Nashville residents gathered this week before the Metro Council to share their priorities for the city budget during the annual pre-budget comment period, WPLN News reports. The session allows the public to put requests on record before Mayor Freddie O’Connell submits his budget proposal. The council will consider these requests when crafting a potential alternative ahead of the official budget hearing in June. This year’s requests included funding for gun violence prevention, transit access, affordable housing, youth sports, the arts and court-appointed attorneys. The mayor is required to file his budget by the end of April.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order aimed at banning transgender women from participating in women’s sports, AP News reports. The order, titled "Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports," directs federal agencies to enforce Title IX in alignment with the Trump administration’s interpretation, which defines “sex” as the gender assigned at birth. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Sen. Marsha Blackburn attended the signing ceremony, expressing support for the administration’s efforts to “protect women’s sports.” The event coincided with National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Last year, Tennessee joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging a federal court ruling that allowed individuals to compete in sports aligning with their gender identity after the Biden administration had sought to expand the law’s prohibition of sex discrimination in education programs to LGBTQ+ students. In January, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky ruled that the U.S. Department of Education exceeded its constitutional authority when it modified Title IX protections under the Education Amendments of 1972. 

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators — including Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina. and Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey — have introduced the American Music Fairness Act, a bill that would ensure artists and music creators are paid when their songs are played on AM/FM radio, the Tennessean reports. The legislation would require traditional radio stations to pay royalties to American musicians for on-air plays, though the exact payment amounts have not yet been established. Smaller stations, as well as college and non-commercial stations, would be exempt from full payments and instead pay a smaller annual fee for unlimited music use.

Students in 17 East Tennessee counties are invited to participate in the annual Civics Essay Contest, sponsored by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Chattanooga Division, and the Chattanooga Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, the Chattanoogan reports. This year’s prompt asks: When is a police officer’s use of deadly force reasonable? Students are encouraged to share their views on what factors a court should consider in determining whether an officer’s use of force was reasonable or excessive. The contest is open to public, private and homeschool students in grades 8-12 in Bedford, Bledsoe, Bradley, Coffee, Franklin, Grundy, Hamilton, Lincoln, McMinn, Marion, Meigs, Moore, Polk, Rhea, Sequatchie, Warren and Van Buren counties. Full essay prompt, requirements and additional materials are available on the court’s website. Contact Kelly L. Walsh at 423-386-3523 or via email to chattcivicsessay@gmail.com with questions.

Events scheduled to be held in Memphis this month in honor of Black History Month include the following: a presentation on the impact of HBCUs at the National Civil Rights Museum; a concert by the Stax Music Academy; offerings from the Memphis Public Libraries; art exhibits by a number of Black artists; a series of events beginning this month to honor Tom Lee, who pulled 32 survivors of a capsized ship out of the Mississippi River; a presentation about Black individuals buried at Elmwood Cemetery; events at the University of Memphis; an oratorical competition for area youth sponsored by the Memphis Parks Department; and a host of other activities for kids.

The family of Matthew Vogel is suing over his death at the South Central Correctional Facility in Clifton. Vogel, who had been sent back to jail for violating parole on a drug charge, had one day left in his sentence, the Tennessean reports. The family alleges that Vogel was inappropriately placed in a cell with Travis Bess, who had been convicted on two counts of first-degree murder in 2022 and of killing another man behind bars in 2014. Vogel was classified as a minimum security risk while Bess was classified to "close" security, two steps above "minimum" and one below "maximum" security. The wrongful death suit alleges that facility operator CoreCivic lacked justification to reduce the score and did so to "expend fewer resources due to chronic understaffing."

As the Tennessee's 114th General Assembly continues work, there are multiple ways to connect with the TBA's Government Affairs team, learn more and get involved with advocacy work, including working for increased resources for indigent representation. Plan to participate in TBA's Day on the Hill and Big Shrimp Legislative Reception, to be held March 19 in Nashville. The events give Tennessee lawyers an opportunity to meet with legislators and talk to them about issues important to the profession. Watch for more information coming soon. Also, complete this form to connect with TBA's grassroots efforts, including upcoming opportunities to advocate.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has sued the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago, accusing them of impeding new immigration enforcement policies. The suit is seeking a court order to set aside sanctuary laws, arguing such measures are unconstitutional because of the federal government’s supremacy. The Hill reports that soon after taking office as the new attorney general, Pam Bondi issued a memo stating that “sanctuary” jurisdictions should not receive funds from DOJ grant programs, and the department should take actions against jurisdictions that impede immigration enforcement.

The Tennessee Supreme Court dismissed a reinstatement petition from Virginia lawyer Daniel Lynn Withers on Feb. 4. The court took the action after determining that Withers had not met outstanding obligations with the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education by the deadline of Feb. 1. On Dec. 19, 2024, the court alerted Withers to the outstanding obligations and gave him until Feb. 1 to resolve the issues.

The Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated Mississippi lawyer Franklin Alan Garrison to the practice of law on Feb. 4 after finding he satisfied outstanding obligations with the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility and the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education. The court made the reinstatement effective as of Jan. 8. Garrison filed a reinstatement petition on Dec. 26, 2024. The court gave him until March 17 to satisfy the obligations or said it would dismiss the petition.