A former Memphis Grizzlies security leader has sued the team, alleging his firing was illegal and based on his age and race, the Commercial Appeal reports. In 2023, according to the federal lawsuit, Godfrey Howard, who began working security for the team in 2001 and also serves as a Memphis police officer, claims he was passed over for two security leadership positions in favor of younger white men despite serving as interim director of team security in 2023. Howard, who is Black, was terminated in April 2024 without being given a reason, the lawsuit also states. After filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which dismissed the charge and issued a right-to-sue notice without making a determination on the merits, Howard filed suit alleging violations of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and other equal rights laws. The Memphis Grizzlies declined to comment, citing a policy against discussing pending litigation.

The Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk’s Office announced it will begin implementing automatic expungements for certain cases starting March 23. Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk Heidi Kuhn has advocated for legislation over the past two years aimed at allowing automatic expungements in the courtroom for cases that have been dismissed or identified as nolle prosequi with no costs. The effort is intended to simplify the process and ensure individuals do not leave the courtroom believing their case has been removed from their record when they otherwise would still need to file for an expungement. The clerk’s office said the new in-court procedure will apply only when a case is dismissed as nolle prosequi with no costs and will not apply to other court systems in the county.

Evalina Casey Cheadle died March 3 at the age of 69. Cheadle was born April 10, 1956, in Virginia and was raised in Nashville. She graduated from Harpeth Hall School and Vanderbilt University. After spending eight years as a special education teacher with Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, she attended the Nashville School of Law. She earned her law degree and started her own law firm in 1988. In addition to maintaining a legal career until her death, Cheadle served for many years as a proctor for the Tennessee Bar Examination and was a member of the Tennessee Bar Association and the Nashville Bar Association. Visitation will be Friday from 1-2 p.m. CDT at Mount Olivet Funeral Home, 1101 Lebanon Pike, Nashville 37210. Burial will follow at 2 p.m CDT at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the John Cheadle Mitchell Scholarship Fund at the Nashville School of Law. The fund honors Cheadle's son, who preceded her in death.

Save the date for the TBA's 2026 Business Law Forum! The full-day program will take place on May 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT at the new TBA office in Nashville. Watch for more information coming soon. For updates and registration information, visit the TBA website.

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee swore in Brian C. Lea on March 2 as a U.S. district judge, WBBJ reports. Lea fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr. Lea earned his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2009 and, following law school, served as a law clerk to Judge Edward Earl Carnes of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit and to Justice Clarence Thomas of the U.S. Supreme Court. In between and following his clerkships, Lea worked in private practice. Most recently, he served as deputy associate attorney general in the U.S. Department of Justice. The U.S. Senate approved his nomination last month. 

A joint convention of the General Assembly confirmed Kyle Hixson’s nomination to the Tennessee Supreme Court on March 5. According to Crossville News, Cameron Sexton, speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives, praised the confirmation, noting Hixson’s experience and approach to the law. Hixson is a Crossville native and judge on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. He was nominated to the post in January by Gov. Bill Lee to replace Justice Holly Kirby, who is retiring at the end of June. Lee had previously appointed Hixson to the state Court of Criminal Appeals in 2022 after he had served two years as a criminal court judge according to the Tennessee Journal. Hixson graduated from the University of Tennessee and the University of Tennessee College of Law.

On March 6, the Tennessee Supreme Court removed the disability inactive status for Davidson County lawyer Sornavidya Saba Sankar, who has been placed on this status on Aug. 8, 2025. The court also noted that Sankar would not be reinstated but would remain on inactive status pending resolution of any disciplinary proceedings.

Johnson County lawyer Harvey Randolph Fallin was suspended by the Tennessee Supreme Court on March 9 after the court found that he failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning a complaint of misconduct. A temporary suspension typically remains in place until the board determines final resolution of the matter.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has agreed to settle its claims in an antitrust case accusing Live Nation Entertainment and its Ticketmaster subsidiary of illegally monopolizing the live music industry, the AP reports. A trial on the case began last week. Under the tentative deal, Live Nation would pay a $280 million fine, divest itself of at least 13 amphitheaters, cap ticketing service fees at 15% and open its ticketing processes to competitors. The suit was brought by DOJ and a coalition of states. A number of those states — including Tennessee — said they would not join the settlement but continue with the trial.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the 3rd Judicial District Circuit Court following the appointment of Judge William E. Phillips II to the Tennessee Court of Appeals. The district covers Greene, Hamblen, Hancock and Hawkins counties. A public hearing for the position will be held April 27 at 9 a.m. EDT at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology, 821 W. Louise Ave., Morristown, 37813. To be considered, the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) must receive a completed application by noon CDT on March 25. The application and instructions are available online. Any member of the public may attend the hearing to express, orally or in writing, objections concerning applicant(s) for the vacancy. For questions or additional information, contact John Jefferson at the AOC at 615-741-2687.