On Nov. 18, the TBA Appellate Practice Section will host a free webinar titled "Application Granted: Strategies for Seeking Permission to Appeal Under Tenn. Rule of Appellate Procedure 11." The session will provide guidance for lawyers seeking permission to appeal a civil or criminal case to the state Supreme Court. Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeff Bivins, court staff attorneys Elizabeth Ryan and Edmund Sauer, and experienced appellate practitioners Brennan Wingerter and Kristine Roberts will share best practices, lessons learned and practical advice for getting an application granted. One hour of general CLE credit is available for a $50 processing fee. Contact TBA staff member Jarod Word at jword@tnbar.org with questions regarding CLE credit.

Bolivar Mayor Julian McTizic has announced he will run for the District 80 seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives. The seat is currently held by Rep. Johnny Shaw, D-Bolivar, who says he is not seeking reelection in 2026. The Tennessee Journal reports that McTizic will run for the seat as a Republican. “I see this as a tremendous opportunity to continue my efforts in helping the community I love so much. My entire career has focused on helping people in need, and I would be blessed to and honored to serve the citizens of Hardeman, Haywood and Madison counties in the state house,” McTizic said. He is the youngest and first Black mayor of Bolivar and has served in that office since 2017. McTizic is president of the Tennessee Mayor’s Association and the West Tennessee Mayor’s Association. WBBJ has more on the story.

The oversight board of Knox County's Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center plans to remain in place for another six months before deciding whether to hand control of the troubled facility to the sheriff’s office. According to Knox News, the board wants more time to respond to a new report from the University of Tennessee's County Technical Advisory Service, which found severe security lapses, outdated practices, poor recordkeeping and even evidence of animals once housed in the building. The report described the facility as “frozen in time,” citing unlicensed operations and excessive overtime costs. While interim leaders work on urgent fixes, county officials are considering long-term options, including a proposal from the McNabb Center to create a “blended model” that integrates mental health treatment for detained youth.

The Nashville Bar Association (NBA) has released the results of a member poll of applicants being considered to fill a vacancy on the Davidson County General Sessions Court. The candidates rated included Jodie Bell, Mark Andrew Cole Sr., Leroy Ellis, David Jones and C. Michael Robinson. The vacancy is due to Judge Jim Todd's appointment to Criminal Court Division III. The association reports that 276 responses were received by the deadline. See the poll results in a release from the NBA. The full Metro Council will vote on the appointment on Nov. 18.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been transferred to Tennessee for a hearing this week on criminal charges stemming from a 2022 traffic stop. A Pennsylvania judge authorized the transfer on Friday. Abrego Garcia is charged with smuggling migrants across the country, to which he has pleaded not guilty. The Tennessee Lookout reports that the multi-day hearing comes after U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw found in October there was a “likelihood” that the Department of Justice (DOJ) indictment against Abrego Garcia was vindictive. Crenshaw also recently warned Trump administration officials of possible sanctions if they continued making inflammatory statements about Abrego Garcia.

Two federal judges recently admitted their rulings included errors generated by artificial intelligence (AI), highlighting the lack of consistent national guidelines on AI use in U.S. courts, Reuters reports. That has led U.S. Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley, D-Iowa, to warn the judiciary that Congress is watching closely. He also is urging the courts to adopt formal, uniform safeguards against AI misuse. While many courts have issued local orders or policies, the federal judiciary is still relying on temporary guidance issued in July. The recent revelations have intensified scrutiny on how judges use AI, as state and federal courts continue developing policies aimed at balancing the technology’s promise with the need for human oversight.

In this practical, hands-on program, attendees will learn how to regain control of their time and attention before the new year begins. Topics will include the real-world challenges of distraction, email overload and constant task switching (the average lawyer switches screens hundreds of times a day!). Speakers also will share proven systems to reduce mental clutter, improve concentration and manage priorities effectively. Learn to set boundaries with technology and design focus blocks that actually work, and start the new year with clarity, control and confidence. Register on the TBA website.

A coalition of news organizations is suing Tennessee’s top prisons official and a warden, alleging state execution protocols unconstitutionally limit the media’s access and hamper thorough and accurate reporting. The group, which includes the Nashville Banner, Nashville Public Radio and The Associated Press, argues that media members should be given access to the full execution process. Under current protocols — which went into effect in January — media are allowed to view condemned individuals only after they already are strapped to a gurney and hooked up to IV lines. The group also complains that officials give no indication as to when injections begin. Read more from WPLN.

The law license of Davidson County lawyer of Alex Fletcher Thompson was transferred to disability inactive status on Nov. 3. Thompson may not practice law while on inactive status. He may return to the practice of law after reinstatement by the Tennessee Supreme Court after showing that his disability has been removed. The court also issued an order allowing documents in the case to be filed under seal.

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett has referred 42 possible non-U.S. citizens to the FBI for investigation into potential illegal voting. The group represents about 0.0001% of the state’s 4.3 million registered voters. According to the Tennessee Lookout, Hargett credited President Donald Trump for improving access to the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system, which Tennessee uses to verify voter citizenship. In a letter posted on Facebook, Hargett thanked Trump for his administration’s collaboration. The Lookout reports that the Brennan Center for Justice has argued that information from SAVE is sometimes incomplete or old. It also has warned that expanding the amount of information accessible through SAVE could increase the risk of states erroneously purging eligible voters from their rolls.