John Peden Valliant Jr., age 78, died March 29. He graduated from the University of Tennessee (now Winston) College of Law and served in the U.S. Army National Guard during the Vietnam War era, returning to Knoxville where his law practice spanned five decades. Valliant was deeply involved in civic life and served as chair of the Knox County Democratic Party in 1982. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley, 6717 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919, or Helping Mamas, 10908 McBride Lane, Knoxville, TN 37932. A memorial gathering will be held on April 1 from 11 to 11:30 a.m. EDT at French Broad Veteran's Memorial Park, 2302 E. Gov. John Sevier Highway, Knoxville 37914, overlooking the river at the court of flags.

A three-judge panel from the Court of Criminal Appeals heard oral arguments last week at the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law. Judges Timothy L. Easter, J. Ross Dyer and Tom Greenholtz, a Winston Law graduate, sat for the court and heard cases including State v. Price, State v. James, State v. Simmons and State v. Lacey. Proceedings can be replayed on the court's YouTube channel. “The law students can actually see a real-life case being argued with real-life names, real-life people, real-life lawyers. We just think it gives flesh and bones to an otherwise stale opinion they might read,” said Easter. “For us, we get to see the future of the bar and these students and it’s a shot in the arm for us to do that.” Read more in a press release from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Memphis City Councilmember JB Smiley has announced his candidacy for Shelby County mayor in the upcoming August election. Smiley received his law degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's William H. Bowen School of Law. Following graduation he started Smiley & Associates in 2017. Serving on the city council since 2020, Smiley has led initiatives such as co-sponsoring a resolution in support of the After School Act to strengthen after-school programs aimed to reduce crime among at-risk youth. His focus has been on police brutality, criminal justice and blight in predominantly Black neighborhoods. Learn more on his campaign website www.votejbsmiley.com or in a press kit.

The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled 8-1 in favor of a Christian counselor challenging Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for minors. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the majority that lower courts applied too lenient a standard and that the law improperly targets speech based on viewpoint. The Hill reports that the decision could affect similar laws in more than 20 states, though Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor suggested more carefully written state laws might survive future challenges. According to SCOTUSblog, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the sole dissenter, arguing that established precedent gives states broad authority to regulate medical treatments provided by licensed healthcare professionals, and that the majority's ruling dangerously limits states' ability to protect minors in a clinical setting.

Haywood County lawyer Carmon Thomas "Tommy" Hooper III died March 28 at age 95. He graduated from the University of Alabama in 1953 and, after three years of military service, entered Vanderbilt University Law School on the G.I. Bill, receiving his law degree in 1959. Hooper joined a Brownsville firm founded by Larry Morgan and Alex Gray, and following their deaths in the 1960s, he maintained a solo legal practice until February of this year. He was also a "citizen lawyer," serving six years in the Tennessee House of Representatives, 15 years on the Haywood County Commission and 18 years as county attorney. A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church (FUMC), 117 E. Franklin St., Brownsville 38012 at 11 a.m. CDT on April 3. The family will gather for a graveside burial before the service. Memorials may be made to FUMC Brownsville or a charity of the donor's choice.

Changes at the Shelby County Youth Justice and Education Center — following its transfer from the sheriff’s office to the Division of Corrections in October 2025 — are aimed at improving conditions for juveniles in custody, the Daily Memphian reports. Officials said reforms include replacing traditional prison-style uniforms with khaki clothing to promote a more normalized environment, and providing full-size hygiene items such as toothbrushes, deodorant and soap. Additional changes include adjustments to facility policies intended to reduce contraband risks while addressing morale and behavioral outcomes. Judge Tarik Sugarmon said the transition has improved logistics and daily operations for juveniles appearing in court, while corrections officials emphasize that the updated approach incorporates mental health considerations.

Make plans now to join colleagues from across the state at the TBA’s 2026 Annual Convention, set for June 10-13, in downtown Knoxville. Annual favorites such as the Public Service Breakfast, Lawyers Luncheon, compelling CLE and swearing in of TBA’s new president will return, as will the Wednesday night welcome reception and a Thursday evening reception at Knoxville’s minor league ballpark, home of the Smokies. Again this year, the Tennessee Lawyers' Association for Women (TLAW) and Tennessee Alliance for Black Lawyers (TABL) will hold meetings and events in conjunction with the convention. This year’s convention also will include TBA’s first-ever Tech Showcase and several lunch and learn opportunities with tech vendors on Thursday. The four-day event will take place at the Crowne Plaza Knoxville. Don’t miss this annual gathering of Tennessee lawyers! Access registration, hotel reservation information and more on the event website. Day passes for the Tech Showcase on June 11 also are available for those who unable to attend the full convention. Learn more about that option.

The Tennessee Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division has distributed nearly $900,000 in grants to local law enforcement agencies participating in federal immigration enforcement efforts, according to a report obtained by the Tennessee Lookout. The division, established in 2025 under the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, oversees coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement through 287(g) agreements, which authorize local officers to perform certain immigration enforcement functions. Between August and December, the division allocated $866,843 in funding for equipment and operational expenses, though it has not disclosed the agencies receiving the grants. The office, led by Chief Immigration Enforcement Officer Ryan Hubbard, was created by state lawmakers to support expanded immigration enforcement. It has faced criticism over limited transparency, as some records are exempt from public disclosure under state law.

Brett Windrow has announced that he will run for the Tennessee House of Representatives District 13 seat. Windrow, an attorney and graduate of Belmont University College of Law, said he is seeking the office to address economic, infrastructure and education challenges facing the district, which includes parts of Rutherford County. Windrow has prior experience working with the General Assembly and said he aims to improve affordability, support public schools and represent the interests of working families. “Government’s most basic job is to make people’s lives better. For too long in Tennessee, it has failed to do so. I’m running to change that,” Windrow said. Read more in a press release and on his campaign website.

A Tennessee law that went into effect Jan. 1 is the nation's first registry to track repeat domestic violence offenders, but there are holes in the system, according to Knox News. Under Savanna's Law, a "persistent domestic violence offender” — defined as someone with more than one domestic violence offense — is required to register in a public database maintained by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. But if the person has an offense expunged, the record no longer shows up and a new conviction would not trigger the registration requirement. Legal experts say the intersection of diversion, expungement and registry requirements exposes limitations of the law as judges cannot consider expunged offenses in setting bond or identifying repeat conduct.