Tennessee State House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, and Caucus Chair Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, are unopposed in their bids for reelection to their leadership positions in the House, the Tennessee Journal reports. One race will see a contested election: Rep. Jody Barrett, R-Dickson, is challenging Rep. Paul Sherrell, R-Sparta, for floor leader. House Democrats, by contrast, saw contested elections in two key leadership races. House Minority Leader Karen Camper faced a challenge from fellow Memphian Rep. G.A. Hardaway, while Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, faced a challenge from Rep. Justin J. Pearson, D-Memphis, for caucus chair. Both incumbents were reelected. In the Senate, Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, was reelected while Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, and Caucus Chair Ken Yager, R-Kingston, were renominated, the Nashville Post reports. Democratic members reelected Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari and Caucus Chair London Lamar, both of Memphis, and Vice Chair Charlane Oliver of Nashville, Chattanoogan.com reports.

The Tennessee Supreme Court temporarily suspended Maury County lawyer Ashlyn Elizabeth Blevins from the practice of law on Nov. 22 after finding that she poses a threat of substantial harm to the public and is substantially non-compliant with a Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program monitoring agreement. The court reports that Blevins failed to complete certain testing and additional treatment as required. Blevins is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases and must cease representing existing clients by Dec. 22. The court also approved a motion from the Board of Professional Responsibility to file an exhibit in the case under seal.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Nov. 22 transferred the law license of Shelby County lawyer Cynthia Jeanne Tobin to disability inactive status. Tobin may not practice law while on inactive status. She may return to the practice of law after reinstatement by the Tennessee Supreme Court by showing that the disability has been removed.

The TBA’s third annual "Raising the Bar" program, hosted by the Women in the Profession Committee, will take place Dec. 4 at Baker Donelson’s Nashville office. This event is open to all attorneys and law firm management professionals. The program will begin with keynote speaker Megan Barry, who will discuss her new book "It's What You Do Next: The Fall and Rise of Nashville's First Female Mayor." The second and third sessions will focus on personal and professional transitions for attorneys, featuring panelists such as Chancellor Anne Martin, former Judge Bernice Donald and Chancellor Ellen Lyle, Casey Duhart, Paul Ney and Kisha Cheeks Rucker. The program will include a session that covers career development, specifically ways to advocate for your professional advancement. The day will wrap up with a one-hour dual credit attorney well being session. Networking opportunities will be available. Don't miss your chance to register for this dynamic program.

The Tennessee Bar Association will be open Monday and Tuesday this week, but closed Wednesday through Friday in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. TBA Today will be published Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Visit the TBA website at any time to access CLE offerings and contact information for individual staff members. The office will reopen Dec. 2 at 8 a.m. CST. Happy Thanksgiving!

TBA’s Entertainment and Sports Law Section will host its annual forum on May 7, 2025, at Belmont College of Law in Nashville. The event, which runs from 1-4:45 p.m. CDT, will feature discussions on the latest legal issues in the entertainment and sports industries. A networking reception will follow from 4:45-6:30 p.m. For more information on the program and to register, visit TBA’s website.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division will be partnering with other Memphis area legal groups for a Wills Clinic for firefighters on Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST. The clinic will be held at the Memphis Fire Headquarters, 2670 Avery Ave., Memphis 38112. Complete this form if you would like to volunteer. View a flyer for the event.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division is continuing its Rookie Series with a live webcast on Feb. 13 at noon CST on the topic of "Combating Burnout Through Mentorship: Supporting the Next Generation of Attorneys." In this course, a panel of experienced young lawyers and judge will discuss the critical role mentorship plays in preventing burnout among young lawyers. Panelists will share their personal experiences on how mentorship has supported their careers and well-being and how they are now paying it forward by guiding the next generation of lawyers. The session is free for all TBA members. CLE credit is available for a nominal fee. Visit the TBA's website for more information and to register.

SUTTON, Chief Judge. Many modern cars, indeed more and more each year, provide automatic alerts when they come too close to another car or an obstacle and will automatically brake to avoid a collision. Some models of Nissan cars, according to the complaint in this case, occasionally activate these alerts at the wrong time, say at a railroad crossing or in a parking garage. A group of car owners sued Nissan for various state-law claims. The district court certified ten statewide classes under Civil Rule 23(b)(3). Because the classes do not meet the material requirements for certification, we vacate and remand for further proceedings.

CHAD A. READLER, Circuit Judge. Gerald Lynn Campbell brandished a pistol and told a group of laborers that he had a bullet for each of them. Following an indictment, Campbell pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. The district court sentenced him to fifteen years’ imprisonment, concluding that Campbell’s prior convictions for robbery and drug offenses triggered the Armed Career Criminal Act’s mandatory minimum. Campbell appealed, challenging his sentence. We affirm.