The Tennessee Supreme Court issued a decision in State of Tennessee v. Pervis Tyrone Payne affirming the trial court’s modification of Payne’s death sentences but vacating its order that the sentences be served concurrently instead of consecutively. Payne was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in 1987 for the murders of Charisse Christopher and her 2-year-old daughter, and the attempted murder of Christopher’s 3-year-old son. The court ruled that while a 2021 law allowed the trial court to reduce Payne’s death sentences due to intellectual disability, it did not authorize the court to change the sentencing alignment. As a result, Payne’s life sentences must be served consecutively, delaying his eligibility for parole. Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Paula Skahan had ruled in February 2022 that Payne would serve his two life sentences concurrently, which would have made him eligible for parole in five years. His death penalty sentence was officially vacated in November 2021.

Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, Deputy Commissioner Andy Holt and State Forester Heather Slayton toured storm-damaged farms in Unicoi and Washington counties to witness firsthand the cleanup efforts underway and assess the remaining needs following the devastation of Tropical Storm Helene. Joined by State Reps. Renea Jones, R-Unicoi and Rebecca Alexander, R-Jonesborough, the officials visited several sites, including Miller Farm and Scott’s Strawberry and Tomato Farm, reaffirming the state’s commitment to helping farmers and forest landowners recover, according to the state Department of Agriculture. The storm, which hit the region in September 2024, caused an estimated $547 million to $1.8 billion in agricultural and timber losses across more than 150,000 acres. The Department of Agriculture has petitioned the USDA for a block grant to cover losses and is working to secure additional federal aid. Gov. Bill Lee’s $100 million Governor’s Response and Recovery Fund also will support ongoing recovery, with first round recipients to be announced in July.

The TBA’s International Law Section will host a webcast on June 19 exploring the evolving landscape of tariffs and customs within the 2025 global market. “Tariffs and Customs: Insights into How to Navigate the Changes Within the 2025 Global Market” will examine current trends, trade disruptions and strategies for maintaining customs compliance. The panel will be led by Terry Olsen, chair of the International Law Section, and will include George Phillips of Phillips Ralston and Lee Broyles, vice president of international sales at Steam Logistics. Registration is available on the TBA website.

The American Bar Association (ABA) has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government and more than two dozen federal departments and agencies asking a federal court to declare unconstitutional what it called the Trump administration’s "ongoing unlawful policy of intimidation against lawyers and law firms." The group argues these attacks have had a chilling effect across the legal profession “causing harm to the justice system at large and limiting access to representation for individuals and organizations whose positions the administration disfavors.” Read more about the suit in a press release. According to Bloomberg Law, the group is being represented by Susman Godfrey, one of four law firms that sued the administration over an executive order that targeted its work.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti joined a bipartisan coalition of 51 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, supporting military veterans and their families in receiving full GI Bill education benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The case, Yoon v. Collins, centers on Lt. Col. Paul Yoon, a decorated Virginia Army veteran who served 24 years, including deployments. Despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Rudisill v. McDonough, the VA continues to deny Yoon full GI Bill education benefits and has blocked him from transferring those benefits to his daughter. “Tennessee is the proud home to so many who have served, and it’s my honor to join Virginia’s Jason Miyares and 50 other AGs to support the men and women who put their lives on the line protecting our freedoms,” Skrmetti said in a press release.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee today announced the appointment of Jeff Holmes as interim commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services. Holmes succeeds Matt Van Epps, who stepped down June 10 to pursue a new venture after serving in multiple roles in the Lee administration. Holmes currently serves as director of planning and programming at the Tennessee Board of Regents and previously held the position of Tennessee’s 76th adjutant general, overseeing the state’s Military Department. “Jeff Holmes has a significant track record of serving Tennesseans for more than 40 years in the Tennessee National Guard, and in my administration as adjutant general,” Lee said in a press release. “I’m proud to welcome him back to serve as a member of my Cabinet and appreciate his willingness to lead the Department of General Services.”

Last month, U.S. Reps. Bryan Steil, R-WI, and Joe Morelle, D-NY, held a roundtable discussion in Nashville with a panel of experts to address artificial intelligence’s effect on creativity and copyrights. During the two-hour conversation, House Administration Committee Chairman Steil and Ranking Member Morelle explored the implications of AI in the music industry with professionals from Nashville and beyond, the Tennessean reports. In March 2024, Tennessee became the first state to enact an AI-focused law protecting individuals’ voices and likenesses from misuse. A similar national bill, the No Fakes Act, is now under consideration in Congress. Tennessee's senior senator Marsha Blackburn has sponsored the bill in the U.S. Senate.

Nashville attorney Dot Dobbins, a trailblazer in family law and legal advocacy, died last week at age 77. A Celebration of Life will be held June 18 at 2 p.m. CDT at Brenthaven Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 516 Franklin Rd., Brentwood 37027. Visitation will begin at noon. Donations may be made to The Alternatives To Violence Project Inc. (AVP-USA), 2136 Ford Parkway, Saint Paul, MN 55116. A 1971 graduate of Vanderbilt Law School, Dobbins was one of only 12 women in a class of 150. She began her career at the Legal Aid Society of Nashville, where she led the family law unit for more than a decade, handling cases involving adoption, divorce, custody and domestic disputes. A founding member of the Lawyers’ Association for Women in 1981, she also served as general counsel for the Tennessee Department of Human Services and played a key role in drafting the state’s first order of protection law. Dobbins retired in 2015.

Thank you to the 21 sponsors who helped underwrite the costs of this year's TBA Convention! Thank you to Diamond Presenting Sponsor Baker Donelson; Platinum Sponsor TriStar Court Reporting; Silver Sponsors Bookkeeping Done Virtually, JAMS and Miles Mediation & Arbitration; Bronze Sponsors Consultwebs, SoFi, TBA Member Insurance Solutions and The Bar Plan; Copper Sponsors Ai Pro, Conservatorship Association of Tennessee, Husch Blackwell, Iconographics, IT Solutions, LexisNexis, Richards Bespoke, Scipio Technologies, Time Miner and vLex Fastcase; and Event Partners Covert Results Investigations & Security and Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP) . Check out our sponsor page for more information on these companies and law firms.

The 2025 William M. Leech Jr. Public Service Award was presented to 21st Judicial District Circuit Court Judge and Chancellor David Veile at the TBA’s Annual Convention by the Fellows of the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) Young Lawyers Division (YLD). Named for former Attorney General William M. Leech Jr., the award is given each year to a Tennessee lawyer who has been of outstanding service to the profession, the legal system and their community. In announcing the award, Fellows President and Jackson lawyer Michelle Greenway Sellers said, "Judge Veile truly exemplifies the values embodied in the Leech Award. He is a past president of the TBA YLD, a TBA Board of Governors member, an extremely supportive TBA YLD volunteer and a devoted community leader. Judge Veile generously gives of his time as a mentor to young lawyers, speaks at legal and community events, and volunteers at TBA YLD events such as the TBA YLD Mock Trial competition. He has spent his entire career giving back to the Tennessee legal community and to the Middle Tennessee communities he serves. The Fellows are honored to award Judge David Veile the 2025 TBA YLD Fellows William M. Leech Jr. Public Service Award." Veile was elected circuit court judge and chancellor in Williamson County's 21st Judicial District in 2024. He previously practiced criminal defense law in Franklin. The award was presented on June 13 at the Lawyers Luncheon. Read more about Veile's selection in the TBA's press release.