In the spring of 2023, The Metro Nashville Police Department (“Metro”) received several public records requests seeking information about a school shooting that occurred in a Nashville private school on March 27, 2023. Metro denied all such requests. The various requestors filed petitions for access to the records in the Davidson County courts, which were eventually consolidated into one action. The private school at which the shooting occurred, its affiliated church, and parents of surviving children intervened in the action as parties. These intervening parties advocated that the school shooter’s personal writings and other creative works, which Metro collected in the course of its investigation, should remain confidential. The trial court ultimately denied all petitions for access to Metro’s file for numerous reasons. The requestors appeal to this Court. Following our review, we affirm in part and reverse in part. We affirm the trial court’s finding that the intervening parents have standing to raise arguments under the United States Copyright Act. We also affirm the trial court’s finding that neither Article I, section 35 of the Tennessee Constitution, nor Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-38-102, bar disclosure of any public records in this case. On all other issues, we reverse the trial court. The case is remanded to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

The trial court terminated a mother’s parental rights to her two minor children after finding clear and convincing evidence that the conditions that led to the children’s removal persist, that the mother failed to manifest an ability to assume custody of the children, and that termination of the mother’s parental rights was in the best interests of the children. The mother appeals. Upon diligent review of the record, we find no error and affirm the judgment of the trial court.

On Jan. 30, the Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Shelby County lawyer Sheila L. Robinson-Beasley from the practice of law for six years, with five years to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. The court conditioned probation on Robinson-Beasley employing a practice monitor for one year, attending the Board of Professional Responsibility’s ethics workshop, and complying with all terms of the suspension, CLE requirements and fees and court costs owed. The court found that Robinson-Beasley did not follow proper protocol in the execution and use of a durable power of attorney and limited power of attorney prepared on behalf of an ill family member. In addition, following the death of that individual, she converted assets belonging to the estate and made false representations about the powers of attorney to those involved in the sale of the deceased’s residence and at the deceased’s bank. Her conduct was determined to violate Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.15, 4.1 and 8.4.

The Tennessee Supreme Court permanently disbarred Sumner County lawyer Jocelyn Doria Mims on Jan. 30. The court took the action after determining that Mims’s felony convictions for tampering with evidence, making a false report and intentionally failing to report child sexual abuse constituted serious criminal conduct that was prejudicial to the administration of justice and reflected adversely on her honesty, trustworthiness and fitness as a lawyer. Her actions were determined to violate Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.2(d), 1.6(c), 3.3(h), 3.4(a)-(b), 4.1(a) and 8.4(a), (b), (c) and (d).

U.S. District Judge Aleta A. Trauger earlier this week denied a bid to file an amicus brief from the Indian Gaming Association, the National Congress of American Indians, gaming associations from four states and 21 federally recognized tribes. The Nashville Post reports that the groups had expressed support for the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council’s effort to block sports betting company Kalshi from offering sports event contracts in the state, arguing the contracts amounted to illegal sports wagering under the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act. Kalshi sued the council on Jan. 9 after receiving a cease-and-desist letter threatening civil and criminal penalties. Trauger granted a temporary restraining order, preventing the council from taking regulatory action while Kalshi’s preliminary injunction motion is pending, with Kalshi maintaining that the federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission has exclusive authority over its contracts.

Davidson County voters will decide three judicial primary races May 5 as recently appointed judges seek to retain their seats against challengers, the Nashville Banner reports. The contests include Criminal Court Division III, Circuit Court Division III and General Sessions Court Division VI, all filled in late 2025 after retirements, with appointees Jim Todd and Bethany Glandorf selected by Gov. Bill Lee and Jodie Bell appointed by Metro Council. Todd, the Criminal Court incumbent, faces challengers Dawn Deaner, a longtime public defender, and former assistant district attorney Ron Dowdy, while Glandorf, who oversees family law matters in Circuit Court, is challenged by Audrey Anderson, Corletra Mance and Tusca Alexis. In the General Sessions race, Bell, a defense attorney, will run against magistrate Michael Robinson. According to the Banner, several challengers previously applied for the same vacancies but were not selected, setting up primaries that will determine who serves the remainder of the judges’ eight-year terms.

Less than a year after two lawmakers considered a government effort to dissolve the state’s high school athletics association, Sen. Adam Lowe, R-Calhoun, said he is no longer pursuing that option, and that he and the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) are now more aligned, the Commercial Appeal reports. Lowe said the association has responded to concerns from parents and students, citing the creation of a student advisory committee, and that a majority of member schools now support state legislation to loosen high school transfer rules. During the 2025 legislative session, the TSSAA opposed efforts by Lowe and Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, to codify transfer rules in state law, though the association later amended its constitution to allow a one-time transfer with exceptions while maintaining concerns about legislative involvement in its bylaws. Since then, the sides have worked together on a proposal that would allow student-athletes one transfer during their four-year varsity careers without a bona fide change of address if the move occurs between school years, while leaving eligibility standards and enforcement of recruiting rules to the TSSAA; the changes would likely take effect in the 2026-2027 school year if approved.

Federal prosecutors on Jan. 23 charged two American citizens connected to a Hardin Valley construction site after an immigration raid, alleging they harbored undocumented workers for financial gain and interfered with federal agents, Knox News reports. Tyler Shane Wells of Morristown and Alexander Bonilla-Servin of Smyrna were indicted on charges including harboring undocumented immigrants for commercial advantage and forcibly impeding federal officers. Prosecutors allege the pair conducted counter-surveillance and that Bonilla-Servin used his truck to strike an agent’s vehicle as it entered the site, a claim disputed by witnesses who say an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent struck his vehicle and agents then drew weapons and removed him. Bonilla-Servin also faces a separate obstruction charge filed Jan. 13, according to the news outlet. U.S. Magistrate Judge Debra Poplin ordered him released pending trial, finding he was not a danger.

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments is now accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, following the appointment of Judge Kyle A. Hixson to the Tennessee Supreme Court. Applicants must be licensed attorneys who are at least 30 years of age, have been residents of the state for five years, and must reside in the Eastern Grand Division of Tennessee. Applicants must complete the application and submit it to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) by noon CST on Feb. 17. Questions about the application process should be submitted to AOC Assistant General Counsel Laura Blount at (615) 741-2687 or laura.blount@tncourts.gov.

The TBA will host the Federal Practice Forum 2026 on July 14 as a live virtual event, with programming scheduled from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT. Additional details about the forum and its agenda will be coming soon on the TBA website.