A proposal to place Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) under a state-appointed oversight board is advancing in the Tennessee legislature, though lawmakers remain divided over how much authority such a board should have. Memphis Republican sponsors Sen. Brent Taylor and Rep. Mark White have proposed an oversight board of local residents empowered to make final decisions on the district’s budget and superintendent. Chalkbeat reports that senate leaders have pushed back on limiting local political input, while Democrats oppose the measure outright, citing failed past state interventions. SB714/HB662 is likely headed to a conference committee after both chambers declined to adopt each other’s versions, setting the stage for a compromise. Last year, Taylor and White's legislation made its way through the committee process and was voted on by the House and Senate, but the two chambers could not reach a resolution. In related news, according to the Commercial Appeal, the Shelby County Commission on Monday voted to keep all nine MSCS school board seats on the ballot for reelection. Five MSCS board members and the district in December sued the Shelby County Election Commission, arguing that new state and county election changes unlawfully shorten their four-year terms by forcing them onto the 2026 ballot.

A number of events celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day are being planned in Chattanooga. These include a memorial march and parade, the city’s annual day of service, a community day at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center and Hunter Museum of American Art, and an event at the New Zion Baptist Church. See all upcoming events from NOOGAtoday.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Sept. 16, 2025, issued an order soliciting comments from the legal community and the public on seven questions related to regulation of the legal profession. The deadline for comments is March 16. The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) has filed a request for an extension of that deadline until June 1 to allow as many members as possible to provide feedback and for its governing bodies to have time to review that feedback. The TBA has formed the Legal Access and Regulatory Reform Task Force to gather and review feedback from members. Those with comments may send their thoughts via email to townhall@tnbar.org. For more information about the court's order access TBA's resource page and watch for more information coming soon about other ways to engage with the task force.

The TBA Pro Bono Portal provides a centralized source for lawyers and law students to find pro bono opportunities across Tennessee, like the following case through West Tennessee Legal Services (WTLS). WTLS is hosting a virtual estate clinic Jan. 20-23. Many law students will be calling clients to complete simple wills, powers of attorney and advance directives. There is a need for attorneys who are available to review these documents after the clinic. Participants will receive pro bono/CLE credit. Get more information about the requirements associated with this opportunity and browse other pro bono needs.

Tennessee lawmakers opened the second session of the 114th Tennessee General Assembly at noon CST today. Immigration legislation and proposed expansion of Gov. Bill Lee's Education Freedom Scholarship program are expected to be at the forefront of the session, according to Axios. In addition, Knox News reports that Republican leadership is working with the Trump administration to introduce a slate of immigration bills. Last summer, Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, introduced legislation that would remove elected officials from office, and subject them to felony charges, if they release confidential information about immigration operations. The Nashville Scene has more about that bill and other items expected to be on the legislative agenda. Finally, the Tennessean reports that in a rare move, the House passed its first bill of the session. HB884 would add new restrictions around where "adult oriented performances," including drag shows, can be performed, banning such performances within 1,000 feet of any church or child care facility.

The University of Memphis Law Review will host its annual symposium on Feb. 27. As the United States looks forward to its 250th birthday in July, this year's symposium will reflect on due process, the cornerstone of the American legal system, according to the school. The program will "explore issues related to the history and evolution of due process and analyze what the future holds for this ever-evolving right," according a description of the event. Get more information on the law school's website.

Johnson City law partners Matt Bolton and McKenna Cox recently announced that after 100 years, the law firm of Herndon, Coleman, Brading and McKee is now Cox Bolton. In a statement on their new website, the pair said, "We feel this change better reflects who we are in 2026 and our vision for our firm into the next century. Cox Bolton LLP honors HCBM's commitment to provide legal services with integrity to our community." The firm's contact information will remain the same.

Christa Pike, the only woman on Tennessee’s death row, has sued the state over its new single-drug lethal injection protocol, arguing it violates the U.S. and Tennessee constitutions given her medical conditions and the risk of severe pain and suffering. According to the Nashville Banner, the lawsuit challenges the use of pentobarbital, the lack of transparency and emergency medical contingencies, restrictions on spiritual advisors, and a mandatory 14-day pre-execution isolation period that Pike says amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. Pike, who is scheduled to be executed Sept. 30 and who would be the first woman executed in Tennessee since 1820, also argues the protocol would cause her to effectively "drown in her own blood" due to a blood disorder and small veins, and that it infringes on her Buddhist beliefs. She is seeking a permanent injunction against the protocol and additional safeguards, citing past botched executions and ongoing litigation over Tennessee’s execution practices.

Former Millersville officials have filed a series of federal lawsuits accusing activists, former city leaders and journalists of conspiracies ranging from defamation to racketeering and even international terrorism. Defendants say the claims are frivolous and unsupported. According to The Tennessean, the lawsuits stem from years of turmoil in the small town, including mass firings, resignations, accusations of secret meetings and a botched 2024 sex-trafficking sting that later led to the indictment of a police captain. Five former employees — including ex-assistant police chief Shawn Taylor and former city attorney Bryant Kroll — allege coordinated efforts by activists, commissioners and reporters to sabotage investigations, defame them and force them from office. News organizations and the city have moved to dismiss the cases, arguing the allegations lack factual basis and that reporting and public statements are protected by the First Amendment.

The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) on Monday announced the appointment of veteran attorney Rebekah Parkhurst as its general counsel. “With nearly two decades of experience in public sector law, litigation management, and regulatory compliance, Rebekah has demonstrated a track record of leadership that I know will benefit our department and, in turn, all Tennesseans,” said TDCI Commissioner Carter Lawrence. Prior to joining TDCI, Parkhurst served in various roles with Tennessee state government beginning in 2005, including serving as law clerk at the Tennessee Supreme Court, as an assistant attorney general, and as a deputy general counsel with the Department of Human Services. She earned her law degree from Appalachian School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from Marshall University. Read more in a press release from the department.