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.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) will host “The Rookie Series: Compassionate Lawyering” webcast on Aug. 27 from noon to 1 p.m. CDT. The program will introduce attorneys to the principles of trauma-informed legal practice and explore how lawyers can better serve clients — especially those from marginalized or vulnerable backgrounds — by incorporating empathy and awareness into their work. Mental health professionals will join the discussion to examine how legal systems can unintentionally retraumatize clients and offer strategies for compassionate advocacy across various practice areas. For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, in partnership with the TBA Young Lawyers Division, is seeking pro bono volunteers for a free name change clinic on June 26 from 5-7 p.m. CDT at the Legal Aid Society's Cookeville office located at 9 S. Jefferson Ave., Ste. 102, Cookeville 38501. To volunteer or if you have any questions, contact Amber Vargas. View a flyer for the event here.

Registration is now open for the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) Equal Justice University (EJU) conference. The annual event, co-sponsored by the TBA, is set for Aug. 27-29 at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro. This year’s conference will include more than 50 CLE sessions, inspiring keynote speakers and presentation of the Access to Justice Awards. Check out the full schedule. As a reminder, it is not too late to nominate colleagues for the three Access to Justice Awards presented at the conference. The nomination deadline is July 20.

The next legal clinic for veterans in Knoxville will take place June 11 from 12-2 p.m. EDT at the Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office, 1101 Liberty St., Knoxville 37919. This is a general advice clinic sponsored by the Knoxville Bar Association, KBA Barristers, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, the University of Tennessee College of Law, the Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office and the local Veterans Affairs office. Attorneys and law students are needed. Sign up to volunteer here.

Whitney Hermandorfer appeared before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday to answer questions about her nomination to the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Tennessee’s senior U.S. senator and Senate Judiciary Committee member Marsha Blackburn introduced Hermandorfer and praised her clerkship experience and commitment to originalist jurisprudence, the Nashville Scene reports. Democrats on the committee focused on Hermandorfer’s experience and her position on President Donald Trump’s interpretation of birthright citizenship, according to Reuters. Several also used the hearing to criticize the administration for recently deciding to remove the American Bar Association (ABA) from its role in vetting judicial nominees. Hermandorfer was nominated by Trump in May to fill the seat of outgoing Judge Jane Branstetter Stranch, who plans to take senior status.