A self-represented defendant moved to recuse the trial judge. This is an accelerated interlocutory appeal filed after the trial court’s denial of the motion. We dismiss the appeal because the defendant failed to comply with Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 10B.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is currently accepting applications to fill a vacancy in the 20th Judicial District for a criminal court judge following the retirement of Judge Cheryl A. Blackburn on May 31. Applicants must be licensed to practice law in Tennessee, be at least 30 years old, have been a state resident for at least five years and reside in the judicial district. Public hearings for the position will be held July 31 at 9 a.m. CDT at the Cordell Hull Building, Senate Hearing Room 1, 425 Rep. John Lewis Way N., Nashville 37243. Applications must be received by the commission by June 27 at noon CDT. For more information, contact Assistant General Counsel John Jefferson.

This appeal arises from a verified claim against an estate seeking the repayment of a purported loan made to the decedent by his mother. The decedent’s surviving girlfriend, as executrix of the estate, claimed the funds provided to the decedent by his mother were a gift as opposed to a loan. Following a bench trial, the trial court concluded that the funds were a loan and entered an order in favor of the mother. The estate timely appeals to this Court. Discerning no error, we affirm.

The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) and the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) on Monday announced that Tennessee fire departments are beginning to transition to the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) — a secure, cloud-based platform built to modernize how emergency incidents are reported and analyzed. NERIS is replacing the 40-year-old National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) in order to provide local agencies with timely data tools, location-based analytics and flexible options for incident reporting. NFIRS will be formally decommissioned on Jan. 1, 2026. Tennessee is part of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 4, which also includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina. Departments across the region are onboarding NERIS as part of a phased national rollout. Read more in a press release from the state fire marshal.

The plaintiffs initiated this action based upon multiple theories of speech-related torts and emotional distress in response to the defendant’s statements made on her social media concerning them and their business. The defendant moved for dismissal, citing the Tennessee Public Participation Act (“TPPA”), codified at Tennessee Code Annotated section 20-17-101, et seq. The trial court dismissed the action, finding that the TPPA applied and operated to protect her right to free speech and to petition. We now affirm.

A three-judge panel of the Tennessee Court of Appeals has reversed a lower court ruling that a law cutting in half the size of Metro Nashville's City Council is unconstitutional. Axios Nashville reports that if the panel's 2-1 decision stands, the council would be reduced to 20 members for the 2027 election. In 2023, the Tennessee General Assembly passed a law that reduced the council's size from 40 to 20 members. In 2023 and again in 2024, a court placed an injunction on that law finding it to be unconstitutional under the state's Home Rule amendment, which prohibits legislation that specifically targets one local government. The state appealed. The city could seek a review of this latest decision from the Tennessee Supreme Court. Read the ruling and the dissent.

Pre-registration for next week's TBA Convention in Franklin will close Sunday at 11:59 p.m. CDT. Only on-site registration will be accepted after that point. The event will run from June 11-14. Visit the TBA Convention site for more information.

With more than 135 years of service, Chambliss Bahner & Stophel provides legal counsel to clients ranging from international corporations to startups to multi-generational families who seek timely and strategic solutions. The firm works with in-house counsel, executives, business owners, managers and other individuals on a wide variety of matters and pays careful attention to their cultures, goals and unique needs. Whether an international enterprise, regional powerhouse, a startup with a big idea or a family protecting its wealth, Chambliss provides significant value and will continually adapt its services to meet clients’ needs. Learn more about the firm here.

The TBA would like to recognize its Environmental Law Section Executive Council. The group meets monthly to plan continuing education opportunities, and to review, proffer and comment on relevant laws and policies. The organization thanks all council members for their hard work and dedication in providing TBA members essential and substantive education on environmental law.

Section Chair: Ellery Richardson, Tennessee Dept. of Environment & Conservation
Vice Chair: Payton Bradford, Tennessee Dept. of Environment & Conservation
Immediate Past Chair: Katherine Barnes Cohn, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings

Delegates:
Ashley Strittmatter, Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz — East Tennessee
Courtney Keehan, Chambliss Bahner & Stophel — East Tennessee
David Higney, Grant Konvalinka & Harrison — East Tennessee
Jaz Boon, Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison — Middle Tennessee
Jennifer Brundige, Tennessee Valley Authority — East Tennessee
Jenny Howard, Tennessee Dept. of Environment & Conservation — Middle Tennessee
John Dawson, Bass Berry & Sims — Middle Tennessee
Meryl Harris, Tennessee Valley Authority — Middle Tennessee
Randy Womack, Glankler Brown — West Tennessee

The recent Tennessee Environmental Network Show of the South (TENSOS) was a successful event, with around 800 industry professionals in attendance. The three-day conference took place at the Chattanooga Convention Center, with more than 70 unique education courses. The TBA Environmental Law Section was instrumental in building the legal track, which provided sessions on solid waste, the Endangered Species Act, PFAS Remediation, air law, conservation, a brownfield tour and more.

The forum also featured a reception honoring Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation Commissioner David Salyers. Sponsors of the reception included Grant Kovalinka & Harrison, Davey Resource Group, Chambliss Bahner & Stophel, Bass Berry & Sims, Butler Snow, Baker Donelson, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, Thompson Burton and the Tennessee Bar Association. View photos from the event here.