The Trump administration’s pick to head the U.S. Marshals Service says judicial security is his leading priority and pledged to seek more resources to protect judges, if needed, Bloomberg Law reports. Gadyaces Serralta told U.S. senators at his confirmation hearing that threatening a judge “is a serious, serious crime” and he is open to studying manpower issues. “If I do need more human resources, I would absolutely take it up with the Department of Justice and ensure that we make the ask,” he told the Judiciary Committee in response to a question. Bloomberg Law has more on the hearing.

Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer is celebrating 25 years on the bench. The Court of Criminal Appeals judge for the Middle Section says of his service: “It’s been a great honor to serve the citizens of Tennessee in this capacity and as a trial judge, from 1990 to 2000, in Robertson and Montgomery counties — the 19th judicial district, affectionately known as the Fighting 19.” Prior to joining the bench, Wedemeyer served as a private practice attorney from 1977 to 1990. He received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University in 1973, and his law degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 1976. Read a profile of Wedemeyer from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Federal authorities have charged a Tullahoma man suspected of starting a fire that destroyed part of the historic Highlander Center six years ago with arson. Court documents allege that Regan Prater started the blaze that burned the center's administrative building on March 29, 2019. The Highlander Center has a long history of training civil rights activists at its two locations, and hosted visits by Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. Knox News reports that a tipster alerted authorities to Prater's online chats in neo-Nazi forums. According to the Associated Press, Prater was previously sentenced to five years in federal prison for setting another fire in June 2019 at an adult video and novelty store in East Tennessee. He pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay $106,000 in restitution in that case.

The Tennessee Information Protection Act (TIPA), which was passed by the Tennessee General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee in 2023, requires certain businesses to ensure consumers’ data and information are protected while giving consumers more control over how their data is collected, processed and used by those businesses. In preparation for TIPA to go into effect July 1, Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti's office has released a guide to assist consumers and businesses in understanding the new requirements. "This new law protects consumer privacy and gives Tennesseans more transparency and control over corporate data collection and retention," said Skrmetti. "[M]y office is glad to provide clear guidance so companies know what they need to do, because Tennessee wants to continue to be an easy place to build and run a business." Read a press release and FAQs about TIPA from the AG's office.

Make plans now to join colleagues on June 26 at noon CDT for an insightful and practical webcast designed specifically for family law attorneys. The seminar will guide attendees through the essential steps of conducting effective client consultations, from initial intake to preparation and execution. Topics will cover the intake process — how to gather crucial information efficiently and empathetically; preparation — strategies for preparing thoroughly to address client concerns and legal issues; and consultation mechanics — counterintuitive insights and techniques for managing the consultation to build trust and rapport. Visit the TBA website for more information and to register.

Holland & Knight LLP is relocating and has signed a lease for seven floors at Highwoods Properties’ Symphony Place tower, where it will anchor the office building. The law firm, which ranks as the second largest in Nashville, is moving from downtown’s Nashville City Center to Symphony Place — formerly known as the Pinnacle at Symphony Place — as the tower undergoes a major renovation, the Nashville Business Journal reports. Two of the building's largest tenants moved out at the start of the year. “We chose to stay in the heart of Nashville. We’re proud of Nashville. We’re excited to be in that area, and we’re particularly excited to literally watch the development of the East Bank,” said Matt Burnstein, executive partner of Holland & Knight’s Nashville office.

Save the date for TBA’s 2025 Federal Practice Forum, which will be held virtually on July 15. The program, which will offer essential and practical content for attorneys, will run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT. More details about the program are coming soon. For updates and to register, visit the TBA website. Federal Practice Section members receive discounted registration. Not a section member? Join here.

Attendees of the 2025 TBA Convention won’t want to miss the TBA Young Lawyers Division's (YLD) CLE program “State of DEI in the Legal Profession” scheduled for June 13. The program will feature speakers James Crumlin, Casey Duhart, Paige Lyle and Kristen Walker as they explore how Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts are evolving across law firms, corporate legal departments and higher education. The panel will cover key topics such as recruitment, retention, inclusive leadership and legal risk, offering practical insights and sparking open discussion about the shifting role of DEI in shaping legal strategy, client expectations and workplace culture. Register now to be part of this important conversation.

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell signaled Friday that the Metro government is no longer actively pursuing the Fusus program, which was promoted as a way to give police easier access to private surveillance footage. A proposed contract with Fusus failed to gain Metro Council approval by one vote in December, but the council passed legislation in March to establish “guardrails” for a future agreement with Fusus or a similar product. According to the Nashville Banner, some council members supported the protections as a way to mitigate the risks of such a policy, while others were more hesitant. The administration, O’Connell said, is still having conversations with council members who are concerned about how such tools could be used to target immigrants and other marginalized communities.

Twenty three Vanderbilt University law students were recognized this month for completing the school's Pro Bono Pledge. The program requires students to complete at least 75 hours of pro bono legal work and community service during their law school career, including a minimum of 50 hours in law-related activities and 10 hours in Nashville. The group included three law school students who achieved the honor in both 2024 and 2025, and 14 members of the 2025 graduating class, four members of the 2026 class and two doctorate students who completed the pledge this year. Collectively, the students reported a total of 6,020 pro bono and community service hours through the program. Beth Cruz, assistant dean, and Martha Craig Daughtrey, director for public interest, announced that beginning this year, students who complete the pledge will receive a cord to wear at graduation. “We thank all students who completed the Pro Bono Pledge, and to everyone who engages in pro bono work, for helping to keep a vibrant culture of service thriving here in our law school community,” Cruz said in a press release.