The Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) will hold its annual Bench & Bar Celebration on Sept. 5 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. EDT at the Knoxville Convention Center, 701 Henley St., 37902. The program will begin at 6:15 p.m. EDT. The event will honor local members of the judiciary and justices of the Tennessee Supreme Court, and include a special welcome to the Tennessee Supreme Court’s newest justice, Mary L. Wagner. Get details and a link to register on the KBA website.

Ordinary Americans are “getting whacked” by too many laws and regulations, Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch says in a new book that underscores his skepticism of federal agencies and the power they wield. “Over Ruled: The Human Toll of Too Much Law” was co-authored by his former law clerk Janie Nitze and focuses on the real life stories of Americans who risked jail time, fines, deportation and other hardships over federal rules. “Too little law and we’re not safe, and our liberties aren’t protected … But too much law and you actually impair those same things,” Gorsuch told The Associated Press in an interview.

The Tennessee Attorney General’s office has filed a notice of appeal after a three-judge panel threw out a state law that would have required the Nashville Metro Council to be cut from 40 seats to 20, the Tennessean reports. The panel ruled 2-1 at the end of July that the law violated the Tennessee Constitution’s Home Rule Amendment, which protects local governments from legislation targeting them. The law had been under injunction since April 2023, allowing Nashville to proceed with its August 2023 Metro Council elections with its full governing body. Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti released a statement today and provided a link to the filing.

Paralegals in Texas who are licensed under a proposed new program will be able to provide some legal services to low-income individuals, Reuters reports. Paralegals will have to abide by rules preliminarily approved by the state's top court. Joining other U.S. states that have created similar programs, the Texas Supreme Court said in an order that allowing licensed legal paraprofessionals to deliver limited legal services in areas including family law, estate planning, probate law and consumer debt law will help close the "justice gap" and address unmet civil legal needs.

As part of its 50th anniversary campaign, "Protecting the Promise," the Legal Services Commission (LSC) commissioned a survey to look at perceptions of civil legal aid. Results of the survey have been released and, according to the group, show that more than half of Americans (56%) mistakenly believe they are entitled to free legal representation for all civil matters if they cannot afford a lawyer. That number is even higher for young adults (18-34) with two out of three (67%) holding that belief, LSC said. Results also revealed that many Americans who experienced civil legal issues in the past three years did not seek legal help, thinking that the issues were not serious enough or that they could handle them on their own.

The Hamilton County Commission will select an attorney to fill the Hamilton County General Sessions Court seat that Judge Alex McVeagh will vacate when he takes office as circuit court judge on Sept. 1. Applications are now being accepted from qualified attorneys interested in the appointment, Chattanoogan.com reports. To apply, a letter of interest and resume should be filed with the Hamilton County Commission, 401 Hamilton County Courthouse, 625 Georgia Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37402. The application period will close on Aug. 13 at 2 p.m. EDT. Interviews with commissioners will determine the top six candidates, who then will appear before the commission on Aug. 21 at 11 a.m. EDT. The appointee will serve until the August 2026 general election. The winner of that election will serve until 2030, which is when the McVeagh’s term would have expired.

The 2024 Animal Law Forum will take place Oct. 4 at the Nashville Zoo. This unique opportunity provides updates on trends and advancements in animal law while allowing participants to network and enjoy the fun and activities the zoo offers. Topics at this year’s forum include a legislative update, veterinarians and animal cruelty, pet trusts, pet liability and attorney wellness. Zoo admission, breakfast and lunch are included with the program. Do not miss this event; you never know who is going to show up! Register now.

Save the date for the annual Animal Law Forum on Oct. 4! This unique opportunity will provide updates on trends and advancements in animal law while allowing participants to network and enjoy the fun and activities the Nashville Zoo offers. Zoo admission, breakfast and lunch are included with the program. Don't miss this event; you never know who is going to show up!

Tickets are still available for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation’s (TWRF) Wildlife Conservation Raffle. The annual contest funds conservation projects such as public land acquisition and habitat management. This year’s prize package includes a Caymas CX bass boat, a $50,000 voucher which can be applied to a new vehicle from any Mid-South Ford dealership, and an Oliver Travel Trailer, among other awards. Tickets are on sale now through Sept. 15, and there is no limit to the number that can be purchased. Learn more on the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency website.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has ruled the National Institutes of Health (NIH) violated the First Amendment by restricting messages in comment sections of its Facebook and Instagram posts. The case stems from actions taken against animal rights activists who were posting comments critical of NIH programs that tested drugs or medical procedures on animals. The organization used keyword filters to automatically block all comments containing words such as “animals,” “cruelty,” “monkeys,” “testing” and “torture.” The court said NIH had not articulated “some sensible basis for distinguishing what [comments] may come in from what must stay out,” and its lack of sensitivity to the context of public comments “reinforces its unreasonableness.” One of the plaintiffs in the case, Madeline Krasno, is also suing the University of Wisconsin at Madison regarding removal of posts about animal abuse she allegedly witnessed in a monkey research lab at the school. NIH declined to comment or say whether it would appeal. The Washington Post has more.