Gov. Bill Lee has proposed that the state cover a funding shortfall for the Tennessee Poison Center following the loss of a federal grant, according to the Tennessee Lookout. The center, based at Vanderbilt University, operates a call service that provides free emergency poison information, reportedly handling more than 50,000 calls annually. Officials estimate the center saved taxpayers $44.6 million in 2024 by reducing unnecessary emergency room visits, particularly among underinsured populations. The center also serves as a surge backup call center for the Tennessee Department of Health during public health emergencies. Lee included funding for the center in his annual budget amendment, which must be approved by state lawmakers before the end of the legislative session.

Fired University of Tennessee (UT) professor, Tamar Shirinian is asking a judge to add specific state and federal legislators to her lawsuit against the university in a new court filing. According to Knox News, the new motion zeroes in on people Shirinian says defamed her and directly intervened with UT leaders to urge that she be fired. Shirinian was fired after her private Facebook comment criticizing Charlie Kirk after his assassination was shared online by another individual. Shirinian added Rep. Chris Todd, R-Jackson, and U.S. Republican Rep. Tim Burchett, along with an anonymous donor who allegedly threatened to pull a $10 million gift to the university's engineering department if she was not fired. The motion also refines Shirinian's claims against university administrators, alleging they “did not rely on, ignored, or purposely failed to seek legal guidance before acting." UT System spokeswoman Melissa Tindell responded to the report saying, “As a matter of practice, the university does not comment on pending or active litigation."

The TBA Intellectual Property Section will present its 2026 CLE offerings as a series of one-hour webcasts scheduled throughout the spring. The series kicks off on April 1 with a session on post-grant patent strategies. Rhett Sexton of Merchant & Gould will discuss the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO)'s recent procedural updates and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of different post-grant proceedings. The series will continue on April 8 with Elizabeth Shah of Bookoff McAndrews discussing changes to the obviousness test for design patents. Then on April 29, section chair Ryan Levy will present on zombie trademarks. Looking for more topics? Watch for more sessions coming in May on copyright issues with AI deepfakes and an IP 101 presentation.

The TBA Environmental Law Section is now accepting essay entries from law students for its annual Jon E. Hastings Memorial Award Writing Competition, in memory of one of the section's founding members. The contest will award a $1,500 cash prize pool, with $1,000 going to the winning entry and $500 going to the runner-up. This competition will be judged by a panel of environmental law practitioners, members of the judiciary, and/or professors selected by the Environmental Law Section. Any law student with an interest in the practice area and enrolled in a Tennessee law school in 2025 or 2026 is eligible to participate. All submissions must be received by April 24. View the contest rules here. Contact Section Coordinator Jarod Word for more information or to submit an entry.

The Senate Judiciary Committee passed SB846/HB1268 with an amendment on March 24. The legislation — introduced by Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Eads, and Rep. Rick Scarbrough, R-Oak Ridge — now goes to the Senate Finance Committee. The bill as amended creates two additional criminal courts in the 30th Judicial District and requires the governor to appoint judges to serve through Sept. 1, 2028. An election for the posts would be held in August 2028, and the winners of that election would serve until Sept. 1, 20230. At the August 2030 general election, voters would elect judges for a full eight-year term. The bill as approved also would create four assistant district attorney general positions and two criminal investigator positions for the judicial district. The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee is set to consider the bill on April 1. The Commercial Appeal has background on the issue.

Leitner Williams Dooley Napolitan (LWDN) currently is hiring an associate attorney for its Memphis office. Candidates should have three to five years of experience with litigation experience in Tennessee preferred. License to practice in Arkansas or Mississippi in addition to Tennessee is a plus. Salary will be commensurate with experience. LWDN was established in the late 1800s with offices in Knoxville, Nashville, Chattanooga and Memphis and a strong emphasis on civil litigation. Resumes should be sent to Sharon Govan at sharon.govan@leitnerfirm.com. Learn more about this opportunity on TBA’s Career Center.

Student attorneys Alexander J. McGrail and John R. Neal Jr., working with the Stanton Foundation First Amendment Clinic, have filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit in Hussey v. City of Cambridge, urging the court to strengthen First Amendment protections for public employees, according to a press release from Vanderbilt Law School. The case involves a police officer disciplined over social media comments made in a private capacity on matters of public concern. The brief argues that applying the Pickering balancing test to controversial or unpopular speech should not allow government employers to suppress such expression, warning it could effectively create a “heckler’s veto.” It also contends that employers should be required to provide evidence that employee speech would cause workplace disruption. Joined by several legal scholars and advocacy organizations, the filing asks the full 1st Circuit to reconsider prior rulings in the case, with a decision expected next year.

Judge Chris Frulla announced he will seek reelection to Shelby County Circuit Court, Division 3 on the Aug. 6 ballot. Frulla earned his law degree from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis and practiced law at Rainey, Kizer, Reviere & Bell PLC from 2012 until his appointment to the bench. He was appointed to the Circuit Court by Gov. Bill Lee in August 2025. “For me, being a judge is about more than just handling cases — it’s about making a meaningful difference for the citizens of Shelby County and the community I love,” Frulla said. Read more about Frulla on his campaign website.

For the first time, a panel of the Tennessee Court of Appeals composed entirely of women judges convened in Nashville on March 24. Judges Carma Dennis McGee, Kristi M. Davis and Valerie L. Smith sat together during the court’s regular monthly session, a milestone made possible by the court’s traveling judge assignments. “When I came on the court in 2019, I was the only female,” said Judge McGee. Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Holly Kirby, one of the court’s early female pioneers, called the panel inspirational, noting the progress of women in the judiciary. Read more from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Cornelius Smith, the second alleged gunman in the November 2021 killing of Memphis rapper Young Dolph, is expected to enter a plea agreement March 30, the Commercial Appeal reports. Smith previously testified in the trials of Justin Johnson and Hernandez Govan, stating he took part in the shooting. Prior to testifying, Smith had not reached a plea agreement, and his court proceedings have been repeatedly delayed.