focus on sentencing practices and procedures, including an intro to sentencing, alternative sentencing measures and a diverse panel of judges, prosecutors and defense lawyers discussing different perspectives on these important issues. Among those panelists is Cyntoia Brown, a juvenile offender ordered to serve life in prison for murder before ultimately being granted clemency by former Gov. Bill Haslam. Register for the program here.

The Davidson County Election Commission on Thursday voted along party lines to ask the courts to review a proposed charter amendment from the Metro Nashville Council and rule on whether it should be added to the same July 27 ballot that will contain the anti-tax amendment from the 4GoodGovernment group. The city’s amendment is designed to blunt the anti-tax amendment, which would roll back a 34% property tax increase and curb the city's ability to raise future rates, according to the Tennessean. Commissioners and legal counsel argued that adding the city’s amendment to the same ballot would only confuse voters.

The Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States will hold its first meeting on Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. EDT. The meeting will be conducted virtually and is open to the public. Those who would like to attend must register at info@pcscotus.gov by submitting full name, organization (if applicable), email address and phone number. Public comments may also be submitted to the same email address. For more information contact Dana Fowler with the General Services Administration at 202-501-1777. The commission was established last month by President Joe Biden to study various changes to the Supreme Court, including whether to increase the number of justices.

Two law firms with offices in Tennessee have joined the Am Law 100 list this year. Long regarded as the definitive ranking of America’s top revenue-grossing law firms, the list gauges the financial performance of firms and their ongoing market positioning and future prospects. Loeb & Loeb, with a media and entertainment office in Nashville, debuted on the list at number 99. Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, with offices in Chattanooga, Johnson City, Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville, debuted at number 100. See the full list at Law.com.