U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Republican of Brentwood, has introduced two bills in Congress aimed at combating crime, The Commercial Appeal reports. The "Advancing Frequent and Tailored Education to Rebuild Safe Communities and Help Orchestrate Opportunities and Learning Act," known as the AFTER SCHOOL Act, would authorize $15 million each year for four years to fund a grant for after-school programs in areas with high juvenile crime. The grants would go to after-school programs "proven to reduce juvenile crime and recidivism" in areas that have a "juvenile offense rate exceeding 10% of total violent offenses," according to the senator. The second bill, the Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act, would remove the requirement that prosectors prove an "intent to cause harm" to bring carjacking charges, instead requiring they show only that a defendant “knowingly” took the vehicle. Blackburn says the bill is needed to "fix a broken statute" and empower federal prosecutors to "hold offenders accountable." In a press release issued on the proposed bill, Blackburn says Tennessee saw a nearly 200% increase in auto theft crime by juveniles in 2023.

A Washington, D.C, federal judge late Friday struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting the law firm of Perkins Coie, Bloomberg Law reports. The decision from Judge Beryl Howell bars executive branch agencies from enforcing “any portion” of the March 6 executive order, calling it an unconstitutional violation of clients’ right to pick their own counsel and the firm’s due process protections. She also called the order “an unprecedented attack” on the “foundational principles” of the American judicial system. Perkins Coie was the first of four law firms to sue after being the subject of executive orders. In March, Howell imposed a temporary restraining order on parts of the executive order, but Friday’s ruling found the entire executive order to be null and void.

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. in Brownsville, Texas, last week blocked the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged gang members, according to Bloomberg Law. The move applies only to detainees in the Southern District of Texas. In the opinion, Rodriguez found that the administration exceeded the scope of the act by using it to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members while the U.S. is not being invaded by a foreign force. Read the opinion. In related news, the administration last week asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow it to deport 600,000 Venezuelans. That effort seeks to lift a California-based federal judge’s ruling that the administration did not follow proper procedure in ending temporary protected status (TPS) for the group. The Hill has more on that story.

The TBA’s 20th Annual Bankruptcy Law Forum will take place May 16-18 in Chattanooga, offering bankruptcy practitioners a weekend retreat featuring 10 hours of CLE credit, including three hours of ethics. The event begins on Friday with sessions covering mortgage developments in bankruptcy, a case law update and a “View from the Bench” discussion. Saturday’s programming includes small group discussions led by prominent bankruptcy judges, focusing on consumer and commercial bankruptcy issues. The forum concludes Sunday with a three-hour session on ethical considerations in bankruptcy practice. Attendees also will have opportunities to network and explore Chattanooga’s scenic downtown and surrounding mountains. For more information and to register visit TBA’s website.

Federal Public Defender Dumaka Shabazz will be honored next month with the Tennessee Bar Association’s (TBA) 2025 Claudia Jack Award. Named for the late Claudia Jack, a long-time champion of the poor and underprivileged and a public defender in Maury County, the award is presented to an outstanding public defender or court-appointed private practitioner who serves the legal community and clients in an exemplary fashion. Shabazz, who works in the Middle District of Tennessee, is being honored for his many contributions to the legal profession, both in Tennessee and on the national stage. In announcing the award, TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr. said, “Dumaka Shabazz embodies the unwavering dedication to justice envisioned by the Claudia Jack Award. His work on behalf of clients, his dedication to mentoring the next generation of public defenders, and his commitment to serving the community make him a deserving recipient for this year’s award. His commitment and dedication mirrors Claudia’s.” The award will be presented at the TBA Annual Convention in Franklin on June 13 during the Lawyers’ Luncheon. Read more in the TBA’s press release.

The TBA YLD returned to Belmont University College of Law in Nashville for its second trial college. This year's program covered a range of litigation topics including building your trial notebook, direct and cross examination, planning and presenting evidence, opening statements and closing arguments. It concluded with a panel of experienced judges designed to provide insights from the judicial perspective. TBA YLD CLE Chair Samantha Ellis served as host and moderator. See photos from event.

The Memphis suburb of Germantown and a city resident have reached a settlement in a federal lawsuit over the use of giant skeleton decorations in holiday displays. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), which represented resident Alexis Luttrell, and the city agreed to a $24,999 settlement in exchange for the dismissal of Luttrell’s First Amendment lawsuit, according to a news release. FIRE told The Commercial Appeal the settlement came shortly after the Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously approved the final reading to repeal the city’s holiday decoration ordinance during its April 28 meeting. The board did not discuss a new ordinance. In March, Germantown voluntarily dismissed charges against Luttrell for keeping skeletons in her yard beyond the 30-day limit set by the city’s property maintenance code, less than a month after FIRE filed the lawsuit.

Nashville School of Law (NSL) Dean William C. Koch Jr. announced Nashville attorney Marlene Eskind Moses as a new member of the NSL Board of Trust. Moses is a partner in the family law section at Gullett Sanford Robinson & Martin (GSRM Law) where she specializes in family law litigation, mediation, arbitration and collaborative law. Moses has been a staunch advocate of NSL since she graduated in 1980. “I am thrilled to be a board member at the Nashville School of Law," Moses said. "I owe the school a lot in terms of how it has propelled my life both professionally and personally." Koch stated, "Marlene’s national and international leadership in the field of family law demonstrates that NSL’s law degree enables our graduates to reach the heights of our noble profession.” Moses is a regular columnist for the Tennessee Bar Journal, coauthoring the Family Matters column with her associate, Ansley Owens Tillett. Read a press release from the law school.

Gov. Bill Lee will preside over the investiture of Judge Valerie L. Smith to the Tennessee Court of Appeals on May 19 at 2 p.m. CDT at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, located at 1 North Front Street in Memphis. A reception will follow the ceremony. Guests are asked to RSVP to emily.rhea@tncourts.gov.

In addition to compelling CLE, social events and networking opportunities, the 2025 TBA Annual Convention will include meetings of TBA's governing bodies. On June 11, the House of Delegates will meet in the afternoon, while new section chairs will meet to make plans for the 2025-2026 bar year. On June 13, the TBA Board of Governors and its Executive Committee will meet after the Lawyers Luncheon. Later that afternoon, the Tennessee Legal Community Foundation (TLCF) and TBA Member Insurance Solutions (TBAMS) will hold their respective board meetings. Wrapping up the day, the Young Lawyers Division (YLD) will hold a Long Range Planning session and its annual membership meeting, capped off by past YLD presidents participating in a gavel pass and champagne toast to honor incoming president Judge Alex McVeagh. On June 14, the YLD Board's Executive Committee will meet, while all board members will participate in committee breakouts and the summer board meeting. Check out the full convention schedule.