Stanford law dean Jenny Martinez informed students in an email yesterday that Tirien Steinbach has stepped down as associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion, reports Reuters. On March 9, Steinbach joined students protesting a visit by 5th U.S. Circuit Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan, who had been invited by the campus chapter of the Federalist Society. A widely circulated video showed Steinbach intervening on behalf of protestors and claiming Duncan's positions on LGBTQ+ people and others might make his presence painful for some students. Steinbach was criticized for her comments and that her failure to stop the protestors was in violation of Stanford’s free speech policies.

The TBA Environmental Law Section will host its annual forum on Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CST in Nashville. This program offers timely information on environmental legal issues. Do not miss this opportunity to learn from seasoned practitioners in the field! Visit the course site for registration and more info. 

Seven of the leading tech companies in competition to create artificial intelligence programs including Microsoft, Google and Open AI have agreed to new commitments on safeguards, sharing and developing new technology, NPR reports. President Biden said that in addition to the safeguards, the White House is working closely with Congress to develop legislation that will address concerns about AI technology. Programs such as OpenAI, which can create text, photographs, music, speech and other media independent of human input, have faced multiple intellectual property lawsuits as well as increased scrutiny from Congress and government regulators.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy announced today that Vishant Shah has been hired as the county’s first data officer, reports the Commercial Appeal. As data officer, Shah will collect and analyze data from around the county's criminal justice system, including law enforcement and the courts. The information collected will be used internally to improve the efficiency of the DA's office. In addition, Shah plans to make the data public through the DA’s website.

Sheree Wright began her service as executive director of the Tennessee Bar Association last month. Wright has been active in the TBA as well as the Nashville and national legal communities throughout her career. “We are extremely excited to have Sheree join the Tennessee Bar Association as our new executive director,” former TBA President Tasha Blakney said in announcing the appointment earlier this summer. Read more about Wright.

KETHLEDGE, Circuit Judge. In this case the district court held, as a matter of law, that Andrew Bazemore signed an arbitration agreement that he swore under oath he had never seen. The court therefore dismissed the case and sent it to arbitration. We reverse.

Petitioner, Milburn L. Edwards, appeals from the Wayne County Circuit Court’s order summarily dismissing his ninth petition for writ of habeas corpus. On appeal, Petitioner argues the habeas corpus court’s order failed to include adequate findings of fact and conclusions of law, the State’s answer to the habeas corpus petition was insufficient, and the Warden of Petitioner’s penitentiary was not served with process. After review, we affirm the judgment of the habeas corpus court.

This appeal arises from a juvenile court’s determination of a permanent parenting plan, in which the trial court found all best interest factors to be equal between the parents, granted Mother and Father equal parenting time, and designated them as “Joint Primary Residential Parents.” Mother raises several issues. Generally, she contends that the evidence preponderated against the trial court’s findings that all applicable best interest factors were equal between Mother and Father and that the trial court abused its discretion in crafting the permanent parenting plan. We find that the evidence preponderates against the trial court’s findings concerning two of the best interest factors. We also find that the court erred, as a matter of law, by designating the parties as joint primary residential parents in the absence of an agreement to do so. In accordance with these findings, we designate Mother as primary residential parent, affirm the trial court’s parenting plan in all other respects, and remand to the trial court for entry of judgment in accordance with this opinion.

The Democratic-led Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-10 today along party lines to advance a bill that would mandate a binding ethics code for the Supreme Court, reports Reuters. The legislation would impose new requirements for financial disclosures and for recusal from cases in which a justice may have a conflict of interest. The bill would require Republican support to win passage in the full Senate. Democrats have sought legislation after reports by Associated Press, ProPublica and other news outlets that have called into question both liberal and conservative judge's adherence to practicing full disclosure of outside income and gifts.

This appeal arises out of a dog bite incident that occurred at a dog park within an apartment complex. The plaintiff filed a complaint against the defendant who owned the dog that bit her. The defendant filed a motion for summary judgment. The trial court entered an order granting the defendant’s motion for summary judgment and dismissing the plaintiff’s complaint with prejudice. The plaintiff appeals. We affirm.