Effective May 27, the Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Shelby County lawyer Archie Sanders III from the practice of law for one year, with two months to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation subject to conditions. The court found that while handling a probate matter, Sanders unreasonably delayed filing the petition to probate, unreasonably delayed seeking partition of certain real property in the estate, failed to communicate reasonably with his clients and failed to properly conclude representation of the clients. In a separate matter involving litigation with an insurance company, the court found Sanders failed to communicate reasonably with his clients, diligently perform the necessary work and reasonably expedite the litigation. Sanders executed a conditional guilty plea acknowledging his conduct violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.16, 3.2 and 8.4(d). During the probation period, he must engage a practice monitor to assess his caseload, case management, timeliness of performing tasks and adequacy of communication with clients. The monitor is to provide a monthly written report to the Board of Professional Responsibility.

A trial date of Jan. 20, 2026, has been set for former Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy, Chattanoogan.com reports. Murphy resigned her position in June 2024 after Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) officers began looking into issues about her residency. She is charged with 17 felony and misdemeanor charges, including one count of illegal voter registration, one count of false entries on official registration or election documents, three counts of false entries in governmental records, three counts of forgery, three counts of perjury, and six counts of official misconduct. Murphy has pleaded not guilty. Community leaders have called her indictment and arrest "petty partisan politics."

The chair of Tennessee’s Registry of Election Finance, Tom Lawless, said Tuesday he will seek to revive a 2020 request for a criminal investigation into Cade Cothren and the Faith Family Freedom Fund PAC, citing new evidence from the recently concluded federal corruption case against Cothren and former House Speaker Glen Casada. Cothren, a former aide to Casada, and Casada were convicted this month on nearly 20 federal charges each in a kickback scheme. Lawless emphasized the urgency of reactivating the state-level investigation, which had been paused during the federal proceedings. The case involves allegations of illegal coordination with Chapel Hill Republican Rep. Todd Warner's 2020 campaign against incumbent Rep. Rick Tillis, R-Lewisburg, which Warner went on to win. Warner is not facing criminal charges. The Tennessee Lookout has the story.

On Wednesday, Davidson County Chancellor Patricia Moskal ordered the sealing of affidavits related to a Department of Children's Services (DCS) case that had been publicly available for years. The case stems from a petition by Memphis journalist Stacy Jacobson seeking access to documents related to the death of a 14-year-old boy. The initial documents contained redactions that the Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled were too broad. Moskal also heard arguments over new redactions in related files, during which Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Senior Attorney Paul McAdoo, representing Jacobson, urged the judge to make sure the redactions were limited to details truly identifying of the child. McAdoo also pointed out that certain newly made redactions were not previously made in publicly posted versions of the DCS documents. The Nashville Banner reports on the developments in its daily newsletter.

The TBA YLD will host its second Exploration CLE at Fall Creek Falls State Park in Spencer on May 30. Attendees will earn three hours of CLE credit while enjoying the natural beauty of one of Tennessee’s state parks. The program includes a ranger-led hike and lunch, offering a unique opportunity to blend professional development with outdoor exploration. Registration begins at 9 a.m., with sessions running from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. CDT For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.

Celebrate Tennessee’s 229th birthday on May 31 with free, family-friendly activities Tennessee State Library & Archives (TSLA), the Tennessee State Museum and Bicentennial Mall State Park. The Tennessee State Museum will open at 10 a.m. CDT to the public and offer highlight tours, story time with reigning Miss Tennessee Carley Vogel, period games on the front lawn and a cupcake celebration. The TSLA will showcase Tennessee’s founding documents and new exhibits, and will host living history interpreters and indoor and outdoor activities, including a scavenger hunt. Tennessee’s three original constitutions also will be presented, displayed and guarded by the Tennessee Highway Patrol Honor Guard as part of the opening ceremony. Park rangers will offer free guided tours of Bicentennial Mall. Plan your visit.

The Tennessee Supreme Court recently adopted amendments to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 46. The change, which took effect immediately, allows attorneys to electronically file unsworn declarations with electronic signatures in lieu of printed notarized affidavits. The court said it took the action after the General Assembly approved a change to Rule 22 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure, which allows the use of unsworn declarations under penalty of perjury in lieu of notarized affidavits if filed by licensed Tennessee attorneys in good standing. The change to the appellate rules was proposed jointly by the Tennessee District Public Defenders Conference, the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office. Read the order and see a redline version of the changes.

Another inmate has died at the Shelby County Jail, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office said in an email statement, according to the Commercial Appeal. Jail officers responded to the incident the morning of May 26. The Sheriff’s Office did not confirm the nature of the death and referred further questions to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which is investigating. An autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause and manner of death.

After a joint immigration enforcement operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Tennessee Highway Patrol in May, Nashville attorneys are reporting a sharp rise in evictions targeting Hispanic immigrant families, according to the Nashville Scene. The paper reports that after a week of traffic stops — during which nearly 200 drivers, most without criminal records, were detained — local lawyers noticed a spike in illegal evictions. Anne Boatner, legal director at the Hispanic Bar Association, says her office has documented an increase in cases. She emphasizes that under Tennessee law, landlords must obtain a court order and use the sheriff’s office for evictions, but fear of exposure to federal immigration authorities is discouraging tenants from asserting their legal rights. Boatner and local officials are now seeking alternative legal remedies, including evaluating possible violations of fair housing laws, while helping displaced families find emergency housing.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has joined 27 other state attorneys general in asking Meta Platforms Inc. about allegations that its artificial intelligence assistant, Meta AI, may expose minors to sexually explicit content and enable adults to simulate grooming scenarios. The bipartisan coalition sent the letter following reports that Meta AI, used across Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, engaged in graphic sexual conversations with users posing as children, including scenarios involving user-generated and Meta-created personas, according to a press release. The attorneys general are seeking answers by June 10, including whether Meta removed safeguards, if such features remain active, and what steps the company is taking to protect minors.