Registration is now open for "Justice Without Lawyers: Working in Legal Deserts" on July 29 at 11 a.m. CDT.  This one-hour virtual program will explore the significant and growing challenges surrounding indigent representation and the increasing prevalence of legal deserts. A panel of judges and attorneys will examine the underlying causes of limited access to counsel, discuss practical strategies for expanding the availability of legal services — including through appointed representation — and consider emerging solutions being advanced by courts and the broader legal community. This free program also will address the professional responsibility and ethical considerations implicated in access-to-justice issues. One hour of dual CLE credit is available for a nominal fee.

A federal judge on Tuesday declined to temporarily block Tennessee's newly redrawn congressional map, ruling that plaintiffs — several Black Memphis voters and organizations represented by the ACLU — had not demonstrated a substantial likelihood of success in their claims that the map was racially discriminatory. The new map, passed during a special legislative session, eliminates the state's only majority-Black congressional district and would likely result in a 9-0 Republican House delegation. Plaintiffs argued the redraw was both racially motivated and poorly timed, coming amid active candidate filing deadlines ahead of an August primary. The judge acknowledged discrimination could have been a factor but stopped short of finding the legal bar met for emergency relief. The Hill reports that an appeal is expected. The same judge rejected an earlier temporary restraining order request from a group of Memphis congressional candidates.

Following last week's failed execution of Tony Carruthers, attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) are calling on Gov. Bill Lee to pause all executions by lethal injection in the state. First Assistant Federal Public Defender Amy Harwell said, “Clearly there are issues regarding competency and training of corrections staff for executions. It is unconscionable to continue to schedule executions until the courts and the public have a full understanding of what changes need to be made.” WSMV reports that a Davidson County Chancery Court judge ordered the Department of Corrections to preserve evidence of what happened at last week's failed lethal injection procedure. Read more in a media advisory.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has issued notice that the Tennessee General Assembly has ratified amendments to the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure and Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure. The amendments, adopted by the court in January, take effect on July 1.

Washington D.C.-based lobbying firm Vogel Group has expanded its presence in Nashville with the addition of four individuals from Holland & Knight’s government affairs group. The Nashville Post reports that Catie Lane Bailey and Annie Beckstrom have joined the firm as principals, while Mack Cooper and Chase Ingles joined as directors. Bailey and Beckstrom also will serve as partners in the Nashville office of D.C.-based law firm Holtzman Vogel Baran Josefiak & Torchinsky, which expanded to the city last year. The group will advise clients on legislative strategy, regulatory engagement, political risk and positioning, and public policy matters. Read more in a press release from the firm.

Tennessee Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti on Tuesday announced that the state joined a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general opposing the federal Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act), H.R. 7757, arguing the bill would weaken states’ ability to protect children online while insulating Big Tech from accountability. The coalition warned the KIDS Act would broadly preempt state laws addressing online harms to minors, including social media harms, obscenity, social gaming platforms and artificial intelligence chatbots. The group expressed support for the Senate version of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), S. 1748, which includes a key duty-of-care provision requiring online platforms to act in the best interests of minors while preserving states’ authority to enforce stronger protections for children and teens. The letter comes as attorneys general across the country continue investigations and litigation involving major social media platforms, including Meta and TikTok, over allegations that their platforms target and harm underage users.

Gov. Bill Lee recently signed the FAIR Rx Act, which prevents pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) from holding pharmacy licenses in Tennessee and requires those companies to divest pharmacy ownership by July 1, 2028. The Tennessee Journal reports that CVS Health, which operates 134 retail pharmacy stores and 25 MinuteClinic locations in Tennessee, almost immediately filed a federal lawsuit in an attempt to block the law. According to NewsChannel 5, CVS said the legislation would lead to pharmacy closures, job losses and reduced healthcare access across the state. Supporters of the legislation, including the Tennessee Pharmacists Association, argue the bill is necessary to stop conflicts of interest in the prescription drug industry and protect independent pharmacies from unfair reimbursement practices.

Clinton H. Swafford, age 89, died on May 22 in Winchester. He earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee (now Winston) College of Law and began practicing law in 1959. He was a longtime member of the Tennessee Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association (TTLA). He served as TTLA president from 1982-1983, and was honored with the TTLA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. At the age of 24, Swafford became the youngest mayor of Winchester, serving from 1961-1967. He also served for 20 years on the advisory board for the University of Tennessee Space Institute. In those roles he was invited to witness the Apollo 9 launch. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Winchester First Baptist Church or The Gideons International. Visitation will be held at First Baptist Church, 108 S High St., Winchester 37398 on May 30 from 9-11 a.m. CDT with funeral services immediately following. Interment will follow in Franklin Memorial Gardens.

The Tennessee State Museum on May 30 will premiere a new documentary about the origins of the state flag and its designer, Captain Le Roy Reeves. A graduate of Johnson City College, Reeves originally planned to become a teacher. After a brief stint, he left teaching to take the Tennessee Bar Exam and joined his father’s law practice in Johnson City. Just as Reeves was beginning his law career, he decided to join the National Guard, earning the rank of captain. Disappointed with the state’s lack of heraldry and a unifying symbol for its three Grand Divisions, Reeves began drafting designs and selecting colors for a flag that would be “distinctly Tennessee.” For two years, Reeves appealed to legislators, military officials and civic groups before the flag was adopted on April 17, 1905. Read more in a press release from the museum and view a photo of Reeves' original sketch.

Knoxville lawyer Joe Mont McAfee died May 17 at age 89. He completed his law degree at the University of Tennessee (now Winston) College of Law. In 1961, he was commissioned as first lieutenant in the Army JAG Corp completing his military justice training at the University of Virginia School of Law. McAfee practiced business law at Egerton, McAfee, Armistead & Davis Law Firm, founded by his father in 1932, representing several Knoxville institutions including White Stores, Weigels and Cherokee Distributing Company. He was a member of the Knoxville Bar Association and a fellow of the Tennessee Bar Association. A reception to celebrate his life will be held at Cherokee Country Club, 5138 Lyons View Pike, Knoxville 37919 on June 21 from 4-6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in McAfee’s name to West Hills Presbyterian Church, 7600 Bennington Dr. NW, Knoxville 37909 or the University of Tennessee College of Nursing, 1200 Volunteer Blvd., Knoxville 37916.