U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw in Nashville has ordered the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to hand over internal emails and records showing why high-level officials pushed for criminal charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The order, issued on Dec. 3, recently was unsealed, according to The Tennessean. Prosecutors have said officials provided "appropriate oversight" in the case. The order came in proceedings challenging Abrego Garcia's prosecution as vindictive. In October, Crenshaw ruled there is some evidence the government brought charges out of vindictiveness. He set the next hearing for Jan. 26, 2026. Abrego Garcia faces two charges in Tennessee: conspiracy to transport aliens and unlawful transportation of undocumented aliens. In related news, immigration officials now say they do not plan to detain Abrego Garcia again as long as a judge’s order banning it stands, according to the Associated Press.

Mississippi lawyer Christopher Ryan Toms was reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee on Dec. 30. He was placed on inactive status more than five years ago on Dec. 2, 2013. The Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility reviewed the petition for reinstatement and determined Toms had met the requirements for reinstatement.

The random lottery for H-1B visas heavily used by the tech sector will be swapped with a selection process that favors highly paid workers under a Trump administration rule released last week. According to Reuters, the rule will take effect Feb. 27, 2026, as part of the administration’s plan to block visas for lower-paid jobs. Giving employers an incentive to petition for higher-paid, higher-skilled foreign workers would “strengthen America’s competitiveness,” according to a government spokesperson. But employer groups warn such a change would undercut the administration’s goal of prioritizing the most economically valuable workers.

Kingsport lawyer Don F. Mason Jr. died Dec. 26 following a lengthy illness. Originally from Alabama, Mason earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee in 1976, and a Master of Business Administration and a law degree in 1979. He practiced law from 1980 until his passing, maintaining a general practice with a focus in labor and employment law. Other practice areas included discrimination, workers' compensation, personal injury, social security disability, and civil mediation and arbitration. Mason served as president of Legal Aid of East Tennessee from 2015-2016 and was a member of its board of directors from 2010-2020. Visitation is today from 4-5:30 p.m. EST at Colonial Heights Christian Church. A celebration of life will follow at 5:30 p.m. EST. Memorial donations may be made to Legal Aid of East Tennessee, 311 W. Walnut St., Johnson City, TN 37604 or by calling 423-928-8311.

The TBA will be closed Thursday in observance of New Year’s Day and will reopen at 8 a.m. CST on Friday. Visit the TBA website to access CLE offerings for your year-end needs and contact information for individual staff members. Happy New Year!

The New Year is just hours away and the TBA is here to help attorneys meet their CLE requirements with flexible, year-end programming. TBA CLE offers live webcasts and on-demand courses that can be completed from home or the office, whether you need a single hour or 15 to finish the year. Members can select from packages by hour (six, eight, 10, 12 or 15), by topic, by practice area or by building their own with more than 200 on-demand programs available. Topical and practice-area packages offer dual hours, making it easy to complete ethics requirements before the year ends. For more information and to browse the full catalog, visit the TBA website or contact support at cle@tnbar.org.

This bonus episode of BarBuzz takes a festive and reflective turn as TBA staff members and hosts Azya Thornton and Hank Elliott share lighthearted courtroom stories and holiday traditions submitted by members and staff, ranging from memorable probate court moments to cookie baking, tamale-making and even a legendary flour fight. The episode also looks ahead to 2026, offering a relaxed and cheerful conversation that celebrates community, connection and what’s next for the TBA. Listeners can catch past episodes of the podcast anytime in the BarBuzz archive.

State officials decertified the Meigs County Jail earlier in December after determining that recently approved repair plans would not bring the overcrowded, aging facility into compliance with Tennessee Corrections Institute (TCI) standards. WBIR reports that the decision came less than a day after county commissioners voted to renovate rather than build a new jail. TCI officials have concluded that only a new facility could restore certification. As a result, state inmates must be transferred out and county leaders must reconsider their plans.

Rep. Chris Todd, R-Jackson, has filed HB1446 to ban use of the term "West Bank" — referring to the Palestinian territory west of the Jordan River and Dead Sea controlled by Israel — in official state documents. It would replace references to that area with the term "Judea and Samaria." The Tennessean reports that the bill also embeds religious, historical and national security arguments in state law to support permanent Israeli control of the territory. The proposal adopts language commonly used by Israel’s settler movement and asserts a broader ideological struggle rooted in Judeo-Christian values. Todd, a member of the Tennessee-Israel Legislative Caucus, says the bill ensures state documents use what he considers historically and biblically accurate terminology.

An audit from Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower's office has identified flaws in the way the state Department of Human Services (DHS) investigates complaints against child care centers, potentially placing children at risk, according to the Tennessee Lookout. Approximately 6,000 allegations of child abuse, neglect and financial exploitation are made annually against child care providers, which DHS must investigate. The comptroller's report found that some of these investigations lacked required documentation, including proof that inspectors visited the childcare center, incomplete “action plans” holding child care operators responsible for improvements, and misclassified forms. The report also found that some investigations were not initiated or concluded in the legally required timeframe. DHS Commissioner Clarence Carter acknowledged the ongoing problems and pledged to “strengthen our processes to ensure our investigation process is timely and properly documented at DHS.”