The American Bar Association's (ABA) Affirmative Action Resources page focuses on information and materials related to affirmative action in the context of recent legal and policy developments, especially following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College. The page is part of the ABA's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Center's effort to support meaningful discussion and equitable inclusion within the legal profession and beyond.

The TBA Mentoring Committee, in collaboration with the TBA Young Lawyers Division, held a special event — "Developing Lawyers, Developing Leaders: A CLE on Mentorship and Professional Excellence" — last week at Belmont University College of Law. Marshall County General Sessions Court Judge Lee Bussart; University of Tennessee Winston College of Law professor Joan Heminway; Amy Schmisseur, chair of Belmont University's Department of Communication Studies; Sean Aiello of Schell & Oglesby; Billy Leslie of Wilson Elser; and Toyin Edogun of Bass Berry & Sims explored topics of mentorship, leadership and communication across one's legal career. The day of learning was followed by a networking event and the opportunity for participants to mix mocktails together. Mentorship Committee Chair Ross Smith and Vice Chair Alix Rogers organized the event as a kick-off to the TBA's new approach to mentoring. Throughout 2026, the committee will be promoting monthly "mentoring meet-ups" in the hopes that relationships will form organically through participation in activities, rather than the previous approach of assigning mentors. See the committee's updated website page for a list of upcoming mentoring meet-ups as well as helpful resources for mentoring. Those interested in joining the Mentoring Committee to help plan meet-ups should email llabenberg@tnbar.org. See photos from the Jan. 30 event.

The TBA Mentoring Committee has launched Mentoring Meet-Ups, a monthly series of informal gatherings designed to help mentoring relationships grow naturally across the profession. Each month, the committee will offer an opportunity where attorneys at every stage of practice and law students are invited to connect, visit and build relationships in a relaxed setting. The goal is simple: TBA creates the space where relationships can develop on their own. Whether you are attending a collaborative happy hour, volunteering at a legal clinic, cheering on a local team, taking a hike or participating in a TBA program or CLE, these monthly touchpoints will encourage organic mentorship, peer support and a stronger sense of community within the Tennessee bar. Visit the TBA website for more information coming soon.

RITZ, Circuit Judge. A grand jury indicted Chad Christopher Taylor for being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). Taylor moved to dismiss the indictment on Second Amendment grounds, but the district court denied the motion. Taylor pled guilty and now appeals the district court’s denial of his motion to dismiss, claiming that § 922(g)(1) is unconstitutional as applied to him. Because Taylor has not demonstrated that he is not dangerous, we affirm.

SUTTON, Chief Judge. Michigan charged Carmello Anthony Rolon, then eighteen years old, with a state-law felony. Rolon pleaded guilty and the court, instead of entering a judgment, placed him in a Michigan diversion program for youthful offenders that left the original charge in place while permitting the court to enter a judgment of conviction at any time if Rolon failed to satisfy the requirements of the program. Rolon committed a federal gun crime while still in the diversion program. In sentencing him, the district court increased his offense level because he was still “under indictment” due to his pending status as a participant in the Michigan diversion program. We agree and affirm.

Defendant, Christian Sanderson, pled guilty in two separate cases to four counts of attempted aggravated sexual battery. As part of the negotiated agreement, Defendant agreed to a five- to six-year sentence of incarceration on each count, with the trial court to determine whether to impose consecutive sentences. The trial court ordered Defendant to serve four consecutive six-year sentences, for an effective sentence of twenty-four years. On appeal, Defendant argues that the trial court abused its discretion by ordering complete consecutive sentencing. Following a review of the entire record, the briefs and arguments of the parties, and the applicable law, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

The Defendant, Kenyon Demario Reynolds, appeals from the judgment of the Knox County Criminal Court denying his motion to correct an illegal sentence. The Defendant argues that the trial court erred by summarily ordering a corrected judgment instead of holding a new sentencing hearing to resentence him to a legal sentence. Because the Defendant fails to state a colorable claim for Rule 36.1 relief, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Lawrence Darrell Patton, Defendant, claims that the trial court erred by ordering him to serve the balance of his sentence in confinement following the revocation of his probation. Defendant also claims that the trial court erred in partially denying his Rule 36 motion seeking pretrial jail credits. Following a thorough review of the record and applicable law, we affirm the revocation of Defendant’s probation and the trial court’s award of pretrial jail credits. We reverse the trial court’s judgment requiring Defendant to serve the balance of his sentence in confinement and remand for a new sentencing hearing.

The Petitioner, Guy A. Cobb, appeals the McMinn County Criminal Court’s denial of his post-conviction petition, seeking relief from his guilty plea to possession of fentanyl with intent to sell or deliver and the resulting three-year sentence. On appeal, he claims that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel. Based on our review, we affirm the post- conviction court’s denial of the petition.

January 19, 2026 - January 23, 2026.