The Tennessee Supreme Court has issued Rule 56 to create the Appointed Counsel Commission, define its purpose and composition, set forth its duties, and establish requirements for appointment of counsel. The adoption of the rule comes after the governor proposed, and the General Assembly appropriated, funds for the Administrative Office of the Courts to establish the commission, the purpose of which is to retain and provide counsel in certain civil and criminal proceedings in which an indigent party has a right to appointed counsel. The new rule took effect immediately. Read more about the commission in past coverage from TBA Today.

Judges across Tennessee are adopting stricter, county-by-county measures to ensure people ordered to relinquish firearms in domestic violence cases are actually giving them up, according to reporting by WPLN News and ProPublica. The move comes after a proposed statewide reform stalled. According to the news sources, the shift was inspired by reforms in Scott County, which require written affidavits identifying who will take custody of surrendered guns and signed confirmation from the recipients — steps which are not required under the state’s standard form. At least nine counties, including Davidson and Shelby, have amended their gun dispossession affidavits as advocates warn that gaps in enforcement leave victims at risk.

Tennessee lawmakers voted unanimously to extend Tennessee State University’s (TSU) Board of Trustees for three years, signaling renewed confidence in the leadership of the state’s only historically Black and land-grant university following years of underfunding and state intervention, the Tennessee Lookout reports. The decision, made by a joint Government Operations Committee, comes after the legislature replaced TSU’s board in 2024 and amid ongoing efforts by new President Dwayne Tucker and trustees to stabilize operations and address decades of underfunding. Lawmakers praised recent progress and the university’s recent memorandum of understanding with the state allowing the use of $96 million in grant funds for operations and prior emergency state funding to support payroll and finances.

Another inmate has died at the Shelby County Jail, The Daily Memphian reports. Marcel Hutton, died Dec. 21 at 201 Poplar. Jail staff and a nurse with the jail’s third-party medical provider, WellPath, began lifesaving measures, but Hutton died less than an hour later, according to an email from the sheriff’s office. The cause of death remains under investigation, and the sheriff’s office did not specify whether the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has been contacted. Hutton is at least the 13th person in custody of the sheriff’s office to die in 2025.

Tennessee Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti's office has shut down multiple illegal online sweepstakes casinos across the state. The action is part of an ongoing effort to protect Tennesseans from predatory and unregulated gambling operations, according to a press release. Skrmetti issued formal cease-and-desist letters to nearly 40 online sweepstakes platforms, all of which have either disabled the unlawful components of their sites or agreed to wind down operations in the coming weeks. The promotional sweepstakes model used by these casinos is considered an illegal lottery under the Tennessee Constitution and violates state gambling and consumer protection laws, according to the AG's office.

A Tennessee lawmaker has filed legislation that would require public schools to administer the Presidential Fitness Test to assess student health and physical fitness. Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, introduced HB1466 last week. It would mandate schools conduct the test, measuring strength, endurance and flexibility. According to News Channel 5, under the bill, the Tennessee Department of Education would provide guidance to local school districts and public charter schools, and students who meet standards could receive a Presidential Fitness Award. Students with individualized education programs would receive accommodations and would not be required to participate if it is unsafe. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on July 31 reviving the test at the federal level. The second session of the 114th General Assembly is scheduled to convene Jan. 13, 2026.

The TBA Pro Bono Portal provides a centralized source for lawyers and law students to find pro bono opportunities across Tennessee, like the following case through Legal Aid of East Tennessee. In this situation, a client is seeking legal assistance to obtain a delayed birth certificate for her child, who was born at home in McMinn County. Get more information about the requirements associated with this opportunity and browse other pro bono needs.

Braden Boucek was sworn in Dec. 24 as U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. Judge Whitney Hermandorfer of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit administered the oath of office during a brief ceremony at the Fred D. Thompson Federal Courthouse in Nashville. Boucek was nominated by President Donald Trump on July 1 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Dec. 18. As U.S. attorney, he serves as the chief federal prosecutor and legal representative for the United States in 32 counties across Middle Tennessee, representing approximately 2.9 million residents. Before his appointment, Boucek served as senior vice president of litigation at the Southeastern Legal Foundation and previously as vice president of legal affairs at the Beacon Center. He earned his law degree from Florida State University College of Law.

Tomorrow at 3 p.m. CST, the TBA will host “In the Professional Spotlight: Public Speaking for Attorneys”, a program led by Mimi Bliss of Bliss Communications, focusing on practical communication skills for lawyers who speak at conferences, moderate panels, appear on podcasts or address audiences on video and television. The program will provide actionable guidance on building confidence, creating concise and engaging content, moderating effective panel discussions, communicating clearly in virtual and on-camera settings, handling media interviews and responding to challenging questions. Building on techniques from Bliss’s Essential Presentation Skills for Attorneys CLE, the course is designed to help attorneys strengthen their professional presence across in-person, virtual and media platforms. Visit the TBA website for more information and to register.

The TBA will offer 2025–26 Ethics Update on Dec. 30 from noon to 1 p.m. CST, providing attorneys with an opportunity to earn ethics and dual credit before the end of the year. Presented by Heather Piper, disciplinary counsel with the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility, the one-hour webcast will review recent ethics updates, disciplinary trends and notable rulings, and provide practical guidance on avoiding common pitfalls, including issues involving communication and social media. Registration is available through the TBA website.