Bar exam officials have released details about the structure and scoring of the new national test set to debut in July 2026, Reuters reports. The NextGen UBE will be significantly shorter than the current Uniform Bar Exam, according to a new test blueprint issued by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. It also will place greater scoring weight on the performance task portion of the test than the existing exam in an effort to rely more on practical legal skills and less on the memorization of laws. The testing time will be shortened from 12 to nine hours comprised of three testing sessions: three hours for 120 multiple choice questions, three hours for integrated questions and three hours for performance tasks. So far, 41 states and territories across the country have announced plans to transition to the new exam. Tennessee will implement it in July 2027.

The U.S. Supreme Court has made it easier for people from majority backgrounds such as white or straight individuals to pursue claims alleging workplace "reverse" discrimination, The Hill reports. The unanimous decision revives an Ohio woman's lawsuit alleging she was illegally denied a promotion and demoted because she is heterosexual. In another recent opinion, the court rejected Mexico’s lawsuit against firearms maker Smith & Wesson. Bloomberg Law has more on that decision.

An inmate at the Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, run by CoreCivic, is suing prison officials, alleging they allowed gang members to repeatedly assault and extort him. The federal lawsuit alleges that Charles Anderson was beaten, sexually assaulted, and forced to have his mother and family friends send money to gang members, despite repeatedly asking prison staff for protection. The Tennessee Lookout reports that the complaint claims staff ignored warnings and failed to place him in protective custody, even after severe attacks and a hospital visit. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in 2024 opened an investigation into conditions at the facility; in April, a former Tennessee state trooper sued CoreCivic after he was allegedly beaten by a cellmate there.

Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Rob Philyaw on Tuesday announced that Court Administrator Sam Mairs has retired. Mairs began his career at the court as a probation officer in November 1992 and worked in increasingly responsible positions for over 30 years. Former Juvenile Court Judge Suzanne Bailey had appointed him administrator in March 2011. Philyaw said that during Mairs' tenure, he was “instrumental in several initiatives that directly affect children and families, including Youth Court, Recovery Court, family law mediation and Safe Baby Court ... Under his leadership, we have improved facilities, invested in staff and implemented system changes to meet the needs of Hamilton County’s citizens." Read more from Chattanoogan.com.

After five decades operating as Larry R. Williams PLLC, the Nashville firm announced they have rebranded as The Williams Firm. Jonathan Williams, son of the firm's founder, now serves as owner and lead trial attorney, alongside a legal team including attorney Gregory Hazelwood. "This rebrand isn’t a departure from who we are — it’s a recommitment to our mission," Williams said. "The Williams Firm continues the legacy my father built by providing aggressive, compassionate representation to real people facing real challenges. We remain family-owned, deeply rooted in Nashville and focused on helping clients navigate some of the most difficult moments of their lives." The firm's offices are at 315 Deaderick St., Ste. 1510, Nashville 37238 and can be reached at 615-256-8880 or www.lrwlawfirm.com. Read more in a press release from the firm.

The Tennessee Supreme Court permanently disbarred Hamilton County lawyer Alan Christopher Norton from the practice of law on June 4. The court reports that Norton consented to disbarment because he could not successfully defend himself against the disciplinary charges. The court found that Norton forged a chancellor’s signature on three court orders, forged the name of a Tennessee attorney on a fake motion, and forged a deposition transcript he provided to his client. These actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.4, 8.4(b) and 8.4(c). The court had suspended him temporarily on Dec. 16, 2024, finding that he posed a threat of substantial harm to the public.

Judge Steve Sword was honored at an investiture ceremony on June 2 following his appointment to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals by Gov. Bill Lee. The ceremony, held in the historic Supreme Court Building in Knoxville, celebrated Sword’s transition to the appellate bench after 14 years of service with the Knox County Criminal Court, WBIR reports. Surrounded by fellow judges, lawmakers and family, Sword reflected on the honor of continuing his judicial service and paid tribute to his wife, children and late predecessor, Judge James Curwood Witt Jr. Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Holly Kirby called Sword “one of our state’s finest.” He was appointed by Lee on Feb. 28 and confirmed by the General Assembly in March.

Federal sentencing dates have been set for the five former Memphis police officers charged in the 2023 death of Tyre Nichols, the Daily Memphian reports. Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith will be sentenced on June 16. Both were convicted of one count of obstruction of justice for witness tampering during the 2024 federal trial and face up to 20 years in federal prison. Demetrius Haley and Desmond Mills Jr. will be sentenced on June 17. Haley was convicted of four charges, including violating Nichols’ civil rights resulting in bodily injury, and faces up to 60 years in prison. Mills pleaded guilty before the trial and prosecutors are recommending 15 years for both his federal and state charges to be served concurrently. Emmitt Martin III, who also pleaded guilty, will be sentenced on June 18. Prosecutors have recommended a 40-year sentence on his federal charges, while Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy says he will wait until after federal sentencing to consider state charges. The sentencing dates come less than a month after Bean, Haley and Smith were acquitted of all state charges.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up two challenges to gun control laws in Maryland and Rhode Island, according to SCOTUSblog. In each case, three justices indicated they would have granted the petition for review, leaving the challengers one vote short of the four needed for the court to hear arguments. In Snope v. Brown, the court declined to decide whether Maryland’s ban on semiautomatic rifles, such as the AR-15 and AK-47, violates the Second Amendment. In Ocean State Tactical v. Rhode Island, the justices rejected a challenge to Rhode Island’s ban on large-capacity magazines, which state law defines as devices capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition for a semiautomatic weapon.

Gov. Bill Lee appointed Judge Jennifer Peck to the 11th Judicial District Circuit Court on May 9. She recently was sworn in by former Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge Brandon Gibson, now chief operating officer in the governor’s office. Peck, a Chattanooga native, earned her law degree from Regent University in 2007 with the goal of becoming a judge. “I actually wanted to be a judge when I applied for law school,” she said. “It felt like a calling, a tug in my spirit, and that’s ultimately why I went to law school. It’s always been the goal.” Peck began presiding over cases in Hamilton County on May 12. Read more in Chattanoogan.com.