The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Friday to decide whether the Biden administration must continue to enforce the Trump-era program known as the “remain in Mexico” policy, which requires asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while they wait for a hearing in U.S. immigration court. SCOTUSblog reports that the justices fast-tracked the administration’s appeal, setting the case for oral argument in late April, with a decision expected before the summer recess. President Joe Biden stopped enforcing the policy when he took office. Last year, a district court judge ordered the administration to reinstate it. That ruling is still in effect since the court of appeals and the high court declined to block it at the time. A new, revised effort to end the program also has failed to convince the lower courts to stop it, leading to this latest appeal to the Supreme Court.

Chapter 16 writer Joy Ramirez recently interviewed Keeda Haynes, a former Davidson County assistant public defender, about her journey from unwittingly abetting a criminal operation, to prison and now to lawyer and criminal justice advocate. Haynes writes about the experience in her memoir Bending the Arc: My Journey from Prison to Politics. The first episode of TBA’s Sidebar Podcast featured Haynes as well. In 2020, Haynes challenged U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper in the Democratic primary and earned 40% of the vote. At the time she said she would not rule out another campaign. She now works at The Sentencing Project, supporting state and local advocates advancing sentencing reforms and working to restore voting rights. Despite the challenges she has faced, Haynes says “Bending the arc takes effort. It takes action. It takes pressure. The work continues.”

Jacksboro resident and Knoxville attorney Zack Walden has announced his candidacy for Eighth Judicial District Criminal Court judge, WLAF News reports. The seat is currently held by Judge E. Shayne Sexton, who is retiring this summer. Walden is former chair of the Campbell County Republican Party and is an attorney with Eldridge & Blakney in Knoxville, where he focuses his practice on complex criminal litigation. He is an active member of the Knoxville Bar Association and the Barristers, receiving the group's President’s Award for his commitment to civics education. He is also active in the TBA and its Young Lawyers Division, serving as chair of the High School Mock Trial Committee. His vision for the court includes expanding the existing Recovery Court to specifically serve veterans and continuing to fight the scourge of opioids in the area. The Eighth District covers Campbell, Claiborne, Fentress, Scott and Union counties.

Tennessee's Republican leadership is continuing its push against critical race theory, this time turning its attention to public universities, the Tennessean reports. A bill sponsored by leaders in the House and Senate would prevent universities from penalizing students who refuse to support a number of "divisive concepts,” which are laid out in the bill. The bill, HB2670, also would give college students and staff the right to sue the university if they feel discriminated against for pushing back on these concepts. It would also require schools to conduct a survey every other year to assess the campus community’s comfort level with speaking freely regardless of political affiliation or ideology. The legislation passed the House Education Subcommittee last week.

The final week of Law Tech 2022 wraps up Thursday with two sessions and two chances to win tech prizes. The Future of the Paperless Law Firm will begin at 10 a.m. CST and include a discussion of the pros/cons of a paperless practice and best practices for those taking the plunge. One lucky registrant at this session will win a Rocketbook Orbit Reusable Legal Pad. The afternoon session will be the popular Bill & Phil Show. Beginning at 1 p.m. CST, attorney Bill Ramsey and legal technologist Phil Hampton will share a broad overview of the latest tech gadgets, apps, tools and tips for attorneys. Registrants for that session will be entered to win an iPad Air. Thanks to all our Law Tech sponsors — Clio, Time Miner, Neal & Harwell and Page One Legal — who made this year's prizes possible.

The Knoxville Pro Bono Community will gather March 3 at 6 p.m. EST for the 2022 Forging Justice Spring Celebration. The event, sponsored by Legal Aid of East Tennessee and Egerton McAfee Armistead & Davis, will be held at The Standard, 416 W. Jackson Ave., Knoxville 37902. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. EST. Tickets are $55 per person or $100 for a couple and can be purchased online. The evening will include a celebration of pro bono work completed in 2021, music, food and a silent auction. All proceeds will benefit Legal Aid and its Pro Bono Project.

State courts and government offices were closed today for Presidents' Day. There were no court opinions issued.

In honor of Black History Month, the Bessie Smith Performance Hall in Chattanooga will hold a town hall meeting with Black elected officials on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. EST. Those in attendance will have the opportunity to ask questions and interact directly with officials. The event is free and also will be livestreamed. For more information call 423-266-8658 or email info@bessiemsithcc.org. Chattanoogan.com reports on the event.

The University of Tennessee College of Law recently celebrated the achievements of students, faculty and staff at the college’s Honors Banquet and Awards Program. Professor Valorie Vojdik received the Harold C. Warner Outstanding Teacher Award while Rodd Barckhoff received the Outstanding Adjunct Teacher Award. Maurice Stucke received the Faculty Award for Writing Excellence. Other faculty recognized included Teri Dobbins Baxter, Zack Buck, Sherley Cruz, Shamika Dalton, Jeff Groah, Becky Jacobs, Michelle Kwon, Tammy Neff, Teresa Peterson, Glenn Reynolds and Penny White. Awards also went to 28 students. See the full list.

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments will consider seven applicants when it meets virtually on March 3 and 4 to select nominees for two vacancies on the Eastern Section of the Court of Criminal Appeals. Those under consideration are 10th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Andrew Freiberg; Mark A. Fulks, university counsel and chief compliance officer with East Tennessee State University; 11th Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Thomas Greenholtz; 6th Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Kyle Hixon; Knox County General Sessions Court Magistrate Ray Hal Jenkins; 5th Judicial District Assistant District Attorney Tracy Jenkins; and 11th Judicial District Assistant Public Defender Jay Arthur Perry. The vacancies are due to Judge Norma McGee Ogle and D. Kelly Thomas Jr. deciding not to stand for retention in the August election. The council will livestream the hearing. Interested individuals may also attend the livestream at the Tennessee Supreme Court Building, 500 Main Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Those who wish to make comments should contact Ceesha Lofton, 615-741-2687.