The Defendant, Victor Curtell Scruggs, was indicted by a Davidson County Grand Jury for the attempted first degree murder of his wife, the victim in this case. Pursuant to a plea agreement, the Defendant entered a guilty plea to attempted second degree murder, with the length and manner of service to be determined by the trial court. Following a hearing, the trial court imposed a sentence of eleven years to be served in the Tennessee Department of Correction. In this appeal, the Defendant argues the trial court abused its discretion in imposing sentence and in ordering confinement. Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

The Defendant, Christian Deshawn Hyde, appeals the Robertson County Circuit Court’s order revoking his probation and requiring him to serve the original three-year sentence for his aggravated assault conviction in confinement. The Defendant contends the trial court abused its discretion in fully revoking his probation and ordering him to serve his sentence in confinement and in failing to consider any other alternative to incarceration. After review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

The petitioner, Daversea Armen Fitts, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, arguing the post-conviction court erred in finding he received the effective assistance of counsel. Following our review of the record and the applicable law, we conclude that the amended post-conviction petition was not properly before the post-conviction court; however, the court retained jurisdiction over the original pro se petition. Additionally, we affirm the post-conviction court’s determination that the petitioner failed to meet the burden required of him and is not entitled to relief.

The Defendant, Antonio First, was convicted by a Shelby County jury of two counts of felony murder and one count each of aggravated child abuse and aggravated child neglect, for which he received an effective sentence of life plus forty years’ incarceration to be served as a Range II, multiple offender. On appeal, the Defendant claims that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction and that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress his statements to law enforcement. Because we conclude that both the Defendant’s motion for new trial and notice of appeal were untimely filed and that the interests of justice do not merit the waiver of the untimeliness of the Defendant’s notice of appeal, we dismiss the appeal.

Husband appeals the trial court’s judgment in his divorce action on the sole issue of whether the trial judge should have recused himself because the judge’s comments and conduct at the trial establish that his impartiality might reasonably be questioned. Applying the objective standard, we find no basis for the trial judge’s recusal and affirm the decision of the trial court.

In this compensation appeal, the employee questions the trial court’s denial of his request for extraordinary benefits. The employee suffered a compensable knee injury, and the parties settled the employee’s claim based on his impairment rating and with the employee retaining his right to future medical treatment for the injury. At the end of his initial compensation period, the employee filed a petition for benefit determination seeking additional permanent disability benefits. After the compensation hearing, but before the court had issued its compensation order, the employee filed a post-hearing motion to supplement the record, to which the employer filed an objection and motion to strike. The trial court issued a compensation order in which it granted the employer’s motion to strike the employee’s motion to supplement, awarded increased benefits, and denied the employee’s request for extraordinary benefits. The employee has appealed. Having carefully reviewed the record, we affirm the trial court’s decision and certify it as final.

Enrollment is now open for the Tennessee Bar Association’s BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee group health insurance plan, available exclusively to TBA members. The plan offers guaranteed issue coverage with no health questions or pre-existing condition exclusions and may deliver savings compared to your current health plan. Don’t wait! Enroll today and give your firm the benefits it deserves. Watch this Q&A with Buck Orrison with TBA Member Insurance Solutions to get answers to your questions about coverage in the coming year. Not part of a group? TBA also offers a dedicated health plan for solo attorneys.

New lawyers recently were welcomed to the legal profession at swearing in ceremonies in Knoxville, Nashville, Jackson and Memphis. Representatives from the TBA and local bar associations were on hand to congratulate the new admittees. See photos from the events.

The Trump administration on Friday asked an appeals court to immediately block an order requiring full November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to be paid to states by the end of the day. According to The Hill, the emergency request to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals calls the lower court’s order “unprecedented.” On Thursday, U.S. District Judge John McConnell ruled the administration’s plan to provide partial SNAP benefits for November during the shutdown was insufficient and that it was obligated to use other funds to issue full payments. “Courts are charged with enforcing the law, but the law is explicit that SNAP benefits are subject to available appropriations,” the Justice Department’s new filing reads.

A national group that seeks to end affirmative action is threatening to sue Knox County. According to Knox News, the American Alliance for Equal Rights emailed each member of the county commission on Nov. 4 saying the county’s “supplier-diversity program” violates the U.S. Constitution. The county program helps develop small businesses and minority, women-owned and disadvantaged businesses. The alliance cited contract language encouraging vendors to include minority-owned businesses and argued such provisions amount to “race- and sex-based preferences.” County officials note the program’s language is largely drawn from federal policies established under Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. The group's founder Edward Blum, who also founded Students for Fair Admissions, has previously led successful legal challenges to race-based programs.