More than a dozen lawyers were in Davidson County Chancery Court on Monday expecting a hearing on whether the Tennessee Star should be held in contempt for publishing leaked documents related to the Covenant School shooting. Instead, according to the Nashville Banner, lawyers on both sides argued that issues around the leak and subsequent publication should not delay a ruling on the underlying case of whether the Covenant documents are subject to Tennessee’s Open Records Act. Chancellor I’Ashea Myles indicated that a decision on that question is imminent. She also revealed that she had an opinion ready to release on June 14 when she learned about the Star’s coverage.

Attorneys general from 19 Democratic-led states have pledged to help defend the American Bar Association’s (ABA) requirement that law schools advance diversity goals. The move comes after a coalition of Republican-led states, including Tennessee, questioned the ABA accreditation standard earlier this month, Reuters reports. The Democratic group argues that the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2023 ruling curtailing the consideration of race in college admissions does not extend into ABA policies or corporate diversity programs. The ABA previously announced it is revising its diversity standard and could adopt changes as early as August.

On June 17, the Tennessee Supreme Court dismissed a petition for reinstatement from Julia Givens Williams, a lawyer in Alabama. Williams was seeking reinstatement from inactive status. Because she had been on inactive status for less than five years, the court directed her to refile the petition with the Board of Professional Responsibility.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has asked the Board of Professional Responsibility to take whatever action it deems necessary after Greene County lawyer Edward Lee Kershaw pled guilty to driving under the influence (DUI) in violation of T.C.A. 55-10-401 in the Loudon County General Sessions Court.

The Tennessee Supreme Court dismissed a petition for reinstatement from Howard Macarthur Romaine, a lawyer in North Carolina, on June 17. Romaine was seeking reinstatement from being on disability inactive status since January 2017. The Board of Professional Responsibility recommended dismissal of the petition based on Romaine’s failure to satisfy outstanding obligations with it as well as the Tennessee Department of Revenue and the Appellate Court Cost Center. On April 24, the court gave Romaine until June 10 to satisfy his outstanding obligations — which he did not do — or face dismissal of his petition.

Zoom is not the only game in town for web meetings, but it is popular for a reason. Use this chart to learn about the major web meeting vendors and what they offer. Find this and more in the Opening a Firm section of TBA’s Law Firm in a Box.

A new Tennessee law, which goes into effect July 1, authorizes the state to pursue capital punishment when an adult is convicted of aggravated rape of a child, reports WREG. Gov. Bill Lee signed the law in May without issuing a statement. Lee told reporters Tuesday that he did not sign the bill hoping it would be “tested” in court. Instead, he said crimes against children are “some of the most heinous that there are.” Opponents worry that the law may keep child rape victims from speaking out knowing their testimony could potentially result in an execution, especially since many children are abused by family members and close friends.

Attorneys for Zachary Adams, the man convicted in 2017 of murdering nursing student Holly Bobo, on Friday made arguments to a Savannah judge as part of an attempt by Adams to receive a new trial. The Associated Press reports that Adams requested a new trial based on statements made by Jason Autry, a key trial witness who earlier this year recanted the testimony that helped a jury convict Adams. The new filing, known as a coram nobis petition, says Autry is recanting his testimony to avoid spending life in prison. For the petition to be successful, Adams must prove that he is presenting new evidence, which must be supported by sworn affidavits.

Deans at four of Tennessee's law schools, along with more than 100 deans from law schools across the country, have signed a letter released by the American Bar Association (ABA) Task Force for American Democracy concerning the training necessary for the next generation of lawyers to sustain constitutional democracy and the rule of law. The letter affirms the deans' commitment to preparing the next generation of legal advocates to uphold these values and urges students to champion the Constitution and the rule of law through avenues such as clinical work, public education and advocacy. The deans also commit to teach students to disagree respectfully, be open to others’ arguments and engage across partisan and ideological divides. Read more in a press release from the ABA.

Eastern District of Arkansas U.S. District Judge D.P. Marshall Jr. on Friday ruled that a lawsuit challenging federal rules entitling workers to time off and other accommodations for abortions lacks standing. The suit was filed in April by 17 states and led by the attorneys general of Arkansas and Tennessee against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The Associated Press reports that the suit argued the additional regulations go beyond the scope of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a 2022 law requiring many employers to make “reasonable accommodations” for pregnant or postpartum employees.