Two federal bills aim to increase transparency at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), including one that would mandate at least four public board meetings per year and another that would require disclosure of employee salaries exceeding $123,041, the Nashville Post reports. The TVA Transparency Act, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, Republican of Knox County, and co-sponsored by Rep. Steve Cohen, a Memphis Democrat, passed the U.S. House of Representatives on June 9 and now is under review by the U.S. Senate. Burchett and Cohen’s separate salary disclosure bill — the Tennessee Valley Authority Salary Transparency Act — passed the House in January. It has been introduced in the Senate by Tennessee Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty. TVA officials say they already comply with existing transparency laws and hold quarterly public meetings. TVA is federally owned and the largest public power supplier in the U.S., providing electricity to more than 10 million people.

A Tennessee man whose conviction was overturned after spending 17 years in prison now faces the possibility of being reincarcerated, WSMV reports. Thomas Clardy was convicted in 2007 for a 2005 murder at an auto body shop in Madison based on a delayed, cross-racial eyewitness identification. A federal judge overturned his conviction in 2023, leading to his release. However, this month, the state filed a motion to return him to prison after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a 6th Circuit Court of Appeals decision reversing the lower court’s ruling. Clardy’s case has been remanded to federal district court for further consideration. His attorneys have filed petitions for exoneration and commutation, both of which would have to be granted by Gov. Bill Lee.

Judges, lawyers, friends and supporters gathered last week to honor Judge Cheryl Blackburn, who recently retired from Division III of the Davidson County Criminal Court. More than 100 people attended a reception at the Nashville School of Law to celebrate her nearly 30 years on the bench. The program featured remarks from former District Attorney Torry Johnson, Nashville School of Law Dean Bill Koch and Criminal Court Judges Angelita Dalton and Steve Dozier, all of whom praised Blackburn as a judge who strived to give both defendants and victims a fair hearing. Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Jeff Bivins presented Blackburn with a plaque from the Tennessee Judicial Conference recognizing her years of public service. Blackburn closed the program by thanking those in attendance.

Robert Taswell “Tas” Gardner has been elected by fellow public defenders to serve as president of the Tennessee District Public Defenders Conference. The conference is a statewide network of publicly elected district public defenders representing each of Tennessee’s 32 judicial districts. As president, Gardner will lead the conference’s Executive Committee, which supports public defenders across the state and works with lawmakers on policies and procedures that impact the justice system. He also will serve on the TBA Board of Governors as the conference's representative. Gardner currently serves as public defender for Tennessee’s 24th Judicial District, which includes Benton, Carroll, Decatur, Hardin and Henry counties. Read more in a press release from the group.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday announced the appointment of Josh Walker to the Tennessee Claims Commission for the Eastern Division. Walker, who currently serves as associate general counsel for the University of Tennessee, earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law (now Winston College of Law). He will fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Commissioner William A. Young. The appointment is effective July 1 and is subject to legislative confirmation. “I am proud to announce Josh Walker’s appointment to the Claims Commission and value the significant experience he will bring to this role,” Lee said in a press release. “I appreciate his leadership and am confident that Josh will serve Tennesseans with integrity.”

The ACLU of Tennessee has filed a lawsuit challenging a new Tennessee law that makes it a felony for local officials to vote in favor of sanctuary city policies. The law, passed earlier this year as part of a broad immigration package, also created a new state immigration enforcement division, a separate driver’s license design for noncitizens and a grant program for local law enforcement agencies, WPLN reports. The ACLU filed the suit on behalf of seven members of Nashville’s Metro Council, arguing that it violates the First Amendment. The group called the measure "an unprecedented effort to criminalize legislative speech, debate and deliberation." The challenged provision makes it a Class E felony — punishable by up to six years in prison and a $3,000 fine — for local officials to support or enact sanctuary city measures. Officials also could be removed from office under the statute. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit include council members Clay Capp, Brenda Gadd, Delishia D. Porterfield, Sandra Sepulveda, Zulfat Suara, Terry Vo and Ginny Welsch. The case was filed in Davidson County Chancery Court.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) will host “The Rookie Series: Compassionate Lawyering” webcast on Aug. 27 from noon to 1 p.m. CDT. The program will introduce attorneys to the principles of trauma-informed legal practice and explore how lawyers can better serve clients — especially those from marginalized or vulnerable backgrounds — by incorporating empathy and awareness into their work. Mental health professionals will join the discussion to examine how legal systems can unintentionally retraumatize clients and offer strategies for compassionate advocacy across various practice areas. For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee, TBA Young Lawyers Division and the Chattanooga Bar YLD are partnering on a virtual name change clinic serving clients in East Tennessee. The clinic will take place on July 24 at 4:30 p.m. EDT via zoom. View a flyer for the event or volunteer here.

Volunteers are needed for a virtual debt relief/bankruptcy clinic that will take place via zoom on July 16 at 3 p.m. CDT/4 p.m. EDT. This clinic will serve individuals in both East and West Tennessee. Attorneys may volunteer here. Legal Aid of East Tennessee, West Tennessee Legal Services, the TBA Young Lawyers Division, the Chattanooga Bar YLD and the Federal Bar are partnering for this event. View a flyer for the clinic.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Trump administration to move forward with plans to deport immigrants to countries not specifically identified in their removal orders while the government appeals a lower court’s order. According to SCOTUSblog, the justices paused a ruling by Massachusetts-based Judge Brian Murphy, which had required the administration to engage in a process designed to address “reasonable fear” of being tortured. Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented in a lengthy opinion joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. The dispute stems from guidance issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) earlier this year, which instructed agents to take “all appropriate actions” to remove noncitizens still in the United States despite an order for deportation. Four undocumented immigrants with deportation orders sued over the policy.