The Tennessee Alliance for Black Lawyers (TABL) currently has three vacancies on its board of delegates and is seeking dedicated leaders to fill the positions. Available roles include a representative from Knoxville, a representative from the SL Hutchins National Bar Association (NBA) chapter in Chattanooga and a law professor delegate. For the Chattanooga and law professor delegate seats, nominees must be members of their local NBA affiliate. There is no affiliate in Knoxville so the requirement does not apply for that role. Learn more at tablawyers.org or contact Chicoya Smith for more information.

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments is now accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the Tennessee Supreme Court following the retirement of Justice Holly Kirby on June 30, 2026. Applicants must be licensed attorneys who are at least 35 years of age, have been residents of the state for five years and must reside in the Eastern or Western Grand Division of Tennessee. Applicants must complete the application and submit it to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) by noon CDT on Oct. 22. The council will meet on Nov. 25 at 9 a.m. CST in the courtroom of the Nashville Supreme Court Building, 401 7th Ave. N., Nashville 37219. Complete application instructions can be found here and questions can be directed to AOC Assistant General Counsel Laura Blount or at 615-741-2687.

The federal judiciary can continue “paid operations” through Oct. 17 if the government shutdown continues, two weeks longer than initially projected, a judiciary official said Wednesday. According to Bloomberg Law, employees will remain fully paid while working during that period, but if the shutdown extends past Oct. 17, the judiciary will exhaust its remaining funds and limit operations. Federal courts across the U.S. are preparing for slower dockets and reduced administrative work if funding runs out. Court calendars are expected to slow as the Justice Department asks to pause certain civil cases while lawyers are furloughed. Criminal cases, in which defendants have constitutional rights, will be prioritized if funding lapses.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller visited Memphis on Wednesday to discuss state and federal law enforcement presence in the city with law enforcement leaders, the Daily Memphian reports. Bondi told officers that the Trump administration wants “cops to be cops again,” while Miller pledged “zero tolerance” for gang and drug activity. Hegseth said President Donald Trump is closely monitoring the effort, which will soon include National Guard deployments and hundreds of Tennessee Highway Patrol state troopers. Trump signed a presidential memorandum Sept. 15 announcing the Memphis task force, which has since taken shape on the ground. U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, released a letter he has sent to Bondi and Hegseth that said, in part, “I still have many questions about how the Memphis Safety Task Force will work, the priorities of federal law enforcement and the mission of National Guard troops,” he wrote. “Many of the terms and structures of President Trump’s ... [m]emorandum ... remain undefined.”

Vanderbilt University in Nashville and Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro ranked in the top 20 on a national list of more than 250 schools for their policies upholding the First Amendment, according to The Tennessean. Vanderbilt rose from 140th last year to 7th place after a series of campus protests led to the arrests of four students and one reporter. MTSU debuted on the list at 15. The University of Tennessee at Knoxville ranked 36th, and the University of Memphis ranked 128th.

A U.S. immigration judge has denied an asylum request from Kilmar Abrego Garcia, WSMV reports. A judge in Baltimore on Wednesday rejected Abrego Garcia’s bid to reopen his 2019 asylum case, giving him 30 days to appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals. He also faces criminal charges in Tennessee stemming from a 2022 traffic stop, while U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is seeking to deport him to a third country, first proposing Uganda and then Eswatini. Abrego Garcia’s attorneys have filed motions for a gag order, arguing their client cannot receive a fair trial because of “highly prejudicial, inflammatory and false statements” made about him. A federal judge in Tennessee can restrict prosecutors here from making such statements, but it is unclear whether that authority extends to the Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon on Tuesday announced that state Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, has been appointed chair of the National Assessment Governing Board, which oversees the the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and sets educational frameworks across the United States. White will serve a four-year term as chair after serving on the board since 2020. White chairs the state House Education Administration Committee and previously worked as a science teacher and K-8 school principal before becoming a small-business owner. The board administers the NAEP, known as the Nation’s Report Card, which tests fourth, eighth and 12th graders in subjects such as math, science and reading. The most recent results, released in September, showed declining scores among students, the Nashville Post reports. McMahon said the new appointments would help deliver meaningful data to policymakers and drive improvements in K-12 education.

The Knox County District Attorney’s Office has dropped trespassing charges against 12 pro-Palestinian demonstrators who were arrested at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UT) in 2024. The group was charged after weeks of campus protests against Israel’s military offensive in Gaza. The charges were dismissed after the demonstrators collectively completed 100 hours of community service, according to Knox News. Two of those arrested, siblings Hasan Husain and Layla Soliz, filed a federal lawsuit in May alleging their First Amendment rights were violated. The suit names the Tennessee Board of Regents, UT trustees and UT System President Randy Boyd as defendants. Their attorney told the news outlet the case is moving forward.

The Tennessee Bar Association offers group health insurance exclusively for members through BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. Many firms have found meaningful savings and access to a strong national provider network for their attorneys, employees and covered dependents. Enrollment opens Oct. 6; start planning now! Even if you've already renewed your current coverage, you may still move to the TBA plan. Contact Buck Orrison to schedule a 15-minute consultation to review your current plan and see what options are available. Solo attorney? Explore our separate health plan built just for solo practitioners.

Members of the TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) gathered in Washington, D.C. for the Fall Board Meeting. During the meeting, members planned upcoming events, including pro bono clinics, the Diversity Leadership Institute, the Rural Judicial Fellowship Program, the Tennessee State High School Mock Trial Competition, and new CLE offerings. The group also discussed the Tennessee Supreme Court’s request for comments on potential regulatory reforms to increase access to quality legal representation. Despite the government shutdown, the group was able to visit museums and historic sites and explore the nation’s capital. Board member Patrick Morrison led the group on a nighttime tour of the monuments.

YLD President Judge Alex McVeagh also recognized several board members for their work over the last quarter, including Mary Frances DeVoe, Chattanooga attorney and YLD East Tennessee delegate to the TBA House of Delegates, for her contributions to numerous pro bono clinics; Donelson attorney Patrick Morrison for his development of CLE programming and his role as health and wellness coordinator; and Nashville attorney Jack Wagster for his contributions as a district representative. Nashville attorney and Diversity Committee Co-Chair Chicoya Smith received the “disco gavel” from YLD Immediate Past President Sean Aiello for her enthusiasm and efforts to bring people together. A special thanks also was given to Cookeville attorney Rachel Moses — a former YLD president (2014-2016) and current TBA YLD fellow and Middle Tennessee governor on the TBA Board of Governors — for joining the trip and supporting the YLD. See photos from the meeting.