HERMANDORFER, Circuit Judge. After Dominga Sanik Herrera entered the United States unlawfully, an immigration judge ordered her removed to her native country of Guatemala. Herrera later sought to reopen her removal proceedings on the ground that she lacked notice of the original removal hearing. Herrera’s attempt failed after she did not respond to an IJ’s request for more information about her lack-of-notice claim. Nearly a decade later, in 2020, Herrera re-raised her lack-of-notice argument in a second motion to reopen her removal proceedings. The IJ denied her motion as number barred. The Board of Immigration Appeals agreed and dismissed Herrera’s appeal of the IJ’s decision. It also declined to reopen proceedings sua sponte. Because Herrera failed to exhaust her number-bar challenge, we deny her petition in part. And because we lack jurisdiction over the Board’s decision not to reopen sua sponte, we dismiss her petition in part.

The Defendant, William Goldsberry, Jr., appeals the Henderson County Circuit Court’s revocation of his probation. On appeal, the Defendant argues that the trial court erred by denying his motion to dismiss the violation of probation warrant due to a violation of his speedy trial rights and by revoking his probation in full, contending that the evidence was insufficient to establish he committed a non-technical violation. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

This appeal involves allegations of the mishandling of a dead human body by the funeral home and cemetery responsible for its final disposition. The decedent’s mother brought tort and breach of contract claims based on her assertion that the decedent’s body had been cremated rather than buried. The trial court granted summary judgment to both defendants on all claims. The mother appeals. We affirm.

December 8, 2025 - December 12, 2025.

On Dec. 15, the Tennessee Supreme Court responded to a petition for reinstatement from Georgia attorney Meredith Gardial noting that she has outstanding requirements with the Board of Professional Responsibility and the Commission on Continuing Legal Education. If these obligations are not satisfied by Jan. 27, 2026, the court said it would dismiss her petition.

On Dec. 4, the Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated Utah attorney Danielle Cristene Droitsch to inactive status noting that all required reinstatement fees and delinquent annual inactive registration fees have been paid to the Board of Professional Responsibility.

The Tennessee Supreme Court recently took action on two reinstatement petitions. On Dec. 10, the court reinstated Sullivan County lawyer Joseph Salvatore Imburgia, who had been on inactive status since Dec. 10, 2019. On Dec. 9, the court reinstated the law license of Georgia attorney Sarah Elaine Willis, who had been on inactive status since July 23, 2019.

Knox County Chancellor John Weaver directed that documents concerning the state’s execution procedures and recent executions be provided immediately to the legal team of Harold Nichols, who was executed Dec. 11. The October lawsuit from Nichols alleges that the Tennessee Department of Correction has refused to release key records. Nichols’ attorneys cite months of unanswered or denied requests. Weaver heard arguments in November and required all contested documents be submitted by Dec. 3. A future hearing will determine whether the records were withheld willfully, WATE reports.

The American Alliance for Equal Rights filed a federal lawsuit against the Women of Knoxville and its nonprofit community fund, The Women Foundation, claiming the group’s initiative to provide small loans to Black-owned businesses is discriminatory, Knox News reports. The program requires applicants’ businesses to be at least 51% Black-owned. In September, a white woman affiliated with the alliance sued the nonprofits in federal court, arguing the program discriminates by awarding money exclusively to Black-owned businesses. The funds, raised through private fundraising, do not include taxpayer dollars. The Southern Poverty Law Center and the Global Black Economic Forum have joined the lawsuit defending the Knoxville organizations. On Nov. 4, the alliance sent a letter to Knox County commissioners threatening legal action against the county. The nonprofits said the alliance misreads federal law and showed a “willful disregard” for the program’s specifics, adding that private charitable funds are not subject to the review the group seeks.

The Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) held its annual meeting Friday, during which the president’s gavel was passed from Jonathan Cooper to Knoxville attorney Rachel Park Hurt, a member of Arnett, Baker, Draper & Hagood LLP. Hurt earned her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2007. Her practice focuses on insurance defense, health care liability defense and health care regulation. Also during the meeting, new officers were named for 2026. They are: President-elect Ursula Bailey, Treasurer Cathy Shuck, Secretary M. Samantha Parris, and board members Joshua D. Hedrick, Allison Jackson, Matthew Lyon and Shannon van Tol. In addition, Courteney Barnes-Anderson was named president of the Knoxville Barristers. Awards also were presented during the event. Cooper presented his President’s Awards to KBA Professionalism Committee Co-Chairs James Stovall and Chancellor John Weaver, and to KBA Executive Director Tasha Blakney. Reggie E. Keaton received the KBA's highest award, the Governors' Award; Dana C. Holloway received the Courage in the Face of Adversity Award; William D. Vines III received the Don Paine Lawyer Legacy Award; and Robbie Pryor received the KBA’s award for outstanding legal writing. Read more about these recognitions in a news release from the organization.