The Bradley County Juvenile Court reported Friday that local rehabilitation efforts are producing strong outcomes, with data showing exceptionally low rates of youth transitioning into the adult criminal justice system. According to Chattanoogan.com, court officials said a review of 2024 and 2025 cases found only 11 individuals — about 1% of the court’s typical annual caseload of 500 to 600 youth — appeared before the juvenile court and later were convicted as adults. Four additional cases are pending. The court also cited Department of Children’s Services (DCS) data showing minimal state-level involvement, with just one youth committed to the state judicial diversion program and six on state probation. The juvenile court emphasized that improvements have come as it has focused on local solutions and collaboration with DCS to support families and prevent children from entering state custody.

The criminal records of former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his former chief of staff Cade Cothren have been wiped clean after a federal judge vacated their convictions. The Tennessean reports that U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson issued the two-page ruling on Feb. 5. In November, President Donald Trump pardoned both men of corruption convictions related to a scheme to defrauded taxpayers through a state-funded legislative mailer program. Former Rep. Robin Smith, R-Hixson, who plead guilty in the case, was not pardoned, but her sentence was reduced in January from eight months in prison to one year of probation.

Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts will host its "Legal Clinic for the Arts" from 6-8 p.m. CST Feb. 24 after the event was postponed due to the recent winter storm. The clinic will take place at Belmont University College of Law’s Randall and Sadie Baskin Center, 1901 15th Ave. S., in Nashville. It will provide one-on-one legal consultations for income-qualified Tennessee artists, emerging arts nonprofits and creative businesses, focusing on arts-related issues. Participants can register for a 30-minute, in-person private session and will be contacted to confirm appointment details. The Arts + Business Council of Greater Nashville has more information and registration details. Lawyers interested in getting involved should email vlpa@abcnashville.org.

Gov. Bill Lee announced Friday that President Donald Trump approved his request for a major disaster declaration in Middle and West Tennessee counties following Winter Storm Fern. The declaration makes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) public assistance available to eligible government entities and certain nonprofit organizations in 15 counties (Cheatham, Chester, Clay, Davidson, Hardin, Henderson, Hickman, Lewis, Macon, McNairy, Perry, Sumner, Trousdale, Wayne, and Williamson) to support response and recovery efforts. This is in addition to eight counties (Decatur, Dickson, Hardeman, Lawrence, Maury, Robertson, Rutherford, and Wilson) earlier approved for the same assistance. “As Tennesseans begin the recovery process following Winter Storm Fern, I’m grateful to President Trump for granting our major disaster declaration request,” Lee said in a press release.

The TBA’s Legislative Updates podcast is back with TBA attorneys and lobbyists Berkley Schwarz with Pier Strategies LLC and Brad Lampley and Ashley Harbin with Adams & Reese. This week they discussed Gov. Lee's State of the State address, adoption legislation (SB2165/HB2350), probate legislation (SB2184/HB2451) and a family law bill (SB2324/HB2429). Tune in to the podcast on the TBA website or through this link.

The 2026 Estate Planning & Probate Forum will take place at the Marriott Cool Springs in Franklin on March 6. This event provides seven hours of CLE, including one hour of dual credit, and offers sessions on litigation and estate planning, public receivership, a probate panel and a legislative update. Speakers include Section Chair Robert Malin, Rebecca Blair, Chancellor William Cole, Arthur Cook, Jennifer Exum, Donald Farinato, General Sessions Court Judge Toby Gilley, Zachary Glaser, Lisa Helton, Robin Miller, David Parsons, Al Secor, Andrea Sinclair, Jared Smith and Ashley Stearns. Section members receive discounted registration. Get more information and register on the TBA's website.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division has announced the opening of the 2026-2027 leadership appointment and election filing process. Those interested in an appointed position on the division's board should review available positions and complete the online application by Feb. 15, 2026. For positions subject to election, petitions should be filed with YLD Secretary Zack Walden no later than Feb. 15, 2026. Candidates for vice president, secretary, treasurer, East Tennessee governor, Middle Tennessee governor and West Tennessee governor must submit a written petition with 25 or more signatures from TBA members in good standing. During this election cycle, the vice president must reside in the Eastern Grand Division of Tennessee. Candidates for district representatives in even-numbered districts (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14) require a self-nominating petition (no additional signatures are not required). For more information or to download the appropriate petition visit the YLD Election Guidelines webpage. Elections for contested races will take place between Feb. 23 and March 8, 2026, by electronic voting. The YLD is committed to being the "service arm of the bar" by providing pro bono clinics throughout the state, sponsoring the Tennessee State High School Mock Trial Competition for high school students and the Diversity Leadership Institute and Rural Judicial Fellowship programs for law students. It also is dedicated to serving the professional needs of young lawyers through the development of CLEs, special initiatives and networking opportunities. The TBA YLD is comprised of lawyers in their first 10 years of practice or under 36 years of age, whichever occurs later.

A court-appointed receivership over Uncle Nearest was imposed in August 2025 after lender Farm Credit Mid-America sued the company for defaulting on roughly $110 million in loans. The suit prompted a federal judge to install Phillip Young, a partner in the Nashville-based Thompson Burton law firm, as receiver to protect secured assets. According to the Tennessean, Young’s latest filing alleges severe financial misconduct and mismanagement — including erased records, overstated revenues, unfiled federal tax returns and extensive commingling of assets — conditions that could expose the company to numerous creditor and shareholder lawsuits if the receivership ends. Fawn and Keith Weaver, who own Uncle Nearest, dispute the findings, argue the company is still solvent, and are asking the court to end the receivership while opposing any expansion into related businesses. At a Feb. 9 federal hearing, the court will weigh both the legitimacy of the existing receivership and whether the receiver should gain access to financial records from seven additional Weaver-owned entities.

Defendant, Ashley Dawn Boyce, appeals from the Maury County Circuit Court’s denial of her motion to suppress evidence following her guilty plea to driving under the influence. Defendant reserved a certified question of law pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 37(b)(2)(A). Upon review of the entire record and the briefs of the parties, we conclude that this Court lacks jurisdiction to consider the appeal because the appellate record does not contain a copy of the judgment of conviction. Accordingly, we dismiss this appeal.

Halbert Grant Law, Jr. (“Husband”) and Barbara Matthews Law (“Wife”) divorced in 2020, and Husband appealed the ruling to this Court. In the first appeal, we determined that the trial court erred in classifying several significant assets and remanded the case back to the trial court. Following a hearing on remand, the trial court re-divided the marital estate and awarded Wife both alimony in futuro and alimony in solido. Husband appeals. Discerning no error, we affirm.