The U.S. Justice Department plans to expand gun-rights protections with a new office in the Civil Rights Division dedicated to enforcing the constitutional right to bear arms, according to Reuters. The office, called the Second Amendment Rights Section, is expected to open Dec. 4 and will investigate local laws or policies that limit gun rights. The section also will carry out broad directives from a February executive order issued by President Donald Trump directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to assess any ongoing infringements of gun rights across the federal government. Earlier this year, the department launched a civil rights investigation into allegations that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was delaying approvals for concealed-carry permits after gun-rights groups filed a lawsuit over the department’s process, fees and wait times.

According to data from the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office, Davidson, Montgomery and Williamson counties saw the highest early voter turnout, with 20,951, 19,110 and 14,777 ballots cast, respectively, in a special congressional election, the Nashville Scene reports. The 7th Congressional District includes 11 counties — Stewart, Montgomery, Robertson, Houston, Dickson, Cheatham, Humphreys, Hickman, Decatur, Perry and Wayne — as well as portions of Davidson, Williamson and Benton. The special election will fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of former U.S. Rep. Mark Green and will come up for election again in one year. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST tomorrow for election day.

The TBA will offer a webcast on Dec. 11 providing a practical overview of the cybersecurity legal landscape. The program will cover current cyber risks, baseline regulatory obligations across agencies such as the SEC, FTC, NYDFS, CMMC and state attorneys general, and will walk participants through real-world breach scenarios and subsequent litigation. The session runs from noon to 1 p.m. CST and will include actionable guidance for managing cybersecurity incidents and strengthening compliance programs. Visit the TBA website to register.

The TBA will host “The Ethical Campaign 2025” on Dec. 2 in Nashville, an advanced-level program for state and local lawmakers, judges, candidates, campaign leaders and their counsel focused on ethics and professionalism in the 2026 election cycle. The session will cover compliance with election laws, ethical obligations and campaign finance requirements, and will include lunch and networking opportunities with panelists. The event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. CST at the Adams & Reese Nashville office at 1600 West End Ave. Space is limited and early registration is encouraged. For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.

In the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Sept. 16 order soliciting comments from the Tennessee legal community, the court asks whether it "should consider modifying requirements for admission to the Tennessee Bar for those licensed in other states to promote interstate practice and mobility." Comity admission is governed by Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7, Article V. An applicant must have been engaged in the active practice of law for five of the seven years immediately preceding the application and must meet education and character and fitness requirements. The current application process is a multi-step process that can take up to 14 months, and sometimes longer, to complete. Feedback on potential modification of these requirements may be sent to TBA's newly formed Legal Access & Regulatory Reform Task Force at townhall@tnbar.org as well as directly to the court. Watch TBA Today through the month of December to learn more about the seven points in the Supreme Court’s order and specific ways to engage with the task force. Visit TBA's Legal Access & Regulatory Reform resource page for more information.

Calling all early birds! The TBA is launching a new series that will bring lawyers compelling CLE webcasts from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. CST. The Sunrise Series will begin Dec. 2 with “College Mascots and Legal Ethics: Lessons from the Sidelines,” during which legal educator Stuart Teicher will use tigers, eagles and other college icons to explore what mascots can teach lawyers about loyalty, character and protecting clients. Then on Dec. 9, Teicher will present "Good Lawyers Gone Bad: Ethics Lessons from True Lawyer Slime and Crime." The session will explore actual missteps committed by lawyers and the ethics lessons underlying the actions. Make plans now to get your day started with a CLE boost!

It's time for TBA's Year End CLE event! This annual tradition brings you quick and easy content, right from the comfort of your own home or office, whether you need one hour of CLE or 15. There is a quality mix of packages based on hours needed or topic, live webcasts and on-demand video — all offered virtually. And our excellent customer support at cle@tnbar.org will get you over the finish line for your 2025 CLE requirements. Select packages by hour (six, eight, 10, 12 or 15) or by topic, or build your own any time by visiting cle.tba.org to access over 200 on-demand programs. Topical packages include AI Essentials, Attorney Wellness, Ethics, Experience TBA Convention, General Solo & Small Practice, Law Practice Management, Mediation Ethics & CME and the Rookie Series. All offer dual hours, making it easy to check that off your December to-do list. Packages also are available based on practice area. Check out all the options here!

Nashville Metro Council Member Zulfat Suara has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Meharry Medical College, alleging she was treated differently than others who have been dismissed from their jobs in recent months, according to the Nashville Banner. Suara worked at the school from 2015 through October 2024, when she and several other finance officials were terminated from their positions. The lawsuit alleges, in part, that she never received official notice of her termination, which has hindered her pursuit of a new job. Suara is asking for compensatory and punitive damages in the lawsuit. She is represented by attorneys from Herzfeld, Suetholz, Gastel, Leniski and Wall.

Federal officials traveled to Memphis on Monday to tout the city’s falling crime rate, attributing a 48% decline in murders to the 56-day existence of the Memphis Safe Task Force. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi was joined by U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner and U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces Serralta. The group announced that the task force has made 3,000 arrests and seized more than 500 guns. The Daily Memphian has more on the press conference.

In related news, nine Shelby County Criminal Court judges addressed jail overcrowding in an order that includes recommendations for the Shelby County General Sessions Court Clerk’s Office and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office designed to help alleviate current problems. The recommendations center on staffing issues, records management, charging errors and transportation delays according to Action News 5. The clerk’s office has responded, saying it shares many of the same concerns, especially with regard to funding and staffing shortages. Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, also recently addressed the issue, saying that funding for any plan to replace the aging Shelby County Jail at 201 Poplar would be "upon the locals," not the state, the Commercial Appeal reports. Sexton was asked specifically about overcrowding at the Criminal Justice Center, reports WREG. He reiterated his stance for tougher sentencing laws and expansion of state prison capacity, adding that Shelby County could borrow the money needed for its own jail, or pursue other options, including relying on federal detention facilities.

The Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated two lawyers to the active practice of law on Nov. 24. Davidson County lawyer Emily Claire Foster was reinstated after being on inactive status since Dec. 5, 2017. Michigan lawyer Brian Robert Leibrandt was reinstated after being on inactive status since May 10, 2012. The Board of Professional Responsibility determined that both of their reinstatement petitions were satisfactory and that reinstatement was appropriate.