Because the order from which the appellant has filed an appeal does not constitute a final appealable judgment, this Court lacks jurisdiction to consider this appeal.

In this appeal, an employee of the Madison County Sheriff’s Department challenges the termination of her employment on the ground that she lacked a required certification to serve as a police officer after a psychological examiner deemed her not qualified to hold her position. The local civil service board initially upheld the termination, but that decision was vacated by the trial court, and the matter remanded. On remand, the local civil service board disapproved of the termination and reinstated the officer. The matter was appealed once again to the trial court, where a different judge held that the board’s decision was based on improper procedure, unsupported by substantial and material evidence, and arbitrary and capricious. We reverse the decision of the trial court and reinstate the decision of the local civil service board.

March 16, 2026 - March 20, 2026.

Nashville attorney Lawrence Richard "Larry" Ahern III died March 18 at age 79. He received his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1972. He went on to practice at several firms, including Miller & Martin, Bass, Berry & Sims, and Burr & Forman. Later in his career, he served as a consultant and expert witness on bankruptcy, commercial and real estate matters before taking retired partner status in 2023 at Brown & Ahern, the firm he cofounded. Ahern was a longtime member of the TBA’s Bankruptcy Section Executive Council and served as an adjunct professor at multiple law schools. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date with arrangements by Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home.

Each year, the Chattanooga Bar Association (CBA) honors an outstanding citizen in the Chattanooga area with the Liberty Bell Award for public service. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2026 award, which will be presented at the group's annual Law Day Luncheon on May 6 from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT at St. John's Restaurant. Nominations must be received by April 3 and may be sent to CBA Executive Director Lynda Minks Hood by mail at The Pioneer Building, Suite 420, 801 Broad St., Chattanooga, TN 37402, by fax at 423-265-6602 or online using this form. More information on the nomination process is available at Chattanoogan.com. Learn more about the Law Day event on the CBA's website.

Nashville attorney and former Metro Nashville Public Defender (PD) Dawn Deaner has announced her candidacy for Division III Criminal Court judge. Deaner, who has nearly 30 years of experience in Nashville’s criminal courts, said she is running to bring “experience, perspective, and humanity” to the bench. She served as public defender from 2008 to 2018, where she led reforms such as implementing workload controls, launching a Court Watch program and advancing pretrial release efforts. Prior to that role, she worked for more than a decade as an assistant public defender. Deaner also founded the Choosing Justice Initiative, a nonprofit focused on expanding access to justice, and has been involved in efforts such as the Nashville Community Bail Fund and the Steering Clear Driver’s License Diversion Program. Read more in a press release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman of the Western District of Tennessee ruled last week that she will not split the civil case stemming from Tyré Nichols’ death into two trials, the Commercial Appeal reports. Lipman said separating the claims could prejudice the City of Memphis because ongoing stays in related criminal cases have limited discovery involving the individual officers. Attorneys for Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, had sought to bifurcate the case in an effort to speed it to trial, arguing it could otherwise be delayed until 2028 or 2029 due to stays on the criminally charged officers. City attorneys opposed the request, saying it would hinder their ability to defend against liability claims. Lipman denied the motion but granted a request from Wells’ attorneys to hold a status conference within a week of the ruling, which was set for today.

The TBA Animal Law Forum 2026 will take place Oct. 9 at the Nashville Zoo. This annual favorite provides updates on trends and advancements in animal law and related practice areas. Participants can meet with other animal lovers and enjoy the fun the zoo offers. Zoo admission, breakfast, lunch and an animal meet and greet are included with the program. Topics and more information coming soon. Do not miss this event, you never know who is going to show up! Register now.

Thank you for your continued support of the Entertainment & Sports Law Section. It has been a busy year, led by Section Chair Anthony Adewumi. The section's annual forum will be held in the fall this year, so keep an eye out for information to be announced over the summer. You will not want to miss this yearly favorite, especially since section members receive a discount on all section-sponsored CLE!

In the meantime, you do not have to wait to connect with colleagues. The section directory is a great resource for meeting other entertainment attorneys or for referrals. We hope to see you at the annual forum, and if you have thoughts or ideas about future section initiatives, please do not hesitate to reach out to TBA staff coordinator Jamie Rhode.

On March 30, Vanderbilt Law School will host its third annual Vanderbilt Music Law Summit. This year’s summit will bring together a stellar lineup of experts from industry, academia, government and more to discuss the legal music landscape. The keynote interview features Mitch Glazier, chair and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America, who will interview Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office John Squires. The full schedule and registration information is available on the law school's website.