The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met in Knoxville to select nominees for a criminal court judgeship in the 6th Judicial District, which covers Knox County. Following a public hearing and interviews of eight candidates, the commission selected three to forward to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration. They are Emily F. Abbott, J. Franklin Ammons and Cashauna C. Lattimore. More information about the nominees is posted on the Administrative Office of the Courts' website.

The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld Tennessee’s law restricting certain gender-transition treatments for minors, rejecting a legal challenge brought by three transgender adolescents, their families and a Memphis-based medical provider. In a 6-3 decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti, the court sided with Tennessee and dismissed claims that the law — which bans puberty blockers and hormone therapies for individuals under 18 — violates the Constitution’s equal protection clause, National Public Radio reports. The case originated from a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the ACLU of Tennessee, Lambda Legal and the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP following passage of SB1/HB1. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts said the court’s role is to determine whether the law complies with the Constitution, not to weigh its policy merits. The justices found that the law does not discriminate on the basis of sex or transgender status and thus does not require heightened judicial scrutiny. Justice Sonia Sotomayor authored a dissent saying the decison would cause "untold harm to transgender children and the parents and families who love them.” Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti reacted to the ruling in a press release saying, “In [this] historic Supreme Court win, the common sense of Tennessee voters prevailed over judicial activism.” In contrast, Lucas Cameron-Vaughn, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Tennessee, said, “We will continue to stand with transgender people in Tennessee and are committed to realizing a world where all people belong, are valued, and can access the necessary healthcare they need.”

The U.S. Supreme Court today upheld Tennessee’s ban on puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender teenagers. By a vote of 6-3, the justices rejected an argument by three transgender teens (along with their parents and a Memphis doctor) that the law violates their constitutional right to equal protection and should be scrutinized using a more stringent standard than the one used by a federal appeals court in Cincinnati. The case, U.S. v. Skrmetti, which was brought by the ACLU, alleged that Tennessee SB0001/HB0001 violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion, saying the court’s only role is to ensure that the law does not violate the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection. “Having concluded that it does not,” he wrote, “we leave questions regarding its policy to the people, their elected representatives, and the democratic process.” Justice Sonia Sotomayor authored a dissent saying “[The court] authorizes, without second thought, untold harm to transgender children and the parents and families who love them.” Read more about the case from SCOTUSblog.

Hamilton County Circuit Court Judge Alex McVeagh took office as president of the TBA’s Young Lawyers Division (YLD) at the group's Annual Convention meeting in Franklin. He plans to focus on supporting recovery courts in the state and offering a Leadership & Law Academy for high school students. Joining him in leadership of the division is President-elect Jennifer Sneed of Memphis, Vice President Darius Walker Jr. of Nashville, Secretary Judge Zachary Walden of Jacksboro and Treasurer Ashley Tipton of Nashville. During the Lawyers Luncheon, McVeagh thanked outgoing president Sean Aiello for his year of service and honored the mock trial team from Montgomery Bell Academy, which won this year’s state and national high school mock trial competitions. Also during the convention, the YLD held its Annual Meeting and a CLE program on the state of DEI in the legal profession. The YLD Board met on Saturday for committee planning sessions and its first meeting of the new bar year. See the full list of board members.

The TBA Environmental Law Section has announced that Layton Coker, a student at the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law, has won the 2025 Jon E. Hastings Memorial Award Writing Competition. The judges reported that Coker’s essay, Paradise Lost: Environmental Justice Gaps in TVA’s Clean Energy Transition, was both timely and captured the spirit of the competition. Nashville School of Law graduate Emily Crawford's submission "Jarkesy, Juries and Justice: The Future of EPA Civil Penalties" was named runner up. Rounding out the competition were exceptional entries by University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law students Logan Hawkins and Owen King. The Environmental Law Section sponsors the annual writing competition to recognize the best legal writing by a Tennessee law student on a topic of state or federal environmental law. The juried competition is held in memory of Jon Hastings, one of the section’s founding members.

The Nashville office of Bass Berry & Sims today will host a Pride event featuring internationally acclaimed songwriters, Leland and Shane Stevens. The pair's songwriting credits include Troye Sivan, Cher, Ariana Grande, BTS, Charli XCX, Selena Gomez, Lady A, Kelsea Ballerini, Sara Evans, Meghan Trainor, Jo Dee Messina, Little Big Town, Kelly Rowland, Jordin Sparks, Fifth Harmony, Little Mix and others. Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be provided. Contact Greg Maczko at greg.maczko@bassberry.com with any questions.

When: Wednesday, June 18, 5 – 6:30 p.m. CDT
Where: Bass Berry & Sims, 21 Platform Way S., Ste. 3500, Nashville

Today the TBA LGBT Section will host a free webinar focused on elder law and estate planning for the LGBTQ+  client. Presenters Ryan Rolston, Emily Matheny and Tim Takacs will provide an in-depth exploration of the unique challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community, equipping participants with knowledge of these issues, strategies to avoid them and how to offer sensitive and inclusive counsel. One hour of general CLE credit is available for a $50 processing fee. Register now.

Members of the 2025 TBA Leadership Law class (TBALL) selected Memphis lawyer Rebekka Freeman Terrell as the winner of the annual Larry Dean Wilks Leadership Award. She was honored during the group’s graduation ceremonies in Franklin. The class has spent the last six months learning about leadership in the legal profession, issues in the courts, policymaking in state government and the importance of community service. Freeman Terrell is the chief administrative officer of the Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk's Office and serves on the board of directors for the Memphis Child Advocacy Center, Association for Women Attorneys and National Black Prosecutors Association for the Western District of Tennessee among other community service engagements. The award, named for former TBA president and Springfield lawyer Larry Wilks, who was instrumental in creating the TBALL program, is given to the class member who exemplifies exceptional leadership qualities and enhances the education of other class members. Wilks' son John was on hand to present the award. See the full picture of Freeman Terrell and Wilks. Learn more about the Wilks Award and see past recipients.

The Tennessee Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection on June 16 paid a $3,500 claim filed against Knox County lawyer Gary Lee Anderson and a $17,609.40 claimed filed against Shelby County lawyer George Skouteris Jr. Both are required to reimburse the fund for the money. The Fund for Client Protection was established by the Tennessee Supreme Court to reimburse individuals for losses caused by dishonest conduct by attorneys. The fund is operated by a board, which meets quarterly to consider claims. In September 2022, the Tennessee Supreme Court amended Rule 25 to require the fund to notify the Tennessee Bar Association of claims paid. News releases also are posted online.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Rutherford County lawyer Jared Michael Streich from the practice of law on June 13 for six years, with five years to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. The discipline is conditioned on Streich paying restitution to two former clients and, if reinstated, the appointment of a practice monitor. The court took the action after determining that Streich failed to reasonably communicate with his clients, act in a diligent manner, expedite litigation, act competently, comply with requirements for a suspended attorney and return client property. The court also found that he charged an unreasonable fee and provided false information to the Board of Professional Responsibility. These actions violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.15, 1.16, 3.2, 3.4 and 8.4.