The Georgia Supreme Court last week removed a state appeals court judge from office after an investigation found that he broke campaign finance rules and took advantage of an elderly client, reports Reuters. The court upheld a hearing panel's findings that Christian Coomer, a former state legislator, had acted in bad faith for his own financial benefit. Coomer has been suspended from office with pay since January 2021, after Georgia's Judicial Qualifications Commission filed disciplinary charges against him.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week announced its National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives (NECI) for 2024-2027, focused on mitigating climate change, addressing exposure to PFAS contamination and protecting communities from carcinomic coal ash. The agency said it considered three imperatives when determining its policy, including the need to address serious and widespread environmental issues and significant noncompliance; a focus on areas where federal enforcement authorities, resources and/or expertise are needed to hold polluters accountable; and alignment with the EPA’s broader Strategic Plan, which includes tackling the climate crisis and advancing environmental justice. The EPA said the initiatives were informed by public comments received through a Federal Register notice. Learn more about the NECIs here.

A Montana judge on Monday sided with a group of young people who sued the state over its failure to consider climate change when approving fossil fuel projects, The New York Times reports. Plaintiffs argued that children are especially vulnerable to climate change, which “harms [their] physical and psychological health and safety, interferes with family and cultural foundations and integrity, and causes [them] economic deprivations.” District Court Judge Kathy Seely agreed, saying the state’s greenhouse gas emissions “have been proven to be a substantial factor in causing climate impacts to Montana's environment and harm and injury to the youth plaintiffs.” Judge Seely added that the state has erred by not allowing proper analysis on greenhouse gasses, which could be a violation of the state’s constitution and the Montana Environmental Policy Act. The Montana attorney general’s office said the state will appeal, calling the ruling “absurd, but not surprising from a judge who let the plaintiffs’ attorneys put on a weeklong taxpayer-funded publicity stunt that was supposed to be a trial.” Read the order here.

The Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC) recently announced plans for six new learning playscapes across the state. These playscapes will provide a year-round opportunity for families to enjoy state parks, offering play areas, outdoor education and other events. Work is expected to begin at each of the six sites — including Warriors' Path, Norris Dam, Harrison Bay, David Crocket, David Crockett Birthplace and Cove Lake state parks — by early 2024. Visit TDEC’s newsroom for more info.

The Biden administration on Monday issued new guidance to colleges and universities on how to legally encourage racial diversity on their campuses, reports Reuters. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that colleges can no longer consider race as a factor in college admissions. The guidance, released jointly by the departments of Justice and Education, noted that universities may still consider how race has affected an applicant's life such as in an applicant’s essay, as well as consider factors such as geography, financial resources and family background.

Retiring Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee will be honored on Aug. 24 at the Tennessee Supreme Court building in Knoxville with an unveiling of her portrait in the courtroom. The ceremony is open to the public and will be live streamed on the court’s YouTube page. In addition, Lee will be honored Aug. 25 at a dinner hosted by the Bradley County Bar Association at the Museum and Cultural Center at in Cleveland. A limited number of tickets are available from the Bradley County Bar Association. And on Aug. 29, the Nashville School of Law, the Nashville Bar Association, and the law firm of Dodson, Parker, Behm & Capparella will host a retirement celebration at the Nashville School of Law. Lee will retire Aug. 31.

The Metro Nashville Council on Tuesday approved settlements for property owners who sued the city over an ordinance requiring them to construct a sidewalk or pay a fine, reports the Tennessean. The ordinance was struck down by a federal appeals court in May. The council ruled that to be eligible for a settlement, costs to comply with the ordinance must have been incurred on or after May 10, 2022, one year prior to the ruling. More information and claim forms can be found at the Metro website.

Join your colleagues Nov. 30 for the second annual "Raising the Bar" program at Baker Donelson's office in Nashville. Produced by the TBA Women in the Profession Committee, the in-person program is applicable to all attorneys, male and female, as well as those in law firm management positions. This CLE addresses the importance of being an advocate for yourself and each other. The program will begin with a session focused on effectively soliciting raises and project assignments, making partner, receiving your fair share of credit on cases, scheduling needs and more. The second session will discuss frequent barriers impacting diverse women in the legal industry and best practices for supporting them and encouraging their success. The program continues with a session that will review notable legislation that can bolster efforts to advocate for yourself and those around you. We have a practical session for attorneys of all ages that will cover the financial aspects of preparing for retirement, and we will end the day with a presentation on maintaining work-life balance today to ease the transition into retirement. In addition to a networking breakfast in the morning, there will be a networking reception immediately following the program from 4:15-6 p.m. CST.

Visit the course page for details.

The Board of Judicial Conduct today issued an interim suspension for Hawkins County Juvenile Judge Daniel Boyd. In its order, the board says it took the action after Boyd was indicted on three counts of forgery. It also notes that Boyd was charged with one count of criminal simulation and one count of bribing a witness. Tennessee law allows for the immediate interim suspension of judges upon the filing of an indictment. The board said it determined that it was in the public interest and proper administration of justice to take that action. While suspended, Boyd may not exercise any judicial power or authority.

The fourth annual Oye Vecino LIVE, set for Sept. 21, will include a panel discussion on immigration and a presentation by former civil rights attorney turned writer and performer Irma Herrera. The event will begin at 5 p.m. CDT in the auditorium of the Main Nashville Public Library. All proceeds will benefit Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors, which provides free or low-cost legal services to immigrants, educates the public about issues related to immigration and advocates for immigrant rights. Get tickets here.