A Fayette County jury convicted the Defendant, Archie Lee Meeks, of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, assault by offensive touching, and aggravated criminal trespass, and the trial court sentenced him to an effective sentence of ten years. On appeal, the Defendant contends that the evidence is insufficient to sustain his convictions. After review, we affirm the trial court’s judgments.

Defendant, Jeffrey Wayne Seidel, challenges the denial of his pre-sentencing motion to withdraw his guilty plea to second offense driving under the influence (“DUI”). Defendant contends the trial court abused its discretion by failing to consider the factors set out by our supreme court in State v. Phelps, 329 S.W.3d 436, 447 (Tenn. 2010), and that he established a “fair and just reason” to permit the withdrawal of his guilty plea. After a thorough review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

The Defendant, Douglas R. Roach, was convicted of ten counts of especially aggravated kidnapping and received an effective twenty-five-year sentence. On appeal, the Defendant argues that the evidence was insufficient to establish that he committed especially aggravated kidnapping because the evidence did not show that he accomplished the kidnappings through use or display of a deadly weapon or that he used the victims as hostages or human shields. The State responds that the evidence was sufficient to support his convictions. Following our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, is planning to revive a bill aimed at stiffening sentences for serious juvenile crimes in 2024. The bill, which died during a truncated special session on public safety, seeks to classify children aged 14 and older as "serious youthful offenders" for certain offenses, allowing them to be transferred to prison through age 24. Critics argue that tougher sentences may not address the root causes of juvenile crime and could exacerbate problems such as the school-to-prison pipeline. Other bills, including those related to gun storage requirements, mass violence threats and child autopsy reports, are also expected to be reintroduced in 2024. The Tennessee Lookout has a comprehensive overview.

U.S. District Judge Mark Norris is considering how to proceed with the civil lawsuit over Tyre Nichols' death and which parties should be involved. The civil suit involves five officers accused of killing Nichols, and they, along with other former MPD personnel, have sought a stay of the proceedings, citing fear of federal criminal charges. According to the Daily Memphian, attorneys for Nichols' mother, RowVaughn Wells, and the city of Memphis agree that the case should proceed in a manner that would allow the defendants to avoid self-incrimination. They also agree the civil case will largely focus on the city's practices and its role in Nichols' death.

Chattanooga attorney and Immediate Past TBA YLD President Brittany Faith has been appointed to the advisory committee of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Immigration by ABA President Mary Smith. The Advisory Committee provides counsel to the Commission in its efforts to ensure fair treatment and full due process rights for immigrants and refugees within the United States, develop and implement immigration-related policy for the ABA and advocate for changes in the law when necessary.

Sullivan County commissioners want to give a raise to uniformed officers in the sheriff's office, but are still working out what the budget impact would be and how big a raise they can fund, The Kingsport Times News report. The commission's Budget Committee has given its OK to a $1,045,000 budget for the department, but Michael Kennedy, finance director for the sheriff’s office, says the amount approved would not fund the $3 per hour raise that Sheriff Jeff Cassidy has proposed. Kennedy calculates the department would need $1.68 million to fund raises for 270 officers over an entire year. Commissioners will continue work on the budget next week.

A Federal Communications Commission (FCC) judge has rejected the agency's effort to strip the license of "Jammin" 99.7 FM/1040 WJBE, Knoxville's only Black-owned radio station. According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, the FCC initiated a license revocation hearing due to the owner's 2016 conviction for filing a false income tax return and failure to disclose the conviction in license renewal applications. Joe Armstrong, the owner, successfully defended the station with the help of the Institute for Justice, arguing that the conviction shouldn't disqualify him from operating the station. Armstrong says he plans to continue growing and serving the community through WJBE.

Joseph Padilla, a Cleveland, Tennessee, man who posted on social media about wanting to "take over the Capitol building" before the Jan. 6, 2021 riot, has been sentenced to more than six years in prison. He was convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon, obstruction of Congress and other charges after a bench trial. The Associated Press reports that Padilla had thrown a flagpole at a police officer's head during the riot and later lied about it under oath. More than 1,100 people have been charged in connection with the riot, with over 600 sentenced, many pleading guilty.

Despite the rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations across the state, Gov. Bill Lee announced that there will be no new mask or vaccine mandates. WSMV reports that Lee says “government does not need to tell people how to live their lives with regard to their personal health.” New COVID-19 boosters are now available and will be covered by public and private insurance plans.