On Dec. 18, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is updating Volume 1, Part A, of the USCIS Policy Manual to reflect the available avenues for case assistance or feedback. Specifically, the update includes information on changes of address, expanded online tools and resources, and providing feedback to USCIS. Additionally, this policy manual update changes the language on USCIS’ response time goals to service requests from 15 calendar days to 15 business days to match existing practice. The full announcement is available on USCIS's website.

On Jan. 17, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will publish a revised edition of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, to align with the recent overhaul of the H-1B visa program. This edition of Form I-129 will replace the previous edition, which was updated on April 1, 2024. Effective Jan. 17, Form I-129 petitions received using the April 1, 2024, edition of the form will be rejected. There will be no grace period for the revised edition of Form I-129 because this revised edition is necessary for USCIS to apply the final rules. Read more on USCIS's website.

TBA's Intellectual Property Section will host a webcast on Feb. 5 from noon to 1 p.m. CST focusing on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) July 17, 2024, update to patent subject matter eligibility for AI-related inventions. The update, included in President Joe Biden's "Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence," aims to clarify eligibility evaluations for patent applications and patents involving AI technology. The webcast will offer an overview of the guidance update, including examples and community feedback. Lauren Sherwood of Bookoff McAndrews in Knoxville will lead the presentation. For more information and to register, visit TBA’s website.

A recent scam targeting Davidson County residents involves fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officers, including those from the sheriff’s office, to falsely claim that individuals missed court dates or jury duty, the Nashville Banner reports. The scammers use phone numbers and the names of actual staff to threaten arrest or jail time unless the victim pays fines through untraceable methods, such as Bitcoin. Officials have emphasized that they never request payment for federal cases, and no government agency accepts Bitcoin as payment. They also warn that legitimate government agencies will never call from blocked numbers or demand money in this manner. Local authorities, including Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall, have urged the public to remain vigilant and report such incidents.

A federal judge has rescheduled until next year the civil trial for former police officers charged in the death of Tyre Nichols. According to the Commercial Appeal, Judge Mark S. Norris explained the delay was necessary given the state criminal trial scheduled for April and the filing of a new complaint, which has led to several contentious legal filings between attorneys representing the city of Memphis and those representing Nichols' mother, RowVaughn Wells. A new mediator also will need to be selected, as retired federal Judge Bernice Donald, initially chosen to mediate settlement discussions in 2023, notified attorneys she will no longer be available for the case. The civil trial is now set to begin July 13, 2026, with attorneys estimating it could last nearly six weeks due to the extensive amount of evidence to be presented.

Tennessee lawmakers have filed a bill aimed at deterring hate crimes and strengthening public safety across the state. State House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, and Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, introduced HB55, known as the Protecting Everyone Against Crime and Extremism (PEACE) Act. The bill addresses issues such as hate littering, trespassing, police procedures, obstruction and road safety, according to WSMV News. It would add a Class A misdemeanor for hate littering and trespassing, and improve law enforcement’s response to hateful demonstrations by creating a buffer zone requiring the public to stay 25 feet from officers. “The PEACE Act offers increased protection against intimidation and gives law enforcement additional tools to ensure those individuals who carry out these vile acts — often anonymously — do not escape accountability. Tennessee will not tolerate hatred in any form,” Lamberth said.

A planned Hamilton County Commission vote on a proposal to move private practice attorney Janie Varnell into the role of county attorney has been rescheduled. The commission now will not address the issue until Jan. 15, according to the Chattanoogan. County Mayor Weston Wamp is backing the proposal, which would allow Varnell to join county government and take over as county attorney starting in July, while current county attorney Rheubin Taylor would stay on until the first of next year. According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the commission previously had set Jan. 8 for the vote. Taylor told commission members last month that the proposal, which would place Varnell in a transitional role within the county attorney’s office, breaches his contract, which gives him authority over personnel.

A new law that took effect Jan. 1 will make it easier for TennCare recipients to access contraceptives. According to Fox 17 news, SB1919 allows patients to receive a 12-month prescription for birth control and pick up the medication directly from a doctor's office instead of a pharmacy. Tennessee joins 24 other states that have adopted similar legislation designed to streamline access to contraceptives.

Beginning this Friday, new or returning Tennessee residents with a driver license from California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Nevada, Oklahoma, Vermont or West Virginia must present a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) from their previous state when applying for a drivers license. According to The Tennessee Tribune, all other states, including Tennessee, participate in the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators’ State-to-State (S2S) Verification Service, which allows participating states to electronically access the complete Driver History Record of anyone applying for a driver license. Individuals moving from one of those 41 states do not need to obtain an MVR to qualify for a Tennessee driver's license. For more information on the required documents, visit the state's Department of Safety & Homeland Security website.

The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis is hosting its annual King Day Celebration on Jan. 20, with free museum admission all day and special activities in person and virtually. The event also marks the launch of the museum's yearlong observance themed "Community Over Chaos," highlighting pivotal anniversaries in civil rights history, including the 60th anniversary year of the Selma March and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. As part of the celebration, the Memphis Bar Association's Access to Justice Committee and law firm Butler Snow are sponsoring an onsite legal information table and are requesting information from legal service providers to share with attendees. Materials, updated brochures or flyers, including those with substantive legal information or announcements about clinics or other services, can be shared digitally or in hard copy. Please contact TBA Access to Justice Chair Linda Seely to share materials or for more information.