A Monroe County jury found the Defendant, Russell Matthew Morgan, guilty of solicitation of a minor to commit aggravated statutory rape and solicitation of sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means. On appeal, the Defendant raises three issues: (1) whether the evidence is legally insufficient to support his conviction for solicitation of sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means; (2) whether Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-528 prohibits solicitation of a minor to commit aggravated statutory rape; and (3) whether the trial court erred in admitting hearsay testimony. Upon our review, we respectfully affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Defendant, Christopher Kenn Baker, pleaded guilty to solicitation of a minor to commit aggravated statutory rape for which he received a sentence of two years’ confinement. On appeal, Defendant argues the trial court erred in denying judicial diversion. After review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

The Plaintiffs in this case, who live in the Dominican Republic, were allegedly injured by toxic herbicides used in the sugar cane industry. Following the Plaintiffs’ filing of a lawsuit against the Defendant, a Tennessee corporation, pursuant to the Tennessee Products Liability Act, the Defendant moved to dismiss the case on several grounds. Although the trial court rejected the viability of a number of these defenses asserted by the Defendant at the motion to dismiss stage, the trial court concluded that the case should be dismissed on the basis that “the TPLA does not have extraterritorial application.” The trial court also opined that, “even if a case were to proceed in Tennessee, the applicable law would be the law of the Dominican Republic” but noted that the Plaintiffs “have only set forth a specific claim under the TPLA.” For the reasons stated herein, we affirm the trial court’s dismissal of the case.

A federal judge on Wednesday ruled that a group of Venezuelans deported to a Salvadoran prison under the Alien Enemies Act must be given a legal avenue to contest the Trump administration’s accusations that they are gang members, according to The Hill. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg did not specify the steps the administration must take but said it violated due process rights by failing to allow the migrants to challenge their removal before being sent to CECOT, a high-security Salvadoran prison. The Trump administration has argued it lacks the ability to secure the return of anyone held at the facility, and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has said he will not return individuals sent there under regular immigration authorities. While Boasberg acknowledged the administration may have lawfully invoked the rarely used Alien Enemies Act — as another judge has ruled — he emphasized that the deportees were denied basic legal protections and cited evidence suggesting many have no gang affiliation. He gave the administration one week to propose a compliance plan.

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy are exploring plans for a limited local crime lab that could be housed within the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center. Harris and Mulroy presented the proposal on Wednesday to the Shelby County Commission’s Budget Subcommittee at an estimated annual cost of $5.5 million. According to the Daily Memphian, the lab would focus on ballistics, digital device analysis and rapid DNA testing. Harris said the county is well-positioned to expand forensic capacity, while Mulroy emphasized that the lab would complement and not compete with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's existing services. According to the paper, the lab could take more than a year to fully implement, with initial steps focused on hiring a planning team and determining interagency coordination.

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Republican of Tennessee, has introduced legislation that would make it illegal to dox federal law enforcement officials. On Wednesday, Blackburn filed the Protecting Law Enforcement from Doxxing Act, which would criminalize the act of “doxxing,” defined by the Department of Homeland Security as the collection and public release of personally identifiable information with malicious intent. According to NewsChannel 9, Blackburn's proposal follows public statements she has made expressing concern about Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell posting interactions between Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and Metro law enforcement on the city’s website. O’Connell has defended the move, saying the intent was not to endanger federal agents but to provide transparency for the public. Names he says were mistakenly posted online since have been removed.

Gov. Bill Lee recently announced that Deputy Governor and Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner (TDOT) Butch Eley will step down from his role in the third quarter of 2025, after seven years of service in the governor’s cabinet. A successor will be named at a later date, and Eley will remain involved during the transition. Eley began his tenure in the Lee administration as chief operating officer, overseeing 23 state departments and 35,000 employees, and led the implementation of Tennessee’s first four-year strategic planning process. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve Gov. Lee and the people of Tennessee,” Eley said. “From building long-term systems that better serve Tennesseans to navigating some of our state’s toughest challenges, I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished.” Read more in a press release from the governor's office.

Second-year Belmont University College of Law student Gabrielle Armer was awarded the school's Best Story Award for her short story "What He Left Behind," which explores a prosecutor’s emotional reckoning with second chances during Christmastime. The story was selected through an anonymous review process by novelist and Belmont Law alumnus Brandon Dragan, who praised its narrative tension and exploration of grief, addiction and generational trauma. Armer’s work, developed through Belmont’s Legal Fiction Workshop, is also under consideration for the American Bar Association’s Ross Writing Contest for Legal Short Fiction. Read more in a press release from the law school.

The Annual Trailblazer Banquet, celebrating leaders in civil rights, equality and justice, will take place June 19 at 5:30 p.m. CDT at the Walnut Street Church of Christ in Dickson. Hosted by the Clement Railroad Museum, the event will honor Misty Haynes, Julie Holt and Patty Walsh for their contributions to the community. The evening will include guest speakers, dinner and recognition of local advocates. Tickets are available at the museum, by phone at 615-446-0500 or online.

Pre-registration for the TBA’s 2025 Annual Convention closes Sunday at 11:59 p.m. CDT, with only onsite registration available after that deadline. The convention, set for next week at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, will bring together attorneys, judges and legal professionals from across the state for continuing education, networking and social events.