The Tennessee Supreme Court on Oct. 17 denied a motion for reconsideration and the Board of Professional Responsibility’s response in the case of Davidson County lawyer Michael Lloyd Freeman. On Oct. 9, the court revoked probation and suspended Freeman for three years, less 112 days previously served on suspension. In 2021, Freeman was suspended for three years, with three months to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. The court found that censures imposed on Jan. 10 and July 31 violated the terms of probation.

White County lawyer John Edward Hutson was reinstated to the active practice of law with conditions on Oct. 20. He had been suspended on Jan. 14 for two years, with six months to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. Hutson filed a petition for reinstatement on Oct. 13. The Board of Professional Responsibility found it to be satisfactory. Reinstatement is conditioned on Hutson engaging a practice monitor during the first six months of the probationary period and meeting with the monitor monthly to review and assess his caseload, case management, timeliness of performing tasks, adequacy of communication with clients and accounting procedures.

Hardin County Lawyer Nicholas Lee Surratt received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on Oct. 20 after the court determined that he violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 3.2, 3.4(c), 8.4(d) and (g). Surratt was hired to represent a criminal defendant in appealing a conviction but failed to timely file the trial court transcript and failed to respond to the Court of Criminal Appeals about the transcript. The court then held him in willful contempt. Surratt also failed to comply with subsequent orders entered by the court establishing deadlines for filing the client’s principal brief.

The federal public defender’s office in Memphis is being overwhelmed by cases stemming from the Memphis Safe Task Force, The Daily Memphian reports. The situation has prompted a federal judge to warn that private attorneys on the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel will need to take on more indigent defense work. The strain also comes as CJA attorneys nationwide have not been paid since July due to funding lapses and the federal shutdown, leaving them to work without compensation for now. Despite these challenges, local CJA attorneys say they remain committed to providing legal representation according to the paper. In related news, the surge in arrests from the task force also has pushed the Shelby County Jail beyond capacity, forcing officials to find alternate housing for inmates. Action News 5 reports on new data tracking arrests since the task force's implementation.

Tennessee has shelved plans to purchase and demolish the Capitol Towers residential high-rise in downtown Nashville, The Tennessee Journal reports. The state had considered using about $32 million in bonds and reserves to buy the property and convert the site into green space near the Capitol and Cordell Hull buildings. Officials now say there have been no discussions with the property’s majority owner, and the acquisition will not proceed.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has issued an order seeking comments from the legal community and the public on amendments to Rule 21 that would require attorneys to complete at least one hour of continuing legal education in mental health or substance use disorders every three years. The changes, proposed by the Tennessee Lawyer Assistance Program and Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, would amend Section 3.01(a) to require at least one hour of the currently required three hours in ethics/professionalism programming be dedicated to these topics. The deadline for submitting written comments is Dec. 19. Comments should reference docket number ADM2025-01538 and be emailed to appellatecourtclerk@tncourts.gov or mailed to: Clerk James Hivner, Re: Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 21, 401 Seventh Ave., N., STE 321, Nashville, TN 37219-1407.

In 2023, 1,588 Tennesseans died as a result of a firearm, a historic high, according to newly released data by the state’s Department of Health. The rate of firearm deaths rose in nearly every category: adult suicide, child suicide and homicides of both adult and child victims, placing Tennessee seventh in the nation for the rate of gun deaths, the Tennessee Lookout reports. Read the full report from WBBJ TV. In addition, Tennessee Senate Democrats maintain a database to track state gun deaths. It was created after the 2023 shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville and shows that over the past 10 years, firearm fatalities involving children increased overall by 128%, firearm suicides among children rose 115% and firearm homicides of children rose 114%.

Knox County District Attorney Charme Allen will not ask the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to examine the Knox County Sheriff’s Office’s handling of a 2022 crash that killed a teenager. The family of Conor Dolin, who died in a single-vehicle wreck, requested an independent review to determine why no charges were filed against the 15-year-old unlicensed driver. Allen said she found no evidence of criminal intent in the sheriff’s investigation, which was marred by missing evidence, a lost crash report and deleted body camera footage, according to Knox News. The DA’s office twice declined to charge the unlicensed driver, citing an incomplete investigation. Allen noted that while her office will not request an inquiry, the TBI could open one on its own.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to take up whether a federal law that bans gun possession for drug users is constitutional, with a decision expected by next summer, The Hill reports. The case stems from the prosecution of Ali Danial Hemani, an alleged regular marijuana user, who was charged after agents searched his home and found cocaine, marijuana and a Glock 19. His conviction was overturned by an appeals court, which ruled the law’s broad scope conflicted with gun rights. It also found that prosecutors had not alleged that Hemani was unlawfully under the influence when the gun was discovered. The Trump administration had asked the justices to take up the case.

A week after an explosion killed 16 people at the Accurate Energetic Systems (AES) plant near Bucksnort, families of the victims are taking legal action against the company, claiming it failed to adequately protect their loved ones, NewsChannel 5 reports. The explosion occurred Oct. 10 at the facility in Humphreys and Hickman counties. The lawsuit seeks $3 million in compensatory damages and $9 million in punitive damages from AAC Investments LLC, the parent company of AES. Attorney Lee Coleman said his firm now represents two families and is investigating additional cases involving as many as eight other potential companies that could be added as more evidence becomes available. AES representatives declined to comment on the litigation but said the company is “committed to learning what caused this unprecedented tragedy” and has always been dedicated to “the highest safety standards.” The investigation into the explosion remains ongoing.