A federal judge will allow the state's newly-redrawn congressional district map to remain in place while a lawsuit against it moves forward, WRKN reports. Chief U.S. District Judge William L. Campbell Jr. in the Middle District of Tennessee issued an order today denying a temporary restraining order requested by congressional candidates and voters. Campbell had set a hearing in the suit for May 20. Because the new filing date for redrawn districts is May 15, the plaintiffs asked Campbell to either rule on their request for a temporary restraining order or reschedule the hearing for this week. In related news, the state has asked Campbell to consolidate the congressional candidates' suit with one from the ACLU, according to the Nashville Banner, and a three-judge state court panel has set May 21 as the first hearing date for a suit from the NAACP,  according to WKRN.

A Chattanooga nonprofit has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Tennessee’s new congressional redistricting plan, alleging it unlawfully dilutes the voting power of minority and opposition-party voters, News Channel 9 reports. The suit from The I AM Foundation claims the map divides communities with shared political, cultural and economic interests into multiple districts, alleging violations of the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, the 15th Amendment’s protections against racial discrimination in voting, and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The I AM Foundation provides transitional and independent living options and community-based programming for youth in crisis. The complaint, the fourth to be brought against the state, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

Unam Peter Oh, an assistant federal public defender in Memphis, will be honored with the Tennessee Bar Association’s (TBA) Claudia Jack Award. The award, which will be presented at the TBA’s Annual Convention in Knoxville, is named for the late Claudia Jack, a long-time champion of the poor and underprivileged and a public defender in Maury County. Oh joined the Office of the Federal Public Defender in Memphis in 2014 after a career in private practice focused on corporate liability insurance. A graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, Oh began his legal career as a law clerk to Judge C. Lynwood Smith Jr. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama and then in the Public Defender’s Office in Northern Virginia.

Colleagues who nominated Oh noted his commitment to providing every client, regardless of their means, a sophisticated and tireless defense and said his work is characterized by a “boots-on-the-ground dedication” that far exceeds the traditional expectations of any counsel. “He frequently goes above and beyond by meeting his clients’ families in informal settings, most recently at a local Burger King, on his own time to provide updates, comfort, and ensure they feel heard.” Nominators also highlighted Oh’s impact on the profession as a mentor, investing hundreds of hours in the next generation of Tennessee’s legal community. In announcing Oh’s selection, TBA President and Knoxville lawyer Heidi Barcus said, “The TBA is honored to recognize the selfless service of Assistant Federal Public Defender Peter Oh. From his commitment to vigorously defend his clients, to his care for the families of those facing the justice system, to the mentoring of the next generation of lawyers, Peter embodies the values TBA seeks to promote through the Claudia Jack Award. We all are grateful for his example.” Read more in this press release from the TBA.

The TBA Litigation Practice Section is continuing its “Perspectives From the Bench” series next Thursday at the new TBA office in Nashville. The program will feature a conversation with Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeffrey Bivins and former Supreme Court Justice and current Nashville School of Law Dean Bill Koch. Attorneys Hunter Branstetter with Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison and Todd Presnell with Bradley Arant Boult Cummings will moderate the discussion, which will focus on each justice's path to the bench, the role of mentors, the importance of the Rule of Law and more. Make plans now to join colleagues for this informative program on May 21 from 3-4:30 p.m. CDT and a networking reception that will follow at 4:30 p.m. Learn more and register on the TBA website.

Police are investigating after gunfire was reported outside the Montgomery County Court Complex in Clarksville today. According to the Tennessean, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said the agency and the police department responded to the scene and secured it around 1:45 p.m. CDT. "There is no danger to the public," the sheriff's office wrote in a statement. The case will be investigated.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a First Amendment lawsuit, alleging a “startling pattern” of retaliation and harassment by Memphis Safe Task Force agents against residents in Memphis, the Tennessean reports. The lawsuit focuses on four Memphis residents who allege they were followed, threatened, harassed, “falsely” arrested and rushed with vehicles by task force agents after attempting to photograph or film agents’ activities. The suit also challenges Tennessee’s so-called “Halo” law, which restricts approaching law enforcement officers within 25 feet after being ordered to retreat. The suit argues the law is vague and has been used to suppress constitutionally protected activity. Defendants include federal and state officials connected to the task force. The suit seeks to halt the alleged retaliation and block enforcement of the Halo law. The task force has been operating in Memphis since 2025.

Tennessee lawyers will gather in June for the 2026 TBA Annual Convention. This year's CLE lineup, which will offer 8.5 hours of credit, will include a presentation on using technology to transform the way litigators prepare, organize and present their cases from managing discovery to preparing depositions, presenting evidence and collaborating with co-counsel. Join Tara Cheever with Lit Software for this interactive, demonstration-driven session. Attendees will discover how to streamline workflows, enhance mobility and seamlessly integrate new technology into traditionally Windows-based environments, without disrupting existing systems. The program will take place June 11 from 10:45-11:45 a.m. EDT at the Crowne Plaza in downtown Knoxville. Learn more about the convention and register here. Can’t make the full convention? Day passes for Thursday’s Tech Showcase are available and include access to this CLE session.

The American Bar Association (ABA) Litigation Section’s Children’s Rights Litigation Committee will host “Building Pathways for Children & Youth: A Collaborative Convening” on June 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CDT at Family & Children’s Service in Nashville. The free event will bring together lawyers, advocates, community leaders and private-sector representatives to discuss ways to better support children and youth through collaboration and community engagement. The program also will include a youth experiential learning lab, collaborative brainstorming sessions and a panel featuring Tennessee leaders with lived experience in youth systems, including representatives from Youth Villages. Lunch will be provided. More information and registration is available through the ABA website.

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian is urging Gov. Bill Lee to allow DNA and fingerprint testing for Tony Carruthers, Action News 5 reports. “Tennessee is about to execute Tony Carruthers without testing DNA and fingerprint evidence that could prove his innocence,” Kardashian said in a post on Instagram, according to the Commercial Appeal. Carruthers was convicted in a 1994 triple murder where three people were found buried in a Memphis graveyard. Advocates say unidentified forensic evidence at the scene could prove his innocence. Carruthers is set to be executed on May 21.

Gov. Bill Lee recently announced that Chief Legal Counsel Erin Merrick will leave the his office for the private sector in early July after more than seven years. Fox 17 reports that during her tenure, Merrick has aided in the selection of four Tennessee Supreme Court justices, as well as many appellate and trial judges across the state. “Since the early days of the Lee Administration, Erin has been an invaluable member of our team and a trusted advisor, offering wise counsel and steady leadership,” said Lee. Current Deputy Counsel Alexa Witcher has been named Merrick's successor.