Memphis faces a surge of gun thefts from cars, with more than 2,100 stolen in 2023, an increase of 641% during the past decade, the Daily Memphian reports. By contrast, in 2011, 287 guns were stolen from cars in Memphis. The increase follows passage of Tennessee's 2014 "guns in cars" law, which allows gun owners to store firearms in their cars if the weapons are properly secured. The law does not impose penalties for non-compliance and does not require owners to report thefts. In addition to the guns in cars law, Tennessee allows gun owners to carry openly in public without a permit. Gun safety advocates tell the paper that repealing permitless carry would have an “overnight” effect on gun thefts from cars. State Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, an original sponsor of the guns in cars law, says gun owners need to properly secure their guns.

Middle Tennessee residents are joining environmental groups in calling for stronger state protections for the Duck River, one of the most biodiverse freshwater rivers in North America, Tennessee Lookout reports. The Southern Environmental Law Center is representing the Tennessee Wildlife Federation in an appeal against several state permits including one that would allow Columbia Power and Water Systems to develop a second water withdrawal site without additional restrictions during low water flows. Opponents of the permits argue that two factors — drought and utility companies’ plans to withdraw millions more gallons of water from the river to keep up with development and growth — are putting the river and the species that call it home in peril. The Duck River Conservancy, a preservation advocacy group, is advocating for a comprehensive water conservation and drought management plan for the region.

Despite the blockbuster job market for new law graduates in 2023, racial and ethnicity disparities in employment rates remained, according to recent data released by the National Association for Law Placement. Disparities were seen in legal jobs that require bar admission with 84% of those going to white graduates, as well as all legal jobs with 94% of those going to white law graduates, Reuters reports. Even as gaps narrowed for most minority groups, the employment disparity between white and Latino law graduates increased from last year. Those disparities are widest when looking at legal jobs that require bar admission. The new figures came amid an unusually robust job market for 2023 law graduates. Overall 92.6% of them landed jobs within 10 months of graduation — up half a percentage point from 2022.

The TBA and Tennessee Urban Forestry Council will provide an upcoming CLE opportunity on trees and the law. The half-day program is focused on urban forestry and legal issues affecting municipal governance and sustainability. Topics include utilities and trees in city planting strips, how municipalities can address liability for hazardous trees, an assessment of tree canopy ordinances, relevant legislative updates and more. Learn more and register here.

The TBA Environmental Law Forum will take place Nov. 15 in the Nashville office of Butler Snow. This staple for Tennessee environmental lawyers features government, in-house and private practice attorneys discussing timely topics affecting the practice area. Sessions at this year’s event include endangered species litigation, underground storage tanks, drinking water, Chevron, ethics and more. Do not miss this opportunity to earn CLE while networking with colleagues from across the state. Register now.

The U.S. Supreme Court last week denied an emergency injunction filed by more than two dozen Republican-led states, utilities and others seeking to block new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations on power plants burning fossil fuels. Opponents argued the EPA restrictions would force the closure of some plants and create power grid instability. The appeals court in the D.C. Circuit previously found the plaintiffs were unlikely to succeed on the merits of their case, and an emergency injunction was unnecessary because compliance deadlines do not begin until 2030. The D.C. court also found the plan did not trigger the “major questions” doctrine mandating agencies seeking changes of major national significance to have clear congressional authorization. Justice Clarence Thomas said he would have granted the stay, while Justices Brett M. Kavanaugh and Neil M. Gorsuch said the applicants have shown a “strong likelihood of success on the merits to at least some of their challenges,” however they voted to deny the stay because the applicants do not need to start compliance work until June of next year. The initiative is one of the Biden administration’s most significant actions to combat global warming. The Washington Post has more.

The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals (COA) recently issued a temporary stay to permits associated with a natural gas pipeline that would run through Dickson, Houston and Stewart Counties, ABC News reports. The project is proposed by the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, a subsidiary of energy infrastructure giant Kinder Morgan. It is part of a larger effort by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to shut down its current Cumberland City coal-powered plant to replace it with a natural gas combustion plant. TVA is facing similar challenges in East Tennessee regarding its Kingston gas plant. COA judges put the project on hold while the court considers the merits of challenges brought by opponents.

The Tennessee Justice Bus will make stops in several locations over the next 10 days as Celebrate Pro Bono Month comes to a close. On Thursday, the bus will be in Dekalb County at the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency in Smithville from 9-11 a.m. CDT for a general legal advice clinic. Later that day, the bus will offer resources at Urban Housing Solutions’ Journeys of Hope meeting in Nashville from 6-7 p.m. On Friday, the bus will be at the Urban Housing Solutions Resource Fair at the Eastwood Court Apartments from 4-6 p.m. in Nashville. On Oct. 29, the bus will be in West Tennessee to participate in an expungement clinic in Decaturville from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Get details at the links above.

The TBA’s 36th Annual Health Law Forum took place in the Nashville area last week. Close to 300 attendees heard updates on digital health, cybersecurity, regulatory fraud and abuse and using AI in a health care context. Speakers also provided legislative, case review and ethics updates. The keynote address was delivered by David Higginson, executive vice president of Phoenix Children's Hospital. Section Chair Ian Hennessey, general counsel for Alliance for Multispecialty Research in Knoxville, produced and moderated the two-day event. At the section’s annual meeting and luncheon on Friday, he passed the Section Cup to incoming chair Imad Abdullah, senior vice president and chief legal officer with Regional One Health in Memphis. Members of the section also voted on leadership for the 2024–2025 bar year at the luncheon. Thanks to all who helped plan or speak at the event, which remains the TBA’s highest attended in-person CLE program.

The Tennessee Supreme Court and the Access to Justice Commission has released its 2024 Attorney for Justice list. The honor is given to those in the legal field who reported at least 50 hours of pro bono services helping citizens in Tennessee in 2024. Thank you to all on this list for helping to improve the lives of your fellow Tennesseans. Click here to view the list.