The four officers who faced federal charges in the death of Tyre Nichols last month now have a trial date for the state criminal case, the Commercial Appeal reports. The state case against Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith Jr. will begin April 28, 2025. Before then a number of motions will need to be worked out. One of those motions, which would sever the defendants and allow them to be tried individually, will be heard Nov. 25. The federal case, which charged the officers with civil rights violations, ended in early October.

A Virginia-based nonprofit has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the racial requirements for appointments to key medical boards in Tennessee. The lawsuit, filed earlier this month by Do No Harm, targets the state's Board of Medical Examiners and Board of Chiropractic Examiners. The medical examiners board mandates that the governor appoint at least one Black member, while the chiropractic board requires at least one racial minority member. Do No Harm and attorneys from the Pacific Legal Foundation argue that individuals have been denied appointments because they were not from a minority group. The lawsuit names Gov. Bill Lee as the defendant, citing his role in overseeing state board appointments. The Hamilton County Herald reports on the issue.

Immigration is poised to be a key issue in Tennessee’s legislature this year, with several bills already proposed ahead of the upcoming session. State Rep. Todd Warner, R-Chapel Hill, has proposed a bill that would require law enforcement to transport undocumented individuals to “sanctuary cities,” which offer protections to undocumented immigrants. Another bill, introduced by Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, would direct the state to redesign drivers licenses, permits and other state-issued IDs to clearly distinguish between U.S. citizens and noncitizens. The Nashville Banner reports on both proposals.

Two Memphis advocacy groups have filed an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit against a bail law that passed during last year's legislative session. The suit, filed earlier this year by the ACLU of Tennessee and Memphis advocacy group Just City, alleges that the law — which prevents judges from considering an individual's financial condition when setting bail — violates the constitution. Stand for Children Tennessee and the Official Black Lives Matter Memphis Chapter filed the brief on last week, according to the Commercial Appeal. The state law reportedly was designed to target Shelby County's standing bail order, which was established in 2022 after several organizations threatened to sue for unconstitutional bail practice.

The TBA’s Criminal Justice Section will present the 2024 Criminal Law Forum virtually on Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 1:15 p.m EST. This year's forum will focus on how attorneys can ethically and effectively manage media relations in high-profile cases. Through real-world scenarios, sessions will address the balance between protecting a client’s legal interests and shaping the public narrative. Attorneys will learn to avoid common pitfalls, comply with ethical obligations, and use communication strategies to safeguard both legal outcomes and a client's reputation. For more information and to register for the program visit TBA’s website. Criminal Justice Section members receive a discounted rate. Not a section member? Join here.

TBA Young Lawyer Division (YLD) Middle Tennessee Governor Alix Rogers has been appointed by Gov. Bill Lee to the Tennessee Board of Appeals. The appeals board handles discipline or termination matters involving state employees. Alix is an active member of the YLD and also serves as a Tennessee young lawyer delegate to the American Bar Association. She is the director of career and professional development for Belmont College of Law.

The new Columbia law firm of DuBois Bridenbaugh Lindberg will hold a ribbon cutting and open house on Nov. 18. The ribbon cutting will run from 2-2:30 p.m. CST followed by the open house from 2:30-5 p.m. The firm is located at 1020 S. Garden St., Columbia 38401. Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be served. View the invitation. The firm, which can be reached at 931-380-8820 or info@dbltnlaw.com, will be led by shareholders J. Thomas DuBois, Jerry A. Bridenbaugh and Byron Lindberg. They will focus on business, estate planning, intellectual property, personal injury and real estate matters. Lindberg also will head the firm’s mediation clinic.

Collierville Municipal Court Judge Lee Ann Pafford Dobson today ruled that a case involving the shooting death of a Collierville orthopedic doctor will proceed to a grand jury after finding probable cause the defendant committed the crime. The Daily Memphian reports that Larry Pickens is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault of Dr. Benjamin Mauck in July 2023. If the grand jury indicts Pickens, the case will then go to the Shelby County Criminal Court for trial. A new state law named after Mauck mandates a minimum sentence of 30 days in jail and a $5,000 fine for misdemeanor assaults within health care facilities. An older law states officers cannot make arrests for misdemeanor assaults unless they witness the incident and must issue a warrant instead. The conflict between the two laws is raising questions about how to resolve differences.

Tennessee's 114th General Assembly will convene on Jan. 14, 2025, and TBA’s Government Affairs team is committed to affecting positive change on behalf of Tennessee attorneys. The best way for TBA members to connect with these efforts is through our Grassroots Advocacy Initiative, a network of engaged lawyers, interested in and informed about issues relevant to the practice of law in our state. Please complete this form if you are interested in learning more about TBA's grassroots efforts, including opportunities to advocate, like TBA's 2025 Day on the Hill and Big Shrimp Legislative Reception. Both events will be held March 19, 2025 in Nashville, providing an opportunity to meet with legislators and talk to them about issues important to the profession. Increased resources for indigent representation remains a priority for TBA. Look for another article in our Indigent Representation Primer in Friday's TBA Today.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) has selected members for the 2025 Diversity Leadership Institute (DLI) class. This year's invited participants represent law school students from across the state. Congratulations to Samantha McCrory and Mary Martha Willson from Belmont University College of Law; Rebekah Ballard, Shana Singleton and Sharon Strahan from Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law; Ilse Bloss from Nashville School of Law; Divine Dent from University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law; and Shery Girgis and Fady Megaly from Vanderbilt University Law School. The class will have its first meeting in January. Read more about the program and how to get involved as a mentor or speaker.