Rep. Jesse Chism, D-Memphis, was named chair of the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators (TBCSL) earlier this month. Chism has been a member since 2019 and has served as vice chair for the past two years, the Daily Memphian reports. As chair, he says the caucus' primary goal is to safeguard positive outcomes for Black people in Tennessee and ensure progress for the community's future advancements. The TBCSL’s Legislative Retreat and Leadership and Education Foundation are initiatives he hopes to expand upon. "I envision the TBCSL as a beacon of light that is focused on providing opportunities for Black Tennesseans to have economic growth, safe communities and great health care," Chism said in a statement after his election.

Knoxville attorney Stephen Ross Johnson has worked to reestablish the University of Tennessee College of Law Legal Clinic’s commitment to addressing wrongful convictions. In 2000, Johnson, a student at the time, was one of the founding members of an innocence project, which developed into the Innocence and Wrongful Convictions Clinic. In 2018, the clinic was temporarily shut down to develop the Tennessee Innocence Project (TIP), a statewide organization with a mission to exonerate individuals with innocence claims. Since TIP, now based in Nashville and Memphis, has thrived, Johnson is returning his focus on wrongful conviction work in East Tennessee and Appalachia. The new Wrongful Convictions Clinic will maintain a small caseload of clients referred by local courts, prosecutors, defense attorneys or through collaborations with innocence clinics nationwide. Johnson, a partner at Ritchie, Johnson & Stovall, has spent three decades defending criminal cases in state and federal courts nationwide. Read more in a press release from the law school.

Elizabeth Workman, assistant dean for career services at Vanderbilt Law School, has announced her intention to retire at the end of summer 2025 after holding the position for more than 25 years. Workman joined Vanderbilt Law in 1996 as director of the annual fund and became assistant dean for career services in 1999. As head of the Career Services Office, she developed strong relationships with alumni and hiring partners, creating programs to meet employer needs. She also launched the Public Service Pathways initiative, which generated opportunities for graduates to provide legal services to underserved populations across the country. “I cannot adequately express what an honor it has been to work in the Career Services Office ... To everyone here at Vanderbilt, I am truly, truly grateful.” Workman said in a press release from the law school.

The most recent installment of TBA's Indigent Representation Primer is now available. The item provides an overview of national organizations and agencies focused on resources and advocacy for the juvenile justice system. All lawyers working in the juvenile justice system have a role that is both crucial and challenging, balancing high caseloads, limited resources and systemic issues, and they benefit from specialized resources and advocacy. Some national groups provide direct support, education and resources designed for lawyers and other professionals working in the juvenile justice system, while other groups deliver research and advocacy expertise geared toward criminal justice reform and broader systemic impact. Read all past Indigent Representation Primer posts.

The state House passed the governor’s immigration enforcement proposals yesterday after the state Senate did so on Wednesday, the Tennessean reports. The legislation (SB6002/HB6001) funds a $5 million office within the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, allowing Gov. Bill Lee to tap an enforcement director and incentivize local law enforcement entities to enter into a contract program with federal immigration authorities. The bill also establishes a new driver's license that distinguishes U.S. citizens from legal permanent residents. In addition, the bill establishes criminal penalties for local and state officials who adopt “sanctuary” policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement officials. WKRN has more on that proposal. Lee actively supported the measure and is expected to sign it into law. He released a statement late yesterday afternoon marking the end of the special session. One group already has indicated an intent to sue over the law; the ACLU of Tennessee is calling the criminal penalty provision “unconstitutional” and promising to challenge the law.

The TBA will host "The Bill Show" webcast on Feb. 4 from noon to 1 p.m. CST. Join Nashville lawyer Bill Ramsey for this always-popular session that will showcase the latest gadgets and technology for both lawyers and nonlawyers. This year, Ramsey will focus on the fun, inane and interesting innovations he discovered at CES 2025, the Consumer Technology Association's annual tech showcase. While artificial intelligence-based tech will be featured, the webcast also will highlight a range of tech trends beyond AI. For more information and to register, visit TBA’s website.

At its January meeting, the TBA Board of Governors certified election filing results. One contested election will be held this year for the office of vice president. Nashville attorneys Amy Bryant and John Farringer are both running to become TBA’s president in 2027-2028. TBA members will receive an email tomorrow with more information about the candidates. Electronic voting will begin today and close on Feb. 14. Watch for an email with a link to the ballot from Intelliscan Inc.

The board also declared election results for uncontested seats with seven individuals deemed to be elected because they were the only duly qualified candidate for that seat. Finally, the board declared a vacancy in the three positions: Fourth District Governor, East Tennessee Governor and young lawyer delegate to the ABA House of Delegates (position 3). To be considered for any of these positions, email TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright at barED@tnbar.org with a statement of interest and resume by March 3. The board will consider nominees at its March 20 meeting.

For positions in the TBA House of Delegates, the House met on Jan. 17 to declare the election of 25 uncontested delegates. They will take office on June 11. It also declared a vacancy in 13 seats. To be considered for any of these positions, email TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright at barED@tnbar.org no later than March 3. See the full list of certified candidates and all available vacancies on the TBA website.

The state House and Senate today voted in favor of a statewide school voucher bill that had previously eluded Gov. Bill Lee through his first six years in office, the Tennessean reports. Under the bill (SB6001/HB6004), 20,000 students would receive $7,300 subsidies to help pay for private school tuition. Half of the Education Freedom Scholarships would be income-limited to those from families earning less than 300% of the federal reduced-rate income limit, or about $175,000. A second bill (SB6005/HB6005) funding Education Freedom Scholarships, teacher bonuses and school infrastructure also passed. Last night, the House approved millions in relief funds for Eastern Tennessee, which saw flooding from Hurricane Helene in September. The bills approved allow the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency to provide assistance at the request of local governments, suspend certain unemployment eligibility requirements for residents in the disaster area, establish two funds to assist with disaster relief and give 2024 property tax breaks to those whose homes were destroyed or damaged as a result of the hurricane. An amendment to use $50 million from the state’s rainy-day fund for grants to those who lost homes during the disaster was rejected, the Nashville Post reports. WKRN provides additional details about the recovery funds and the Tennessee Transportation Financing Authority (TTFA). The Senate approved SB6003/HB6003, SB6004/HB6002 and HB6007/SB6007 on Wednesday and SB6005/HB6005 today.

A second round of pardons from President Donald Trump includes 11 individuals convicted for blockading a Mt. Juliet abortion clinic. The Tennessean reports that the protestors had been convicted under the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which prohibits obstruction, property damage or threats of force intended to interfere with access to reproductive health care. Prosecutors said the defendants passed out flyers, recorded video of their actions and refused to leave when asked. The president said the individuals should not have been prosecuted and noted that many were elderly. Going forward, prosecutions likely will be less common under a new Justice Department policy limiting application of the law to "extraordinary circumstances, or in cases presenting significant aggravating factors, such as death, serious bodily harm, or serious property damage."