A four-count indictment was unsealed yesterday in the Middle District of Tennessee, charging eight defendants with various offenses related to their roles in a transnational commercial sex enterprise. According to the court's press release, the defendants operated an illegal commercial sex and sex trafficking ring out of Nashville motels from July 2022 through March 2024. The indictment alleges that after facilitating the victims’ arrival in the U.S., the defendants used online commercial sex websites to post advertisements and directed commercial sex buyers to meet the victims at the motels. Authorities identified the individuals as members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang. In November 2024, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation warned that the gang was operating in major cities across the state. “This indictment demonstrates our commitment to stop human trafficking whenever and wherever we find it, and to hold those involved accountable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire.

Two Shelby County legislators have brought back a proposal to fund a new Shelby County jail by asking voters to hike the sales tax rate. Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis, and Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, proposed a bill that would allow Shelby County to ask voters whether to raise the local-option sales tax from 2.75% to 3.75%. According to The Daily Memphian, if the bill clears the Tennessee General Assembly, the tax increase would still require approval through a local referendum. While the bill does not explicitly name Shelby County, it applies to counties with populations exceeding 900,000, a threshold only Shelby County meets. Fiscal estimates attached to the bill project that the tax hike would generate more than $1.8 billion over nine fiscal years, with the revenue designated to retire debt from constructing a new jail. The bill was set to be heard by a Tennessee House committee today.

The TBA will host three ethics webcasts on March 27, featuring the CLE Performer Stuart Teicher. The sessions will blend humor, pop culture and professional responsibility to provide insightful lessons on attorney ethics. Wedded Bliss and Attorney Ethics will explore how principles of a lasting marriage connect to legal ethics, covering topics like communication and conflicts of interest. Ted Lasso and Attorney Ethics will use moments from the hit show to illustrate integrity, leadership and key rules of professional conduct. The Perfect Pop Song and Attorney Ethics will reveal what makes a song timeless and relate it to legal competence, communication and ethical structure. Attorneys can register for these interactive webcasts through the TBA website.

The TBA will launch an upgraded legal research tool for members on March 4 following the merger of longstanding TBA member benefit partner Fastcase with global legal intelligence platform vLex. The enhanced tool will continue to offer free and unlimited access to all materials currently available through Fastcase, but also include new benefits such as advanced citator features, integration with Microsoft Word and Google Chrome, a more user-friendly interface, customizable news feed and featured libraries. Following the transition, customer support will be handled by vLex and will be available by phone, email and chat. Fastcase users will not lose access to their work during the transition and no action will be required to enjoy the benefits of this upgrade after March 4. To help educate members about these improvements, the TBA will hold two webinars at which vLex Fastcase staff will demonstrate new features and highlight how to maximize the tool’s potential for legal practice. Sign up for one of these free webinars and learn more on the TBA website.

The Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS) says that nearly 100 children in state custody spent the night in DCS offices in 2024, despite the agency's two-year effort to shift kids into transitional homes. According to the Tennessean, DCS says the issue stems from a growing number of children with severe behavioral or medical needs who cannot safely be placed in temporary, transitional homes. The state's most severe DCS cases are largely concentrated in the Tennessee Valley region, which includes Hamilton, Bradley and Rhea counties, though it is not clear what is driving the influx, officials say.

Judge Jeremy Ball was appointed 4th Judicial District Circuit Court judge by Gov. Bill Lee on Jan. 17. The court covers Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties. He was sworn into office on Jan. 21, with his daughter, Dana, leading the Pledge of Allegiance. By day two on the bench, Ball was presiding over the drug recovery court where he spent many years prosecuting cases as an assistant district attorney (ADA). “I was primarily based in Jefferson County, so really getting more knowledge about the other people in those districts, particularly on the civil side, because I had always been an ADA. It’s been fun to meet people that I haven’t dealt with on a day-to-day basis yet.” Read more in a profile of Ball from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Join members of the TBA Attorney Well Being Committee for a live interactive roundtable on how best to manage work-life balance as a legal professional. This 45-minute Zoom event on March 26 at noon CDT will feature attorneys discussing their day-to-day practice, and provide effective tools for personal well-being. While geared toward law students and young lawyers, this free event is open to all TBA members, but registration is required. Questions and feedback are encouraged. Submit questions in advance to jword@tnbar.org.

Four inmates at the Shelby County Jail died in a seven day span from Jan. 31 to Feb. 7. The Commercial Appeal reports that two of the deaths were from suicide and an apparent fentanyl overdose, though how the fentanyl got into the jail is unclear. The other two deaths are being investigated. According to the Daily Memphian, State Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis, and state Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, have proposed a bill allowing Shelby County to ask voters if they want to raise the local-option sales tax from 2.75% to 3.75% to help fund a new jail. If the bill clears the Tennessee General Assembly, voters would still have to pass the sales tax hike through a referendum. The jail has faced much criticism over the past several years regarding conditions ranging from broken doors and inadequate living conditions in intake to lack of beds and overcrowded holding cells. Commissioners approved $10 million in emergency repairs funding in September.

Federal agents on Monday removed a group of workers from Memphis taco truck TacoNGanas. Video footage shows four men in hoodies enter the food truck and usher employees outside. In a social media post, TacoNGanas wrote that it was not aware of what prompted the incident. “We have heard from the employees. They’ve been told they’re being detained by ICE,” the post reads. “We don’t know if the men you see in the video work for ICE or for someone else. You’ll see they have no uniforms, do not show any badge or ID, and did not leave any identifying information or paperwork.” The city of Memphis released a statement, saying, "Although these matters don’t fall under our jurisdiction, we reached out to federal authorities out of concern. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) confirmed that this action was carried out by federal agents." The Daily Memphian has the story.

In his seventh State of the State Address, Gov. Bill Lee unveiled a $59.5 billion budget proposal Monday that focuses on core government services including education, public safety, infrastructure upgrades, farmland grants, nuclear energy and increased investments in trade schools. Axios reports the breakdown includes $37.9 million for the Tennessee Highway Patrol, which would cover 100 new state troopers; $3.4 million in funding for 22 new positions at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; $1 billion to the Tennessee Department of Transportation; and $275 million for a newly created emergency operations center. According to the Nashville Banner, in addition to the $145 million for his private school voucher program, Lee’s budget proposal includes more than $580 million in public school investments, including both one-time teacher bonuses and teacher pay increases promised during the special session. See a detailed breakdown of the proposed budget.