The American Bar Association (ABA) is asking a judge to order the White House to release certain communications with law firms and presidential allies related to executive orders issued in 2025 against several major law firms. The group wants to see if Trump allies Steve Bannon and Boris Epshteyn acted as intermediaries between the White House and targeted law firms, Bloomberg News reports. The ABA sued the administration for what it calls a “law firm intimidation policy.” Following the president’s actions in 2025, four law firms sued while nine agreed to spend $1 billion in free legal services on “shared causes” and abandon diversity recruiting initiatives. The four that sued are awaiting a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit after trial courts struck down the executive orders.

A three-judge panel will hear the complaint filed by the city of Chattanooga and the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority over a new law that takes appointment of the airport board away from the mayor. Chattanoogan.com reports that Judge Alex McVeagh this week referred the matter to the Tennessee Supreme Court for designation of the panel. In related news, the Times Free Press reports on new appointments that have been made to the state-constituted board. Meanwhile, a similar suit brought by the Nashville Airport Authority has been put on pause by U.S. District Judge William Campbell. He stayed the suit pending resolution of another suit filed against the Federal Aviation Administration in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, The Tennessee Journal reports. The situation also has been complicated by the newly formed state board taking office and filing to withdraw the suit against the state.

The ACLU and National Immigration Law Center are asking U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson to reopen a lawsuit challenging Tennessee's new law criminalizing illegal immigration. Richardson dismissed the case in June, ruling that the plaintiffs did not have legal standing because they could not demonstrate that their removal orders were “valid” and “outstanding” as required by the law. In a Monday filing, lawyers offered new details showing their two pseudonymous plaintiffs, "Lucy" and "Benjamin," both have outstanding removal orders and therefore are at risk of arrest under the law. The filing argues that reopening the case is needed to avoid "manifest injustice" and a drawn-out appeal. Richardson responded Thursday, asking attorneys why they waited two weeks to seek expedited reopening and why they did not file a new case, since his dismissal was without prejudice. The Tennessee Lookout reports on the developments.

Gov. Bill Lee has said that he will not pursue a pause or moratorium on executions in the state, or order a review of the current execution protocol following the failed execution attempt of death row inmate Tony Carruthers. According to WPLN, Lee told a group of reporters in Knoxville this week that the protocol was “carried out appropriately” and “the Department of Correction did exactly what they were supposed to.” Actions News 5 has reaction to that decision from Carruthers’ attorneys. Lee’s decision comes after the ACLU called for a pause in executions, a number of death row inmates are seeking reprieves and Republican state senators have asked for an investigation into the attempted execution of Carruthers.

Judge Peter Frech was sworn in July 8 in Nashville as the newest judge on the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims. He was appointed in April to replace Judge Thomas Wyatt of Chattanooga, who retired at the end of June. A blog post from the court noted that Frech brings diverse experience and dedication to the bench. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a military police corrections specialist, graduated with a degree in political science from Middle Tennessee State University, and earned his law degree with a concentration in advocacy and dispute resolution from the University of Tennessee (now Winston) College of Law. Frech will hear cases in both the Nashville and Murfreesboro offices.

Knox County lawyer Julia Anna Trant received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility on July 10. The board determined that while representing a client before the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Trant failed to timely file documents as required by the court. Her actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 3.2, 3.4 and 8.4.

Shelby County lawyer Victoria Williamson Gillard received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility on July 10. The board found that she wrongfully withheld settlement funds from her client, who she was representing in a wrongful death case. After the parties reached a settlement, Gillard deposited the funds in her trust account because she reportedly had concerns about her client’s mental health. According to the board, she held the funds for a number of years and failed to communicate with her client during that time. In October 2025, the court directed Gillard to release the money to the Madison County Clerk and Master. She released the funds on Oct. 18, 2025. The board determined that her conduct violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.15 and 8.4.

Chattanooga native and Ex-NFL linebacker Darron Lee — who played for the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills — was indicted in June by a grand jury for the alleged murder of his girlfriend at their new home in Ooltewah. He is being held without bond in the Hamilton County Jail, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. Lee now has hired former Hamilton County District Attorney (DA) Neal Pinkston as his defense lawyer, according to the paper. Sports news website Heavy.com reports that Pinkston spent eight years as Hamilton County’s district attorney before returning to private practice after losing his 2022 re-election bid to current DA Coty Wamp. He replaces public defender Mike Little, who represented Lee through his earlier appearances. Lee’s next court date is scheduled for Oct. 8.

On July 10, Shelby County lawyer Paul Forrest Craig received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility. The board found that during his representation of a client in a property matter, Craig failed to communicate with his client and failed to provide his client with a complete copy of his file for over five months despite multiple requests. These actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.4, 1.15 and 1.16.

In this case involving termination of the mother’s parental rights to her minor child, the trial court determined that two statutory grounds for termination had been proven by clear and convincing evidence. The trial court further determined that clear and convincing evidence demonstrated that termination of the mother’s parental rights was in the child’s best interest. The mother has appealed.1 Discerning no reversible error, we affirm.