Bristol lawyer Myers Newton Massengill died Jan. 19 at the age of 84. A 1964 graduate of the University of Tennessee (now Winston) College of Law, Massengill practiced law for over 55 years. He was active in several legal and civic organizations, including serving as president of the Bristol Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association for Northeast Tennessee and Rocky Mount Historic Association. He also previously served as chair of the Salvation Army Board of Bristol and as a board member of the United Way of Bristol. A funeral service will be held on Jan. 31 at 1 p.m. EST at State Street United Methodist Church. Visitation will take place at the church before the service from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Memorial contributions may be sent to the church at 650 Valley Dr., Bristol, VA 24201 or the Salvation Army of Bristol, 137 M.L.K. Blvd., Bristol, TN 37620.

Courts across parts of Tennessee closed and adjusted operations this week because of severe winter weather, prompting deadline extensions and emergency measures, while federal disaster assistance was approved statewide. In Davidson County, the Metropolitan Historic Courthouse and the Justice A.A. Birch Courthouse were closed Monday and Tuesday, and all deadlines for matters pending in the 20th Judicial District have been extended by two days due to many practitioners and litigants lacking power or internet access. It is discretionary for each judge to determine how this impacts their hearing and other court schedules. According to the Daily Memphian, in Shelby County, circuit, general sessions, criminal, probate and civil courts, including the clerk’s office, were closed today, with the clerk’s 24-hour bail office remaining open. Juvenile Court canceled most dockets and held select hearings virtually. Staff worked remotely, and hearings were reset to next available docket date if families could not attend virtually. Additionally, President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration on Saturday authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide disaster assistance in all 95 Tennessee counties, including 75% federally funded emergency protective measures, with Mary Hernandez Marrero named federal coordinating officer for the response.

Cade Cothren, the former chief of staff to ex-Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada who was charged, convicted and later pardoned by President Donald Trump in a federal fraud and bribery case, told the Nashville Post on Tuesday that he intends to seek the House District 71 seat. The seat is currently held by Rep. Kip Capley, R-Summertown. Cothren and Casada were previously charged with federal crimes and went to trial in 2025. “I am seriously considering a run for state representative because our government has been taken over by insiders who protect themselves and punish anyone who refuses to fall in line,” Cothren told the publication, adding that he has pulled a petition related to the effort. The Tennessean reports that the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance fined Cothren $80,000 last week for eight violations tied to his Faith Family Freedom Fund political action committee, saying he misled the public and violated campaign finance rules. Cothren must pay the penalty by March 10 or he will be barred from running for office. 

Gov. Bill Lee will deliver his final State of the State address to the General Assembly and Tennesseans at 6 p.m. CST on Feb. 2 during a joint session in the House chamber of the Tennessee State Capitol. “As we begin our final year together, I’m grateful for what we’ve accomplished and confident that the decisions we make today will help define Tennessee’s next chapter and our role in America’s future.” Gov. Lee said in a press release. The address will be streamed on Lee’s Facebook, YouTube and aired statewide.

The Murfreesboro City Council voted Jan. 22 to approve a process to select the next city attorney following the Dec. 19, 2025, resignation announcement of Adam Tucker, Rutherford Source reports. Tucker’s last day as city attorney is expected to be Feb. 17. The council approved a selection process set to begin in February that includes advertising the position, appointing an interim city attorney, prescreening candidates, and conducting executive team assessments and council interviews, with the goal of hiring a successor by the end of March.

Nearly 3,000 books are being pulled from public library shelves across Rutherford County following a letter from Secretary of State Tre Hargett prompting a review of juvenile collections across nearly all state public libraries, the Tennessean reports. Four Anne Frank biographies, more than 30 books focused on the Bible, five books on women’s history and suffrage, and books on ancient civilizations were among those removed for review. The request gave libraries 60 days to complete a full audit to avoid risking state and federal funding and has led Rutherford County librarians to flag 2,712 books for review. Hargett’s office has disputed that the letter was an order, saying the review was voluntary and decisions remain local, though librarians said the process caused staffing strains and temporary library closures. A federal judge has declined to block ongoing book bans in November after students sued the Rutherford County Board in April. The books will remain unavailable until a Feb. 2 county library board meeting determines to return them to shelves, relocate or remove.

At its January meeting this past weekend, the TBA Board of Governors certified election filing results. One contested election will be held this year for the office of vice president. Knoxville attorney Mary Elizabeth Maddox and Johnson City attorney Deborah Yeomans-Barton are running to become TBA’s president in 2028-2029. Read a statement from each of the candidates. Electronic voting will begin on Jan. 30 and close on Feb. 13. Watch for an email with a link to the ballot from Intelliscan Inc.

Also this weekend, the board declared election results for uncontested seats with 11 individuals deemed to be elected because they were the only duly qualified candidate to file. It also declared a vacancy in two board positions: West Tennessee Grand Division Governor (a one-year term) and 7th District Governor (a three-year term). The 7th District includes the counties of Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, McNairy, Madison, Obion, Tipton and Weakley. To be considered for either of these positions, email a statement of interest and resume to TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright at barED@tnbar.org by March 3. The board will consider nominees at its March meeting. See the full list of certified candidates and vacancies on the TBA website.

On Feb. 12, the Tennessee Supreme Court will hear oral arguments for its February docket in Nashville. The proceedings will be held at the Supreme Court building and livestreamed to the YouTube page. At 9 a.m. CST, the court will hear three with the first two cases involve the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County challenging the constitutionality of 2023 state laws affecting the size of Metro’s legislative body and the governance of the Metro Nashville Airport Authority, raising questions under the Tennessee Constitution’s Local Legislation, Exemption and Anti-Ripper clauses. The third case centers on whether a hospital may pursue an unjust enrichment claim for post-stabilization medical services provided to TennCare patients without prior authorization. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more about each case.

The TBA will remain closed on Jan. 27 due to inclement weather. The office will reopen Wednesday at 8 a.m. CST. Visit the TBA.org website for information on CLE or other TBA programs and for staff contact information.

The TBA will be closed Jan. 26 due to inclement weather. The office will reopen Tuesday at 8 a.m. CST. Visit the TBA.org website for information on CLE or other TBA programs and for staff contact information.