A new study by the University of Tennessee’s County Technical Assistance Service finds the Shelby County Jail is facing severe overcrowding, understaffing and facility disrepair, and may need nearly 1,000 additional beds over the next 20 years. The 177-page report, presented to the Shelby County Commission on June 11, details extensive deferred maintenance issues, including broken escalators that delay emergency medical response, and inadequate medical and intake facilities. The study, requested by Sheriff Floyd Bonner, also outlines three options for expanding or replacing the jail, including building a new facility near Shelby Farms or at the former Firestone factory site. According to the Commercial Appeal, recommendations emphasize consolidating services for men, women and juveniles, and improving booking and release operations to meet Tennessee standards and better accommodate a projected 4.3% regional population increase by 2045.

The Tennessee Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection on May 29 paid a claim filed against Knox County attorney Melvin Jacob Werner in the amount of $100,000. The fund also directed Werner to reimburse it for the costs. The Fund for Client Protection was established by the Tennessee Supreme Court to reimburse individuals for losses caused by dishonest conduct by attorneys. The fund is operated by a board, which meets quarterly to consider claims. In September 2022, the Tennessee Supreme Court amended Rule 25 to require the fund to notify the Tennessee Bar Association of claims paid. News releases also are posted online.

Gov. Bill Lee yesterday announced the appointment of Jeff Holmes as interim commissioner for the Tennessee Department of General Services (DGS), effective today. Holmes will succeed Matt Van Epps, who stepped down on June 10 to pursue a new venture after serving in multiple roles in the Lee administration. Van Epps was appointed commissioner of DGS in September 2024. He previously held multiple roles within the Lee administration, including deputy chief operating officer in the governor’s office, assistant director of procurement and contracts with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, and assistant commissioner with the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services. Holmes most recently was the director of planning and programming at Tennessee Board of Regents, and previously served as Tennessee’s 76th adjutant general, supervising Tennessee’s Military Department which includes the Army National Guard, Air National Guard and Tennessee State Guard. Read a press release from the governor's office.

Members of the U.S. Supreme Court press corps released a public letter Wednesday urging the court to stream audio of its opinions and oral dissents online. According to National Public Radio (NPR), the letter first was sent privately to Chief Justice John Roberts a year ago but no response has been received yet. Signatories include representatives from all major radio and television networks, newspapers and news agencies that cover the court, including NPR. Currently, when the court announces major decisions from the bench, only attorneys, public attendees and accredited press inside the courtroom hear the justices read summaries of their opinions. The letter argues that while the justices prefer the public read opinions in full, most people will not spend the hours required to do so. It adds that “in this era of misinformation, providing live audio of opinion announcements would allow the court to speak directly to the American people on issues of extraordinary importance.”

Nashville’s latest annual census of the city’s unhoused population found 2,180 people in shelters or living unsheltered on one night in January, a 4% increase from the previous year, according to WPLN. In contrast, homelessness nationwide rose by 18% over the same period. Each year, volunteers canvas the county during a single evening to conduct the “point-in-time” count. Metro officials noted that this year’s count occurred on a night with below-freezing temperatures, which led to the opening of additional shelter spaces and may have contributed to the higher total.

President Donald Trump has fired a third member of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Board of Directors. Beth Geer, one of six people nominated to the board by President Joe Biden in 2023, was dismissed, according to a report TVA filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on June 10. Trump previously removed Biden appointees Michelle Moore in March and Board Chair Joe Ritch in April. The board, now reduced to three members from its usual nine, will continue meeting to ensure TVA operations continue for its 10 million customers across seven Southeastern states, Knox News reports. Trump has not publicly given a reason for the firings or announced replacement nominees yet.

Members of the Tennessee legal community met for the second day of the TBA Annual Convention in Franklin today. The morning began with a Public Service Awards Breakfast featuring presentation of the Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year Award to a group of private attorneys representing families from Nashville’s Covenant School, the Ashley T. Wiltshire Public Service Attorney of the Year to the executive directors of the state's three Legal Services Corporation (LSC) funded organizations, the Law Student of the Year Award to recent Belmont University College of Law graduate David "Lee" Myers, and the 2025 CASA Volunteer of the Year to Amy Dorman with CASA Works Inc. in Tullahoma. At the annual Bench Bar Luncheon, Nashville lawyer Margaret Behm received the Judge Pamela L. Reeves Tennessee Professionalism Award, while Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Chris Craft received the Justice Frank F. Drowota III Award. Following the awards, Nashville lawyer Ed Yarbrough, of counsel with Spencer Fane, gave the keynote address, highlighting the work of a dozen lawyers who went on to make great contributions to the profession by staying true to their convictions. He told attendees, "Integrity is the most important thing — the only thing that lets you make history." The afternoon continued with CLE programs on artificial intelligence and the most recent legislative session. The evening will wrap up with a reception. See pictures from today's events.

A webcast on June 18 will cover upcoming changes to Tennessee’s foreclosure law, including a reduction in the number of required newspaper notices for foreclosure sales and a new requirement to post all sales and continuances online. Hosted by David Anthony of Exo Legal PLLC and Amy Heaslet of the Tennessee Bankers Association, the webcast will take place from 3 to 4 p.m. and include a discussion on how to comply with the new regulations taking effect July 1. Presenters will also answer participant questions. For more information and to register, visit TBA website. 

The 2025 TBA Annual Convention kicked off today at the Marriott Hotel in Franklin with meetings of the TBA House of Delegates and incoming section chairs, to be followed by a welcome reception and group dinners for attendees. Walk-up registrations are still available. For those who cannot attend in person, the Lawyers Lunch, scheduled for Friday, will be livestreamed on the TBA’s Facebook and YouTube channel. A full schedule of convention events and CLE programming is available on the TBA website.

Candidates who passed the February bar exam, along with others, were sworn in during a ceremony in Knoxville on Monday.  Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Dwight E. Tarwater presided over the ceremony. See photos from the event here.