Defendant, Danny Young, appeals the judgment of the Shelby County Criminal Court revoking his probation and ordering the execution of his original sentence. On appeal, Defendant argues that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to place on the record its reasons for revoking his probation and ordering him to serve his original sentence. After review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

A Madison County jury convicted Defendant, Demarqushon Marquis Hinton, of evading arrest in a motor vehicle with risk of death or injury, two counts of attempted second degree murder, two counts of employing a firearm during the commission of or attempt to commit a dangerous felony, theft of a firearm valued at less than $2,500, reckless driving, failure to obey a traffic control device, and failure to stop at a stop sign. The trial court imposed an effective sentence of twenty-four years to be served in confinement. On appeal, Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his attempted second degree murder and firearm convictions, and he argues that his sentence is excessive. Upon review, we affirm the trial court’s judgments.

The Petitioner, Clay Stuart Gregory, was convicted of aggravated robbery, first-degree felony murder, and premeditated first-degree murder, for which he received an effective sentence of life in prison. State v. Gregory, No. M2012-00546-CCA-R3-CD, 2013 WL 6187919, at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App. Nov. 25, 2013), perm app. denied (Tenn. May 14, 2014). The Petitioner subsequently filed a petition seeking post-conviction relief, which was denied. In this appeal, the Petitioner argues he received ineffective assistance of counsel based on the following nine grounds: (1) trial counsel’s failure to lodge a pretrial objection to a note found in the Petitioner’s truck and the failure of the post-conviction court to permit juror testimony under Rule 606(b) regarding the impact of the same; (2) trial counsel’s failure to object during the State’s closing argument; (3) trial counsel’s failure to prepare for trial; (4) trial counsel’s failure to investigate, call, or cross-examine key witnesses; (5) trial counsel’s failure to request a jury instruction pursuant to State v. Ferguson, 2 S.W.3d 912 (Tenn. 1999); (6) trial counsel’s failure to present a shooting incident reconstruction and a firearms expert; (7) trial counsel’s failure to ensure the Petitioner could hear during trial; (8) trial counsel’s failure to secure the presence of the Petitioner and Jacqueline Peek for a court ordered deposition; and (9) trial counsel providing the jury with a report that contained inflammatory information about the Petitioner. The Petitioner also argues that trial counsel violated an ethical duty of loyalty by simultaneously representing the Petitioner and two potential defense witnesses. Finally, the Petitioner contends that he is entitled to relief based on the cumulative error doctrine.1 Upon review, we affirm.

Petitioner, Shamika Fifer, was indicted on charges of first degree murder (Count 1), attempted first degree murder (Count 2), and employing a firearm during the commission of a felony (Count 3). At trial, a Shelby County jury convicted her of Count 2 but could not reach a verdict as to Counts 1 and 3. During a subsequent hearing, Petitioner pleaded guilty to the lesser-included offense of second degree murder in Count 1 and Count 3 was dismissed by the State. The trial court imposed an effective sentence of twenty-one years’ confinement. Petitioner then filed a petition for post-conviction relief, which the post- conviction court denied following a hearing. On appeal, Petitioner maintains that her guilty plea was not knowingly and voluntarily entered and that trial counsel was ineffective. Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Two federal bills aim to increase transparency at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), including one that would mandate at least four public board meetings per year and another that would require disclosure of employee salaries exceeding $123,041, the Nashville Post reports. The TVA Transparency Act, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, Republican of Knox County, and co-sponsored by Rep. Steve Cohen, a Memphis Democrat, passed the U.S. House of Representatives on June 9 and now is under review by the U.S. Senate. Burchett and Cohen’s separate salary disclosure bill — the Tennessee Valley Authority Salary Transparency Act — passed the House in January. It has been introduced in the Senate by Tennessee Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty. TVA officials say they already comply with existing transparency laws and hold quarterly public meetings. TVA is federally owned and the largest public power supplier in the U.S., providing electricity to more than 10 million people.

A Tennessee man whose conviction was overturned after spending 17 years in prison now faces the possibility of being reincarcerated, WSMV reports. Thomas Clardy was convicted in 2007 for a 2005 murder at an auto body shop in Madison based on a delayed, cross-racial eyewitness identification. A federal judge overturned his conviction in 2023, leading to his release. However, this month, the state filed a motion to return him to prison after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a 6th Circuit Court of Appeals decision reversing the lower court’s ruling. Clardy’s case has been remanded to federal district court for further consideration. His attorneys have filed petitions for exoneration and commutation, both of which would have to be granted by Gov. Bill Lee.

Judges, lawyers, friends and supporters gathered last week to honor Judge Cheryl Blackburn, who recently retired from Division III of the Davidson County Criminal Court. More than 100 people attended a reception at the Nashville School of Law to celebrate her nearly 30 years on the bench. The program featured remarks from former District Attorney Torry Johnson, Nashville School of Law Dean Bill Koch and Criminal Court Judges Angelita Dalton and Steve Dozier, all of whom praised Blackburn as a judge who strived to give both defendants and victims a fair hearing. Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Jeff Bivins presented Blackburn with a plaque from the Tennessee Judicial Conference recognizing her years of public service. Blackburn closed the program by thanking those in attendance.

Robert Taswell “Tas” Gardner has been elected by fellow public defenders to serve as president of the Tennessee District Public Defenders Conference. The conference is a statewide network of publicly elected district public defenders representing each of Tennessee’s 32 judicial districts. As president, Gardner will lead the conference’s Executive Committee, which supports public defenders across the state and works with lawmakers on policies and procedures that impact the justice system. He also will serve on the TBA Board of Governors as the conference's representative. Gardner currently serves as public defender for Tennessee’s 24th Judicial District, which includes Benton, Carroll, Decatur, Hardin and Henry counties. Read more in a press release from the group.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday announced the appointment of Josh Walker to the Tennessee Claims Commission for the Eastern Division. Walker, who currently serves as associate general counsel for the University of Tennessee, earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law (now Winston College of Law). He will fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Commissioner William A. Young. The appointment is effective July 1 and is subject to legislative confirmation. “I am proud to announce Josh Walker’s appointment to the Claims Commission and value the significant experience he will bring to this role,” Lee said in a press release. “I appreciate his leadership and am confident that Josh will serve Tennesseans with integrity.”

The ACLU of Tennessee has filed a lawsuit challenging a new Tennessee law that makes it a felony for local officials to vote in favor of sanctuary city policies. The law, passed earlier this year as part of a broad immigration package, also created a new state immigration enforcement division, a separate driver’s license design for noncitizens and a grant program for local law enforcement agencies, WPLN reports. The ACLU filed the suit on behalf of seven members of Nashville’s Metro Council, arguing that it violates the First Amendment. The group called the measure "an unprecedented effort to criminalize legislative speech, debate and deliberation." The challenged provision makes it a Class E felony — punishable by up to six years in prison and a $3,000 fine — for local officials to support or enact sanctuary city measures. Officials also could be removed from office under the statute. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit include council members Clay Capp, Brenda Gadd, Delishia D. Porterfield, Sandra Sepulveda, Zulfat Suara, Terry Vo and Ginny Welsch. The case was filed in Davidson County Chancery Court.