Mother and Stepfather sought to terminate Father’s parental rights to two minor children, alleging abandonment by failure to conduct more than token visitation. The trial court determined that the regular video-call visitation exercised by Father was not token, but that to the extent that the visitation could be considered token, Mother’s interference prevented a finding that such abandonment was willful. Father’s rights were not terminated. Discerning no reversible error, we affirm.

This action involves the termination of a father’s parental rights to his minor child. Following a bench trial, the court found that clear and convincing evidence existed to establish several statutory grounds of termination as applied to the father. The court also found that termination was in the child’s best interest. We now affirm.

In this compensation appeal, the employee questions the trial court’s order granting the employer’s motion for summary judgment based on its finding that the employee did not file her petition for benefit determination within the applicable statute of limitations. In response to the employer’s dispositive motion, the employee asserted that a prior head injury left her incapacitated and unable to timely pursue this claim. She further alleged the employer had paid for medical treatment related to this claim after the date it identified as the last voluntary payment. Following a hearing, the court concluded the employer had negated an essential element of the employee’s claim, and the employee had presented insufficient evidence to create a genuine issue of material fact regarding the expiration of the statute of limitations. As a result, it dismissed the employee’s petition with prejudice, and the employee has appealed. Having carefully reviewed the record, we affirm the trial court’s decision and certify it as final.

The Nashville Bar Association (NBA) named Sherie Edwards as its 2026 president at its Annual Meeting last week. Edwards, a former TBA president, received her law degree from Nashville School of Law in 1996, and completed her MBA at Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Business in 2012. She retired as vice president of corporate and legal at SVMIC in 2024 after 25 years with the company and plans to launch a mediation practice in early 2026. Edwards also is a board member at the Tennessee Justice Center, a member of the National Conference of Bar Presidents Executive Council, president-elect of the Harry Phillips Inn of Court, and a delegate to the ABA House of Delegates. Other new officers announced were 1st Vice President Ben Raybin, 2nd Vice President Judge Ana Escobar, President-elect Beau Creson, 1st Vice President-elect Cherrelle Hooper, 2nd Vice President-elect Josh Burgener, Secretary Victoria Gentry, Treasurer Billy Leslie, YLD President Ryan Loufbourrow, General Counsel Lela M. Hollabaugh, and new board members Jason Gichner, Callie Hinson, Jae Lim, Bart Pickett, Tabitha Robinson and Princess Rogers. The NBA also presented the John C. Tune Public Service Award to Rebecca Lyford. The award recognizes members who make outstanding contributions to the greater Nashville area community while distinguishing themselves as practicing attorneys. Read more in a press release.

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments met in Jackson on Dec. 10 to select nominees for an upcoming vacancy on the Court of Appeals Western Section, which will occur with the retirement of Judge Kenny Armstrong on Feb. 9, 2026. After holding a public hearing and conducting interviews, the council selected three nominees to forward to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration. They are: Eileen Kuo, Steven Wayne Maroney and Gadson William Perry. View the nominees’ applications on the Administrative Office of the Courts website.

Blount County Juvenile Court recently announced the appointment of Richard H. Robinson as magistrate judge for Blount County. The oath of office was administered by General Sessions Court Judge Kenlyn Foster. Robinson previously served as as a special master for Knox County's 4th Circuit Court. He is a 2005 graduate of the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law. “We are pleased to welcome Magistrate Judge Robinson to Blount County Juvenile Court,” said Foster. “He brings vast legal knowledge and experience to his new role, and more important, he is a genuinely kind person who shows great compassion for the children and families who appear before him.” Read more in a press release from the court. See photos from the swearing in ceremony.

Curated for general, solo and small firm attorneys, the TBA's year-end 15-hour CLE package includes a mix of popular ethics, law practice management and hot topics programming. Check out the specific courses included on the TBA CLE website. Looking for something else? TBA also has six, eight, 10, 12 and 15-hour packages based on specific topics or practice areas, live webcasts and on-demand video all month long. Explore all the Year End options to complete your CLE requirement by Dec. 31.

Join the TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) for the next installment of The Rookie Series with "Family Law: Trends and Challenges" on March 5 at noon CST. The one-hour webcast program will provide an overview of family law, covering key areas such as marriage, divorce, child custody and support, and property division. Participants will learn about the legal principles that govern family relationships and the role of the courts in resolving disputes. The session will include practical examples and a brief discussion of current trends and challenges in family law practice. For more information and to register visit the TBA CLE website.

Newly elected U.S. Rep. Matt Van Epps was sworn into office, roughly 36 hours after he won a special election for the District 7 seat according to the Nashville Banner. In a speech on the House floor, Van Epps reiterated his allegiance to President Donald Trump and his policies. Read more from the paper.

JANE B. STRANCH, Circuit Judge. Milder Escobar-Temal is a citizen of Guatemala who came to America unlawfully over a decade ago and resides in Nashville, Tennessee. In October 2022, police found three firearms in Escobar-Temal’s residence, and he was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(5)(A), which prohibits unlawfully present individuals from possessing firearms. Escobar-Temal now appeals his conviction, arguing that § 922(g)(5)(A) is unconstitutional facially and as applied to him. For the following reasons, we AFFIRM.