The Tennessee House Select Committee on Redistricting will hold its first meeting tomorrow, the Tennessee Journal reports. Assembled late last month by House Speaker Cameron Sexton, the committee is made up of eight Republicans and four Democrats. Traditionally, each chamber creates its own redistricting plan, while the House and Senate combine to draw new congressional maps. Wednesday’s meeting agenda includes a discussion of House redistricting guidelines, submission of redistricting plans and public comments.

U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman on Friday issued a temporary restraining order against Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order allowing schools to opt out of mask mandates, the Commercial Appeal reports. Bryce Ashby, an attorney representing the two families who filed suit on behalf of their children with disabilities, says he believes the order will apply to all schools in the county, including private and religious schools. WPLN reports that a mask mandate, without the option to opt out, went into effect this morning in Shelby County. Lipman’s order states the temporary restraining order will remain in effect until Sept. 17, unless the court moves to dissolve it earlier or extend it. A preliminary injunction hearing in the matter will be held Thursday.

Save the date for this year’s Animal Law Forum, taking place in person and outside at the Nashville Zoo on Sept. 24. Programming will run from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. CDT and will provide attendees with a unique opportunity to brush up on trends and advancements in animal law, while networking and enjoying the fun and activities the zoo offers. The zoo’s president and CEO and the board’s general counsel will discuss conservation efforts and laws affecting procurement and care for zoo animals. Other topics include ethical considerations for animals and the law, legislative updates, laws governing farm animals and more. Zoo admission, breakfast and lunch are included with the program.

The Tennessee Bar Association will be closed on Monday in observance of Labor Day. The TBA's virtual office will reopen on Tuesday at 8 a.m. CDT with all staff continuing to work remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit the TBA.org website for information on CLE or other TBA programs and for staff contact information.

The TBA Executive Committee held its second specially set meeting today to determine necessary restrictions on in-person events due to the recent spread of the Delta variant, hospitalizations and strain on public health resources across the state. The TBA will continue to monitor upcoming events and make determinations on continuing those events as scheduled on a case by case basis. All in-person, indoor TBA events, meetings and programs will have the following restrictions through February 2022:

• Masking will be required for attendees and staff regardless of vaccination status for indoor events. Masking for outdoor events is optional.
   
• Social distancing will be required and attendance may be limited to ensure compliance at all in-person events.
   
• Proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test within 72 hours of the event, meeting or program will be required for participation at in-person indoor events.

If applicable, TBA will comply with the more restrictive protocols and requirements of the host venue at the time of the event, meeting or program. All CLE programs will proceed virtually through 2021 with the exception of the Animal Law Forum, which will be held outside and socially distanced at the Nashville Zoo on Sept. 24.

This policy is effective immediately through February 2022.

Davidson County General Sessions Judge William E. “Bill” Higgins has announced that he will not run for re-election next year. Instead, he will return to the practice of law when his term expires in September 2022. Higgins has served on the bench since 1980 and was re-elected five times. Prior to joining the court, Higgins practiced law for 13 years and was elected to three terms as a councilman in the 24th District in West Nashville. Read more in a press release from his campaign.

Judge Brody Kane announced today that he plans to seek re-election for the 15th Judicial District Criminal Court. He will run in the Republican primary on May 3. Kane was first elected in 2014 with more than 70% of the vote. Since 2019, he also has presided over and expanded the district’s recovery/drug court. Prior to joining the criminal court, Kane served 10 years as Alexandria municipal judge. He began his career as a Shelby County assistant public defender in 1995. From 1998 to 2014, he was a partner at two law firms in Lebanon. Kane earned his law degree from the University of Memphis in 1995.

Six North Carolina residents have filed a class-action lawsuit against Tennessee-based HCA Healthcare alleging restraint of trade and unlawful monopolization. The suit targets the Mission Hospital in Asheville, owned by HCA, following accusations from patients, employees and public officials that the facility has sacrificed quality of care and patient and employee health and safety in pursuit of profits, Facing South reports. Specific complaints allege above-market pricing for prescriptions and procedures, unnecessary tests and procedures, obscured pricing and "all-or-nothing" practices that require insurance companies to use hospital facilities for non-essential services. The plaintiffs are being represented by North Carolina-based Wallace & Graham and Fairmark Partners of Washington, D.C.

The Arts & Business Council's Volunteer Lawyers and Professionals for the Arts and the law firm of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings will provide free legal services for Black-owned small businesses and nonprofits at a clinic on Sept. 16. Issues covered include questions about business formation, corporate governance, contract review and navigating local ordinances and state regulations. Eligible businesses may receive up to one hour of assistance. Companies may sign up online. To volunteer email vlpa@abcnashville.org.

The FBI has charged Christopher Michael Cunningham of Nashville with entering restricted grounds and engaging in disorderly conduct in the U.S. Capitol, Mainstreet Nashville reports. The federal government used Facebook selfies of Cunningham in the Capitol and records showing a device associated with his email address entered and exited the building to obtain the arrest warrant. In February, Cunningham called the Metro Nashville Police Department to report a stolen pressure washer. At that time he also stated on body-worn camera footage that he entered the Capitol on Jan. 6.