Tennessee legislators have passed a bill requiring local law enforcement to "accept and honor" immigration detainers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). If signed by the governor, SB1486/HB2018 would take effect on July 1 and require agencies to keep detainees in custody for up to 48 hours (not counting weekends or holidays) after they otherwise would be released, according to Local Memphis. It also means notifying federal authorities as soon as possible before the person is released.

Nicholas Moore of Springfield was sentenced to one year of probation after prosecutors said he illegally accessed the U.S. Supreme Court’s online filing system and posted screenshots on a social media account titled, “I hacked the government.” Senior Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia announced the sentence today, Bloomberg Law reports. Moore pleaded guilty in January to a misdemeanor computer fraud charge. He admitted that he accessed the high court’s system on 25 different days in 2023 using an authorized user’s stolen credentials.

This summer, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee will co-sponsor and host "The Supreme Court and My Hometown," a civic education program for high school students. This immersive, two-week day camp is available to rising 10th, 11th or 12th grade students who reside within driving distance of the federal courthouse in Chattanooga. Students participating in the Chattanooga program will learn about the historic Ed Johnson case and the 1909 Supreme Court case of United States v. Shipp. Participants will learn directly from sitting judges, legal scholars and historians. For more information about the program, visit the Supreme Court Historical Society's website. Applications are due by April 24 and must be submitted online.

The Knoxville law firm Valliant, Harrison, Schwartz & Bodie will host a gathering at the Bistro at the Bijou on April 22 at 5 p.m. EDT to celebrate the life of John Peden Valliant Jr. According to the law firm, the event will focus on sharing stories, laughter and memories of a man who meant so much to so many. Valliant died March 29 at the age of 78. A graduate of the University of Tennessee (now Winston) College of Law, Valliant practiced law in Knoxville for five decades. The Bistro is located at 807 S. Gay St., Knoxville 37902.

Make plans now to join colleagues from across the state at the TBA’s 2026 Annual Convention, set for June 10-13, at the Crowne Plaza Downtown Knoxville. In addition to compelling CLE programs and leadership meetings, multiple social and networking events will provide opportunities to connect with colleagues. The convention gets underway Wednesday and will feature a welcome reception that evening. Thursday will begin with the Public Service Breakfast and University of Tennessee Winston College of Law Breakfast, continue with interactive Lunch & Learn sessions, and wrap up with a reception at the Knoxville Smokies minor league baseball stadium. Friday will feature a breakfast buffet and the annual Lawyers Luncheon, which will include a look back at TBA President Heidi Barcus’ year in office and the swearing in of new president Charlotte Knight Griffin. See the full schedule. All events are included with full convention registration.

President Donald Trump in mid-March released a national AI regulatory framework building on his December executive order, calling for children's online protections, reduced permitting barriers for data centers, anti-censorship provisions and expanded AI workforce training — while also aiming to preempt the growing patchwork of state-level AI laws, Bloomberg Law reports. Shortly after Trump's announcement, Tennessee hosted its inaugural AI Tennessee Summit in Nashville, uniting federal and state officials, industry executives and university leaders to address how national AI priorities translate to the state level, where AI is projected to affect roughly 500,000 jobs in the near future. The Nashville Post reports on the event and its goals as Tennessee positions itself as a proactive leader in AI innovation and workforce development. Meanwhile, Axios reports that U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, whose own draft proposal closely mirrors the White House framework, released an updated version of her TRUMP AMERICA AI Act, which incorporates a "duty of care" for AI developers, chatbot safety provisions and a full sunset of Section 230, all framed around protecting children, creators, conservatives and communities. Finally, the state legislature is considering a bill requiring a study on how AI is governed in other states and at the federal level, as well as the potential economic impact of regulation on businesses in Tennessee. WKRN reports on that measure.

West Tennessee Legal Services (WTLS) and the Jackson-Madison County Bar Association will host their annual Law Day Celebration on May 1 beginning at 11:30 a.m. CDT. The event will take place at St. Luke’s Church in Jackson and will feature Joel Ebert and Erik Schelzig, authors of “Welcome to Capitol Hill: Fifty Years of Scandal in Tennessee Politics.” The pair will talk about their book, with a focus on West Tennessee government scandals, specifically those involving Gov. Ray Blanton and Operation Tennessee Waltz. Tickets are $35 for members of the Jackson-Madison County Bar Association, $50 for attorneys who are not members of the association and $25 for non-attorneys. Learn more about the event and purchase tickets online.

A number of news outlets are providing profiles of judicial races in Davidson County. The Tennessean looks at the race between incumbent Davidson County Circuit Court Clerk Joseph Day and his challenger Howard Jones. The Nashville Banner has interviews with incumbent Davidson County 3rd Circuit Judge Bethany Glandorf, and challengers Audrey Anderson and Corletra Mance. The paper also features a Q&A with three candidates for Davidson County Criminal Court: incumbent Judge Jim Todd and challengers Dawn Deaner and Ronald Dowdy. The Banner also sent a questionnaire to the judicial candidates, including to General Sessions Court incumbent Judge Jodie Bell and her challenger Michael Robinson. Their responses are available here.

An inmate has died at Trousdale Turner Correctional Facility after being found unresponsive on April 10. Fox 17 reports that the death is under investigation. The embattled CoreCivic facility announced in February that the fourth warden in just over a year would take over leadership. The facility has faced a number of criticisms in recent years. In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice opened an investigation into conditions at the prison.

The next installment of the TBA Intellectual Property Section's IP Webcast Series will debut April 29 with section chair Ryan Levy exploring the growing phenomenon of “zombie trademarks,” where abandoned or expired brands are revived by new owners seeking to capitalize on residual goodwill. The program will examine the legal framework governing abandonment under the Lanham Act, the role of consumer perception, and how courts and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board have treated attempts to resurrect legacy marks. The webcast also will cover risks of consumer deception, strategies for acquiring dormant brands and best practices for advising clients looking to either revive — or defend against — the undead. Register on the TBA website.