Brentwood-based CoreCivic, the leading private prison company in the U.S., has spent more than $4.4 million to settle dozens of complaints alleging mistreatment at its Tennessee prisons and jails since 2016. The Associated Press reports that those complaints include at least 22 inmate deaths, and more than $1.1 million of the payouts involved Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, which is now under federal investigation. The Tennessee Department of Corrections has fined CoreCivic $37.7 million across four prisons since 2016, including $11.1 million for problems at Trousdale, according to the news outlet.

Memphis-based Community Legal Center has announced the appointment of Betsy Prendergast as its interim executive director. She replaces Diana Comes, who was with the center since 2021 and oversaw the organization’s move to Brinkley Plaza. Prendergast has been serving as a staff attorney and was a past member of the group's board of directors. The center also announced that Dawna E. Snipes is a new elder law staff attorney and Susie Espinoza is a new program coordinator. Finally, the center is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year with an event on Nov. 8 from 7-9 p.m. CDT at the Crosstown Theater. Buy tickets here or contact Austin Brown at 901-402-0509 with questions.

Judge Joshua Turnbow was sworn in to the 23rd Judicial District Circuit Court on Sept. 13. He received a degree in finance from the University of Tennessee and his law degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. After his first year of law school, he participated in a program that paired him with then 23rd District Circuit Court Judge Robert Burch. "He would let me ride with him to every county," Turnbow said. “[H]e also helped start the drug court program here in the 23rd district ... I was so impressed by that program and the impact it can have on peoples’ lives and the impact Judge Birch had on peoples’ lives through his judgeship." The 23rd Judicial District covers five counties: Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys and Stewart. Turnbow grew up in Charlotte, in Dickson County, a few miles from the courthouse where he will preside. Read more from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) and Egerton McAfee Armistead & Davis will hold the 2024 Pro Bono Recognition Night on Nov. 7 from 5-8 p.m. EST. The event will take place at The Standard, 416 W. Jackson Ave., Knoxville 37902 and will honor the work of area pro bono attorneys over the past year. Since 1965, LAET has transformed lives throughout the region, and this has been made possible through pro bono attorneys who volunteer their time. Purchase tickets here.

Layla Soliz, a Knoxville woman arrested in May during pro-Palestinian protests on the campus of the University of Tennessee College of Law, is suing the Knox County Sheriff's Office in federal court. The suit stems from a mug shot of Soliz taken without her hijab that was subsequently made public, despite assurances to the contrary. According to Knox News, Soliz is suing for at least $250,000 in damages and for her picture to be expunged from the sheriff's office database. She also wants to amend the sheriff's office policy so that hijabi women no longer have to remove their head coverings for future mug shots.

The Petitioner, Kenyon Demario Reynolds, appeals from the Knox County Criminal Court’s denial of post-conviction relief from his convictions for second degree murder, delivery and sale of a Schedule I controlled substance, and unlawful possession of a firearm. On appeal, the Petitioner contends that the post-conviction court erred by denying relief on his ineffective assistance of counsel claim. We affirm the judgment of the postconviction court.

The Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct has issued a reprimand to Putnam County General Sessions Judge Steven Randolph for actions taken in a case involving an unlicensed driver who damaged his vehicle. The board found that Randolph should not have heard the case since he had an interest in its outcome, including the payment of restitution. Randolph argued that the defendant had waived any recusal challenges, that the amount of restitution to be paid was “miniscule” and any violation was “technical, not substantive,” but nonetheless acknowledged he should not have heard the case. His actions were determined to violate Rules of Judicial Conduct 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3. Access the letter of reprimand here or on the Administrative Office of the Courts' website.

Geri McBride, individually and d/b/a The Real Estate Shop (“Buyer”), sued Cynthia H. Allison (“Seller”) for breach of contract with respect to a real estate purchase and sale agreement. Following a bench trial, the trial court found that Seller had breached the agreement and granted Buyer specific performance but denied Buyer’s request for attorney’s fees. Seller filed a motion to alter or amend the judgment, or alternatively for a new trial. The trial court denied Seller’s post-judgment motion, and Seller appealed to this Court. We affirm the trial court’s grant of specific performance to the Buyer and reverse the trial court’s denial of Buyer’s request for attorney’s fees.

A Lake County jury convicted the Defendant, Christopher R. Smith, of two counts of aggravated assault, a Class C felony. The trial court sentenced the Defendant as a career offender to consecutive fifteen-year sentences for each conviction. On appeal, the Defendant asserts that the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions. After review, we affirm the trial court’s judgment in Count 1 for aggravated assault, modify Count 2 to a conviction for assault, and remand for entry of an amended judgment and sentencing on Count 2.

October 7, 2024 - October 11, 2024