Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis has told city commissioners that roughly 700 to 900 federal law enforcement officers are currently in Memphis as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force, with National Guard deployments expected by Friday. Davis said the Guard’s role will focus on visibility and deterrence rather than direct policing, and MPD is coordinating with federal analysts to identify gang activity. According to the Daily Memphian, Davis emphasized that federal assistance is long overdue but not a permanent solution to crime, and noted that both local and federal agencies are tracking overlapping enforcement data. Davis also highlighted falling crime rates — including a decline in homicides and aggravated assaults — and pointed to expanded downtown surveillance and new command centers as key safety improvements. The Commercial Appeal also reports on the developments.

The White House reportedly has offered nine universities, including Vanderbilt University, financial incentives in exchange for signing a “Compact for Academic Excellence,” which would require the schools to align campus and hiring policies with administration guidelines. The Nashville Post reports that the compact includes measures such as banning race- or sex-based admissions, freezing tuition, capping international enrollment and enforcing the government’s gender definitions in campus facilities and sports. In exchange for signing the compact, schools would get privileged access to federal funds. Vanderbilt confirmed receipt of the proposal, which it says it is "carefully reviewing."

The city of Columbia on Oct. 3 unveiled a statue of Thurgood Marshall to represent the former Supreme Court justice's time in the city following the 1946 Columbia Uprising nearly 80 years ago. The Daily Herald reports that in addition to the statue, the monument features four historical markers telling the story of the uprising and Marshall's role in the aftermath. Chancellor Doug Jenkins, president of the Tennessee Judicial Conference, spoke during the dedication ceremony, saying the Marshall statue was "proper" so that "your community will always remember his association with it and your role in the larger struggle occurring at the time. ... To those whose energy and admiration to make this happen, thank you."

TBA members gathered for a special event which combined two TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) CLE series: "Does it Please the Court?" and "Exploration." The day began with YLD President-elect Jen Sneed leading a discussion with Tennessee Supreme Court Justices Holly Kirby and Mary Wagner on a variety of topics relevant to the Tennessee legal community. Next, YLD Membership Chair Patrick Morrison led a discussion with Jessica Van Dyke from the Tennessee Innocence Project. After a ranger-led hike and lunch, YLD Past President Quinton Thompson moderated a panel with Memphis attorneys Constance Brown, Nicole Grida, Will Perry and Faith Watson on "The Ethics of Saying No." This event marked the inaugural "Does it Please the Court?" CLE. The next one in the series, From First Generation to the Bench, will be a webcast on Nov. 20 at noon CST. This was the third installment of the Exploration series which seeks to blend professional development and the peace and beauty of Tennessee State Parks. See photos from the event.

Chattanooga family law and criminal defense attorney Alan Ray Beard died Oct. 3 at age 69. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Southern Illinois University and served two tours in the U.S. Army, including time as a judge advocate general (JAG) attorney with the 101st Airborne. Details on a military service and celebration of life will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by the Companion Funeral Home.

Tennessee Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti on Friday filed a brief in the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that the federal district court correctly rejected NetChoice’s demand for emergency relief from Tennessee’s Protecting Children from Social Media Act. The law requires social media companies to verify a new user’s age; obtain parental consent before allowing minors to create accounts; and allow parents to supervise, modify and deactivate their child’s account. NetChoice, a trade organization that represents tech giants like Google, Meta, Pinterest, Snapchat and X, sued Tennessee in October 2024 seeking to enjoin the act’s basic protections. Read more in a press release from the AG's office.

Enrollment is now open for the Tennessee Bar Association’s BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee group health insurance plan, available exclusively to TBA members. The plan offers guaranteed issue coverage with no health questions or pre-existing condition exclusions and may deliver savings compared to your current health plan. Don’t wait! Enroll today and give your firm the benefits it deserves. Watch this Q&A with Buck Orrison with TBA Member Insurance Solutions to get answers to your questions about coverage in the coming year. Not part of a group? TBA also offers a dedicated health plan for solo attorneys.

Microsoft 365 offerings combine an always up-to-date install of Microsoft Office with email hosting, mobile apps and web-based apps. Compare Microsoft’s 365 options with this link. Find this and more in the Opening a Firm section of TBA’s Law Firm in a Box.

Registration is open for this year's Disability Law Forum. Join colleagues Oct. 23 via Zoom for three virtual sessions that will cover a variety of topics applicable to disability law practitioners. These include a session with Jennifer Cronenberg from the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR), a course dedicated to preparing for an administrative law judge hearing, and a Disability Determination Services/Office of Hearings Operations update with Kim Joseph and James Stanfield. Other speakers include Lena Beal, John Dreiser, Emma Drozdowski Webb and Christopher George.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division will present a new installment of its Rookie Series on Jan. 29, 2026, at noon CST in collaboration with the TBA's General, Solo & Small Firm Section. The live webcast "Opening Your Own Firm" is tailored to aspiring solo practitioners and entrepreneurial attorneys interested in launching a solo or small law firm, and will help those lawyers begin answering the question "Are you ready to build your own legal practice and take control of your career?" Whether fresh out of law school or transitioning from an established firm to a solo practice, or launching a firm with colleagues, this program will provide a valuable opportunity to learn from attorneys who successfully have made similar transitions. The webcast will cover essential steps for opening a firm, including practical tips and common pitfalls to avoid, as well as providing information on how the TBA may be an asset during the transition. For more information and to register for the program visit the TBA website.