Recently released court records show that the 17-year-old Antioch High shooter had been on probation for previous violent behaviors at the time of the Jan. 22 fatal shooting at the school, the Nashville Post reports. The records also show that the teen had been ordered to a judicial diversion program and had signed probation paperwork the morning of the shooting, prohibiting him from possessing guns, ammunition and other weapons. The records became publicly available due to legislation passed by the General Assembly earlier this year. The new law allows courts to unseal records of a juvenile who is dead after committing homicide on school grounds.

Several Memphis officials have responded to the not guilty verdict in the state trial of three former Memphis police officers for the death of Tyre Nichols. According to the Daily Memphian, Memphis Mayor Paul Young and Police Chief C.J. Davis released a statement encouraging the city to “heal together.” Young also added: “As a city, we’re committed to doing the work of creating a deeper trust between law enforcement and the people of Memphis.” State Democratic lawmakers from Memphis expressed “devastation” following the verdict, according to Tennessee Lookout. House Democratic Leader Karen Camper said the verdict leaves a “deep wound in our community and renewed calls for justice and accountability.” Sen. Brent Taylor, a Republican, said he was "saddened for Tyre Nichols’ family" and that "they deserve justice." Local Memphis has his and other reactions, including from the Shelby County mayor and U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis. National civil rights leaders also have weighed in with responses, including calls for criminal justice reforms. The Associated Press looks at those comments. Finally, the Commercial Appeal lays out what comes next, including sentencing in the federal case and a $550 million civil suit against the city and police department.

University of Memphis students are forming a college mock trial team and are looking for a volunteer coach who can support the team during the fall and spring semesters, with the potential to remain involved beyond that depending on availability and interest. Interested individuals should reach out to Brandon Washington at brandon.washington@memphis.edu. If possible, please contact Washington by July 1 so there is time to coordinate and prepare before the academic year begins.

Dr. Helen Clawson Smith, known as Helen Claire by family and friends, died April 30 at the age of 94. Smith earned her undergraduate and Master of Education degrees from Memphis State University and a Doctor of Education from the University of Houston in 1972. She later earned a law degree from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. She spent her career in education, both in teaching and administration, and was instrumental in developing early childhood reading programs. After retiring in 1996, Smith volunteered as an ombudsman for the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association, advocating for seniors in long-term care, and served on the board of the Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities. A small graveside gathering will be held on May 18 at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis.

The YWCA of Nashville & Middle Tennessee will hold its next “Stand Against Injustice” event on May 15 from noon to 1 p.m. CDT. The virtual lunch and learn will feature Davidson County General Sessions Judge Ana Escobar, Nashville lawyer Charles Grant, former public defender Keeda Haynes and Emily Slotts with Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors. The event will explore what due process looks like in action and what happens when it is denied. Register online for the free event.

Three law students have filed a federal lawsuit asking the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to order the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to withdraw investigative letters sent to 20 large law firms and delete any information that it gathered from them. According to Reuters, the students said they had applied for jobs at several of the firms for this summer. The complaint argues that if firms hand over the requested data to the EEOC, sensitive information about the students — including their demographic and contact information, compensation and participation in DEI programs — will be disclosed. The ABA Journal has more. 

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday said a lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking to restrict the abortion pill mifepristone should be dismissed for lack of standing. In a court filing, the DOJ argued that Idaho, Missouri and Kansas have no ties to Amarillo, Texas, where the lawsuit was filed, and that the states are free to file in their own districts, The Hill reports. The states did not file their own lawsuit but were instead granted the ability to intervene in a lawsuit filed by private parties in 2022. The states argue that some of the FDA’s actions to loosen access to mifepristone allowed the pills to flood across their borders, undermining their anti-abortion laws. Last year, the Supreme Court dismissed the original plaintiffs' suit, ruling that private parties had no legal standing to challenge access to the drug.

An official autopsy report has found that a Shelby County Jail inmate died earlier this year from a fentanyl overdose. Justin Segerson was found unresponsive at the jail on Jan. 30 and was taken to Methodist University Hospital, where he died the following day. According to The Daily Memphian, Segerson was one of four inmates to die within a week and one of 61 inmates to have died at the jail since 2019. A recent analysis by paper also revealed that Shelby County surpasses other large counties in Tennessee for inmate deaths. The jail is more overcrowded than it has been in at least five years, and, amid the crowding, more inmates are being placed on suicide watch, according to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

After almost nine hours of deliberation, the jury has returned a blanket "not guilty" verdict for three former police officers charged with killing Tyre Nichols. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith Jr. were charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression under state law. The jury found all three not guilty on each count, The Commercial Appeal reports. By contrast, all three were convicted in federal court and face time in federal prison. Bean and Smith were found guilty of witness tampering and face up to 20 years in prison. Haley was found guilty on all counts and could serve a life sentence in prison. Two other former officers, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr., pleaded guilty in the federal case to using excessive force and conspiracy to tamper with witnesses.

The TBA’s 2025 Convention will feature a joint CLE program from the TBA and the Tennessee Alliance for Black Lawyers (TABL) on June 12. “Realign: Justice, Well-Being & the Law — Addressing Bias for a Healthier Legal System” will explore how unconscious influences can lead to disparities in legal outcomes and offer practical strategies to promote fairness and equity. Using real-world examples and interactive discussion, the program is designed to equip judges, attorneys and advocates with tools to foster a more just and inclusive legal environment. The program will be presented by Nashville lawyer Sunny Eaton.