The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced President Donald Trump’s attorney general nominee, Pam Bondi, paving the way for the full Senate to vote on confirming the former Florida attorney general as soon as this week. The panel approved her nomination in a 12-10 vote, Reuters reports. Bondi, who has spent decades as a prosecutor, previously represented Trump during his first impeachment trial. During her confirmation hearing earlier this month, she vowed to maintain the Justice Department’s independence, telling lawmakers she would not inject politics into criminal or civil investigations.

KPMG’s bid to become the first Big Four accounting firm to launch a law firm in the U.S. is on hold after the Arizona Supreme Court requested more information on its application to practice law in the state, Bloomberg Law reports. Earlier this month, KPMG Law U.S persuaded a court committee to recommend approval for the firm to practice law in Arizona. "The KPMG application remains under review," the court's communications director said in an email after the court met Tuesday to review the application. KPMG is seeking to launch a U.S. legal venture through Arizona’s alternative business structure program, which was created in 2021. The court did not provide specifics or a timeframe for a final decision. In related news, Reuters reports that the market for legal services outside traditional law firms has hit a record $28.5 billion, with law firm subsidiaries or affiliates claiming a growing share.

The city of Columbia has announced the swearing-in of Richard Matthews as its new city judge, according to Maury County Source. Matthews, a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, has served as a member and former board member of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association and was inducted as a fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation in 2016. "Judge Matthews is continuing a family tradition, becoming the third generation to serve in the judiciary. The City of Columbia looks forward to the leadership, integrity, and expertise he will bring to the role," the city tells the news outlet.

An agreement to temporarily transfer administration of Shelby County's juvenile detention center from the sheriff's office is awaiting approval from Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr., The Daily Memphian reports. According to Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, if the sheriff agrees, the county corrections division and mayor’s office would take over operations on an interim basis, subject to the Juvenile Court judge’s authority. This would include transporting minors for court hearings and providing training for correction guards transitioning from handling adult prisoners to managing juvenile detainees. The agreement would end a court dispute stemming from Bonner’s 2024 announcement that he would cease operating the Youth Justice and Education Center and stop transporting juveniles to court for hearings. In response, Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon filed two lawsuits against Bonner.

Knoxville lawyer Debra Ann Poole died at the age of 70. Poole, a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law, was a founder of the Smoky Mountain Planned Giving Council and was active in the nonprofit community, serving as a board member and foundation staff. A celebration of life will be held in her memory at 10 a.m. EST Feb. 15 at Erin Presbyterian Church, 200 Lockett Rd., Knoxville, TN 37919. Memorial donations may be made to Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, P.O. Box 1660, Kodak, TN 37764-7660.

TBA's Indigent Representation Primer series recently featured an item focused on appointed counsel for minors facing criminal charges. In Tennessee, juveniles charged with delinquency are guaranteed a right to counsel, and if they cannot afford to hire an attorney, the court will appoint a public defender or private attorney. Tennessee law mandates that juveniles must be provided with counsel in cases where the child faces the possibility of incarceration or other serious consequences. Judges also have the discretion to appoint counsel in cases where a juvenile is not at risk for incarceration but is facing fines or court-ordered services. Juvenile delinquency cases present a unique set of challenges in the legal system and the role of appointed counsel is critical to ensuring fair treatment for youth in the justice system. Attorneys appointed to represent a juvenile charged with a crime in Tennessee play an essential role in providing legal defense, ensuring the juvenile’s rights are protected, advocating for rehabilitation and working toward a favorable outcome for the child.

Fort, Holloway & Rogers LLC announced that Stuart Saylor has been named partner. Saylor was also appointed managing partner, and the firm will officially change its name to Fort, Holloway & Saylor LLC. The firm focuses on family law, estate planning and criminal defense from offices in Franklin and Columbia. Read more in its tongue-in-cheek announcement.

The Trump administration in its first week introduced several proposals that could greatly impact estate planning. Among them is the potential repeal of the federal estate tax, a move that could significantly alter how inherited assets are considered. The tax is set at $13.99 million per individual, with the exemption set to decrease to around $7 million in 2026 per the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Other changes floated include elimination or modification of the stepped-up basis and treating death as a realization event. While none of the administration’s proposals have yet been enacted, the agenda shows a broad policy shift planners should consider, Forbes reports.

TBA Estate Planning & Probate Section member Rebecca Miller was recently recognized as a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), a designation by the National Elder Law Foundation for lawyers who demonstrate a high level of experience and involvement in the practice of elder law. To become CELA certified, lawyers must handle at least 60 elder law cases in the three years prior to applying, obtain peer references and pass a six-hour written exam. Miller is part of the estate planning team at the firm Chambliss Bahner & Stophel in Chattanooga. She is one of 16 CELAs in Tennessee and approximately 500 nationwide. Read more in a press release from the firm.

This month’s TBA Estate Planning & Probate Forum includes a probate panel of judges representing each Tennessee grand division. Moderator and TBA Estate Planning & Probate Section Executive Council delegate Jennifer Exum will be joined by judges Andra Hedrick and Kathy Gomes, along with Chancellor Jeffry Atherton, who will discuss best practices in probate and answer questions from attendees. Other topics at the forum include community property trusts, serving as a trustee, AI developments, ethics, legislative updates and much more. Estate Planning & Probate Section members receive a discounted rate to attend. Learn more and register here.