True crime doesn't just happen in dark alleys and abandoned warehouses. It also happens in conference rooms and courthouses. And when it's lawyers who perpetrate those crimes, they have another problem: ethics issues. Nationally renowned educator Stuart Teicher explores bad barrister behavior and the ethics lessons that lie beneath. Teicher will talk about real missteps committed by actual lawyers, explore why lawyers make bad decisions and the ethics lessons for everyone. Visit the TBA website to register for this one-hour webinar on Feb. 12 beginning at noon CST.

Tennessee was represented at the American Bar Association (ABA) Midyear Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, where YLD delegates participated in both the ABA YLD Assembly and the ABA House of Delegates. During the meeting, delegates voted on and passed a number of resolutions addressing issues impacting the legal profession nationwide. A full list of the resolutions considered is a available here. The ABA YLD Assembly brings together young lawyer delegates from across the country to discuss issues affecting new and young attorneys, set divisional priorities and hear from ABA leadership. The House of Delegates serves as the ABA's primary policy-making body. The ABA YLD and House of Delegates will meet again at the ABA Annual Meeting in early August. Resolutions will be available in advance of the meeting and division members who wish to share feedback or perspectives are encouraged to contact delegates prior to the meeting. ABA YLD leadership applications are currently open. Members interested in serving in national leadership roles are encouraged to visit the ABA YLD website. See photos from the Midyear Meeting.

Lumen Flats, a new apartment complex in Knoxville, is the first in the U.S. designed specifically for youth aging out of foster care. According to Knox News, the apartments provide 18 studio units and access to mental health therapy and case management through a partnership with Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services. The development, created by Nashville-based firm Elmington in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation, allows residents to use Foster Youth to Independence vouchers, which are often difficult to apply in traditional rental settings. In Tennessee, 70-80% of young adults leave foster care without a support system. Residents ages 18 to 24 can live at Lumen Flats for up to three years. Plans are in place to expand the model to Nashville, Memphis and Chattanooga.

The Defendant, Michael Lurry, was charged by the Shelby County Grand Jury in a four- count indictment with first degree premeditated murder, theft of property valued at $60,000 or more but less than $250,000, attempted carjacking, and attempted theft of property valued at $2,500 or more but less than $10,000. The Defendant pled guilty to the attempted theft and theft counts of the indictment, the State nolle prosequied the attempted carjacking count, and the Defendant went to trial on the first degree murder count. Following his jury trial, the Defendant was convicted of the first degree premeditated murder count of the indictment. He was sentenced by the trial court to life imprisonment for the murder conviction, ten years for the theft conviction, and two years for the attempted theft conviction. Finding the Defendant to be an offender with an extensive criminal history, the trial court ordered that the Defendant serve all his sentences consecutively, for an effective sentence of life plus twelve years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, the Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence in support of his first degree premeditated murder conviction and argues that the trial court erred in admitting evidence of a prior domestic abuse incident between the Defendant and the victim, by not allowing the Defendant to introduce the victim’s complete Cellebrite cell phone records, by sentencing the Defendant to the maximum and ordering consecutive sentences, and by admitting expert testimony that was outside the scope of the witness’s expertise and when the Defendant was not put on notice of the witness’s proposed areas of expertise. We affirm the Defendant’s convictions but remand for a new sentencing hearing for the trial court to consider the Defendant’s presentence report in determining whether the sentences should be served consecutively.

The Petitioner, Johnny B. Brooks, appeals the Madison County Circuit Court’s denial of post-conviction relief from his convictions for driving under the influence (“DUI”), eighth offense, driving on a revoked license due to a DUI, and a violation of the open container law. On appeal, the Petitioner argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel. Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Defendant, Richard Daran Angel, was indicted for one count of theft by home improvement in an amount of $10,000 or more but less than $60,000. Before trial, Defendant moved to dismiss the indictment, arguing that the contractor fraud statute, Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-14-154, was unconstitutionally vague, both on its face and as applied to him. After a hearing, the trial court granted Defendant’s motion and entered an order dismissing the indictment. The State appeals, arguing that the trial court erred in determining that the contractor fraud statute was unconstitutionally vague at the pretrial stage because Defendant could not show that the statute was vague as applied to him. After review, we agree with the State and reverse and remand the judgment of the trial court.

Plaintiff brought claims against Knox County and the County Clerk based on allegedly discriminatory employment practices. The trial court determined that Plaintiff committed serious discovery violations and imposed as a sanction the exclusion of certain evidence. With this evidence excluded, the trial court granted summary judgment to the Defendants. Plaintiff appeals, challenging the discovery sanction, the trial court’s conclusion under the Tennessee Human Rights Act that the continuing violation doctrine did not apply, the trial court’s conclusion that the Clerk was not individually liable, and the award of attorney’s fees against the Plaintiff and her attorney. We affirm.

A mother appeals a juvenile court’s order terminating her parental rights to her two children. We affirm the juvenile court’s decision that clear and convincing evidence established the existence of two statutory grounds for termination. Because the juvenile court’s order failed to make sufficient factual findings to support its best interest analysis, we vacate that portion of the court’s decision and remand for entry of an order making sufficient factual findings.

The trial court found a father guilty of nine counts of criminal contempt based on his alleged violation of the trial court’s previous order addressing child support arrearage and the current child support arrangement for the father’s minor child. Because the order appealed from contains no findings on the essential elements of criminal contempt, on what evidence supports the judgment, or on whether the criminal contempt was initiated on proper notice, we vacate and remand to the trial court.

February 2, 2026 - February 6, 2026.