Metro Nashville City Council has passed an ordinance that will prevent law enforcement from using license plate reader (LPR) technology to enforce any laws criminalizing abortion, the Tennessean reports. The measure passed unanimously on consent Tuesday and will block the use of LPRs in "assisting with enforcing laws outlawing abortion or outlawing interstate travel to obtain abortion." Nashville has yet to implement LPR technology, but a six-month pilot program was approved by council earlier this year. Last month, councilmembers also passed an ordinance to restrict LPR use for assistance with immigration enforcement.

The U.S. Senate today confirmed Memphis attorney Andre Mathis to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Reuters reports. Mathis, a partner at Butler Snow, was confirmed on a 48-47 vote, despite prior objections from Tennessee Republican Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty. He will be the first Black male and second Black person from Tennessee to sit on the Ohio-based 6th Circuit. Mathis is the second of President Joe Biden’s judicial picks to be confirmed this week.

Don't miss this year's 34th Annual Health Law Forum, taking place in person Oct. 20-21 at the Music City Center in downtown Nashville. This year's program will include a keynote address by Interim Health Commissioner Dr. Morgan McDonald and sessions on fraud and abuse, current and future issues in artificial intelligence and machine-based learning, the latest on research and clinical trials, and post-Roe concerns for healthcare workers. For those interested in learning more about the health law field, the 22nd Annual Health Law Primer will take place Oct. 19 from noon to 4:30 p.m. CDT at the Nashville office of Bass, Berry & Sims. Thanks to Carnahan Group, presenting sponsor for both programs.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will hold a free low-income legal help clinic on Wednesday in Gallatin. The clinic will run from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. CDT at the Gallatin Civic Center, 210 Albert Gallatin Ave. To volunteer for a clinic, contact Kendra Cheek, 615-780-7131. Get more details and see all September clinics.

Alumni members of the TBA Leadership Law (TBALL) program are being asked to submit nominations for the 2023 class. TBALL is a six-month leadership training program for Tennessee attorneys with five to 15 years of practice experience. Alumni members have until Sept. 14 to submit their nominations via an online form that was emailed to them. Questions about the program or nomination process can be directed to TBALL coordinator Kate Prince.  

The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance has unanimously recommended an audit of Gary Humble's state Senate campaign to see if there was improper coordination between Humble and the nonprofit issue advocacy group Tennessee Stands, the Tennessean reports. Humble, who lost a close race to Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, in the August Republican primary, is executive director of the group. Tom Lawless, a registry board member, said Tennessee Stands may have held events and promoted Humble's campaign without disclosing that spending to the registry. Another complaint alleged the group failed to disclose who paid for a campaign mailer.

The TBA hit the road today, taking its Court Square program to Greeneville for CLE programming and more. Activities kicked off with a networking lunch with TBA President Tasha Blakney and others, then continued with an ethics update from Eric Fuller with the Board of Professional Responsibility, as well as a judicial panel moderated by former TBA president and U.S. Magistrate Judge Cynthia Wyrick, and featuring Greene County General Sessions and Juvenile Judge Kenneth Bailey and Jefferson County General Sessions Judge Will Roach as panelists. Bristol Motor Speedway's vice president and legal counsel Julie Bennett also provided an introduction to sports betting in Tennessee following the 2020 passage of the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act. See photos from the day and watch for additional Court Square programs across the state.

The Tennessee Court of Workers' Compensation Claims looks back at the career of Judge Deana Seymour in a recent blog post. The piece reviews some of her most notable cases and her high praise for Memphis staff attorney Rhoberta Orsland. About the lawyers appearing before the court, Seymour says she had some very good lawyers appear before her who were working through difficult issues. It’s rewarding to see how lawyers on both sides take this work so seriously, she concluded. Looking ahead, Seymour plans to sharpen her photography skills and travel. But first, she will report for jury duty!

A group representing state chief justices is urging the U.S. Supreme Court not to shield actions taken by state legislatures affecting federal elections — such as reconfiguring electoral districts and imposing voting restrictions — from the scrutiny of state courts. Reuters reports that the bipartisan Conference of Chief Justices filed the brief yesterday in a case involving a map of congressional districts drawn by the North Carolina legislature. The state's top court struck the map down, concluding that the districts were intentionally biased against Democrats. Defenders of the map argue that the U.S. Constitution gives legislatures, not state courts, authority over election rules, including the drawing of electoral districts. Yahoo News has the story.

The TBA Animal Law Section will host its Annual Forum at the Nashville Zoo this Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT. This fun CLE provides attendees the chance to earn six CLE hours (five general and one dual) with an extended lunch break to explore the zoo. This year’s forum will feature topics relevant to several practice areas, including courtroom programs involving animals, conservation efforts, pet liability, landowner privacy concerns and ethics. Breakfast, lunch and zoo admission are included with registration.