The TBA is offering a Law Practice Management Package for lawyers seeking convenient and high-quality continuing legal education. The package provides six dual hours and covers essential topics for lawyers in all practice areas and settings. Topics include client management and communications, cybersecurity, technology, business planning, AI and more! For details on this year-end package and the courses it includes visit TBA's website.

TBA’s Labor and Employment Section will host a webcast “Summary Judgment — A View From the Bench” on Dec. 17 from noon to 1 p.m. CST. The webcast will feature district court judges from each of Tennessee's three grand divisions who will share insights on effective strategies for summary judgment motions. Judge Clifton Corker from the Eastern District, William Campbell from the Middle District and Judge Thomas Parker from the Western District also will provide practical guidance on local rules unique to each district and offer general best practices for briefing summary judgment motions. For more information and to register visit TBA’s website.

On Thursday, the Elizabethton City Council will consider appointing an acting municipal judge while the city’s current judge remains unable to practice law, WJHL News reports. Municipal Judge Jason Holly’s law license was suspended in October after he reportedly failed to respond to a misconduct complaint filed with the Board of Professional Responsibility. That suspension followed a prior incident earlier this year when he was unable to sit on the bench due to failure to submit his required continuing legal education hours. Holly won reelection in November, despite not being able to practice law at the time voters went to the polls, according to the TV station.

Nashville Metro Police held its annual “Safe Surrender” event over the weekend. More than 300 individuals were served and more than 670 expungements were processed during the two-day event, News Channel 5 reports. The event offered men and women with warrants for non-violent crimes — including failure to appear in court — a chance to receive favorable consideration for surrendering. Many attendees were able to go home the same day. Held at the Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, the church was transformed into a courtroom where individuals could consult with an attorney and appear before a judge from either criminal or general sessions court. In addition, juvenile court staff assisted individuals with outstanding child support issues, the Metro Action Commission provided utility payment assistance applications and the Urban League offered job placement support.

A U.S. judge in North Dakota has blocked the Biden administration from requiring 19 states — including Tennessee — provide health insurance coverage to undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients or "Dreamers." U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor ruled that a May rule adopted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services likely violates federal law, which prohibits offering public benefits to individuals without legal immigration status, Reuters reports. Traynor's ruling blocks the rule from being enforced in the states that sued in August, pending the outcome of the case. The judge sided with the states, agreeing that the rule improperly encourages DACA recipients to remain in the U.S. illegally and forces states to spend millions of dollars on public services for them and their children. The National Immigration Law Center, which represents DACA recipients who intervened in the case to defend the rule, said it was considering its next steps.

Criminal justice leaders in Memphis are advocating for the construction of a local crime lab, arguing that faster evidence processing could increase crime-solving rates. An October study by The Precision Criminal Justice Consulting LLC estimates the cost to build a local crime lab at $50 million. According to the Daily Memphian, this would be double the cost of building the current crime lab used by Memphis and Shelby County, which is located in Jackson. The annual operating cost of the proposed lab would be similar to that of Nashville’s crime lab, which has an $11 million yearly budget, according to the report. In a separate development, state Rep. G.A. Hardaway, D-Memphis, introduced a bill in the state legislature last session that mandates a feasibility study on the impact of a local crime lab. The study is expected to be completed by Dec. 19.

TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance have filed an emergency injunction asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review legislation that would ban the social media app in the U.S. if ByteDance does not sell the platform by Jan. 19, 2025. The appeal follows a ruling on Friday from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which upheld the ban. Under an act signed by President Joe Biden in the spring, TikTok will become illegal for distribution in the U.S. if ByteDance does not sell the platform. ByteDance has argued that selling the platform is "not possible," commercially, technologically or legally. The Tennessean has the latest in the case.

The Biden administration on Friday made additional disaster assistance available to the state of Tennessee for debris removal and emergency protective measures undertaken as a result of Hurricane Helene. The action increases the level of federal funding from 75% to 100% of the total eligible costs for a period of 120 days — of the state’s choosing — within the first 180 days from the start of the incident on Sept. 26. For individual assistance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is reporting that it has approved more than $21.9 million for 6,327 Tennessee households affected by the storm, according to WBIR News. Residents in upper East Tennessee have until Jan. 7, 2025, to apply for FEMA assistance.

Matthew Stephen Heiter died Nov. 29 at age 64 after a difficult bout with cancer. Born in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, he graduated from the University of Mississippi and Vanderbilt Law School. Heiter practiced law in Memphis for many years, first at Waring Cox and later at Baker Donelson. He also served as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for NN Inc., a Charlotte, North Carolina-based global manufacturer. Funeral services will take place at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Dec. 13 at 1:30 p.m. CST. In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome memorial gifts to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 1669 Central Ave., Memphis, TN 38104, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Whether you’re leading a meeting, arguing at trial or speaking at a conference, you want to communicate in a professional manner with confidence and credibility. Mimi Bliss of Bliss Communications has updated her popular workshop for 2025, providing actionable techniques that attorneys can implement immediately, including tips for virtual presentations, panel discussions, networking events, business meetings and speaking engagements. Join colleagues on Dec. 30 at 3 p.m. CST for this can't-miss webcast replay.