M.A. “Mo” Myers, the former FBI special agent in charge of the Memphis field office, has been named executive assistant director of the intelligence branch at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., the Daily Memphian reports. In his new job, Myers will serve as strategic leader of the FBI’s intelligence program and will be responsible for overseeing intelligence strategy, resources, policies and functions. Myers served as special agent in charge of the Memphis FBI office from 2018 to 2020. 

The Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a bill that would allow for permitless carry of a handgun in the state on a 7-2 party line vote. The bill would permit both open and concealed carrying of handguns for anyone over 21 and would remove the current permitting and training process required to buy a gun, News Channel 9 reports. Both the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Sheriff's Association oppose the bill, which is commonly called “constitutional carry.” The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee also approved the legislation and sent it to the full committee for consideration, according to the Commercial Appeal.

The first Friday in March is “National Employee Appreciation Day” and a great time to recognize that despite the unique challenges of the last year, TBA staff members have not missed a beat. They have shown flexibility and creativity in continued service to members. The TBA will be closed Friday in appreciation for those contributions to the association.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, Chancellor Ellen Lyle and staff attorney Justin Seamon have conducted seven bench trials and more than 60 hearings using Zoom video conferencing and a YouTube channel, with all attorneys, parties, witnesses and court staff participating remotely. In this program, they discuss the pros, cons and logistics of conducting trials via Zoom as well as how to prepare witnesses, safeguard remote witness testimony, manage trial exhibits and provide public access to proceedings. They also look at the ramifications of this technology for the future of litigation and ethical issues in play. The two-hour program will air on March 10 from noon to 2 p.m. CST.

Gov. Bill Lee has released a list of legislative initiatives he had previously outlined in his State of the State address, WKRN reports. Among those initiatives are Senate Bill 765/House Bill 786, which would allow citizens to carry handguns without a permit, SB768/HB785, also known as the “Reentry Success Act of 2021,” SB0767/HB0784 on “Alternatives to Incarceration,” and more. You can find the complete list on the state’s website.

Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle yesterday recused herself from a high profile education lawsuit against the state, the Tennessean reports. The recusal comes just days after the filing of House Resolution 23, which seeks to have Lyle removed from the bench based on her ruling that expanded absentee voting during the pandemic. (See related story on TBA statement related to HR 23.) Lyle recused herself yesterday from the suit brought by Shelby County and Metro Nashville over the state’s Basic Education Program (BEP) — a complicated rubric the state uses to determine how much funding schools get for teacher salaries, books and transportation. The recusal order did not include information on her reasons. The outcome of the trial could have major implications for how public schools are funded. The case will now be reassigned to a new judge.

Several Tennessee Supreme Court justices and intermediate appellate judges on Monday joined other state leaders to help escort the three State of Tennessee Constitutions to the new State Library and Archives on Bicentennial Mall. The event began at the old library and archives next to the Nashville Supreme Court building, where Chief Justice Jeff Bivins, Justice Holly Kirby, Justice Roger A. Page, Court of Appeals Judge Andy D. Bennett, Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Tim Easter, and Court of Appeals Judge W. Neal McBrayer joined. The procession wound its way through the streets of Nashville where it was joined by Attorney General Herbert Slatery, Gov. Bill Lee and members of the General Assembly. The documents traveled in custom-made boxes to their new home where they will be displayed for a limited time after the grand opening and again on Statehood Day in the Library & Archives’ new exhibition space. 

A controversial bill that would block transgender student athletes from playing middle school and high school sports under their gender identity was passed in a 27-6 vote by the Senate last night, the Tennessean reports. The bill, SB228/HB3, would require transgender athletes to compete under their sex at birth, regardless of whether they are receiving gender-affirming care, such as hormone blockers. Following the vote, the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee released a statement signaling its intent to take legal action “should any transgender student be excluded because of this legislation.” The bill will next go to the House for a final vote, which has not yet been scheduled.

The Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday suspended Richard Louis Reynolds from the practice of law until further orders. Reynolds pled guilty and was convicted of misprision of a felony in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas Dallas Division. The matter has been referred to the Board of Professional Responsibility to institute formal proceedings to determine the extent of the final discipline to be imposed upon Reynolds as a result of his convictions of misdemeanors and a serious crime.

The Tennessee Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Affairs today announced the top 10 complaint categories for 2020, with home improvements, repairs and warranties taking the number one slot at 497 complaints. Other categories in the top 10 were: price gouging, 343 complaints; personal/professional services, 329 complaints; landlord/tenant, 289 complaints; internet sales, 281 complaints; motor vehicle-used sales and advertising, 266 complaints; health services and products, 228 complaints; debtor/creditor, 225 complaints; timeshare/vacation clubs, 223 complaints; and travel, 183 complaints. DCA received 4,053 complaints total in 2020, a slight decrease from 2019’s 4,250 complaints.