Defendant, Michael Jason Holloway, appeals the Hamilton County Criminal Court’s denial of judicial diversion following his guilty plea to reckless aggravated assault, a Class D felony. He also contends that the State breached a material term of the plea agreement by taking a position on diversion at the sentencing hearing. Upon review of the entire record, the briefs and arguments of the parties, and the applicable law, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a class action lawsuit in federal court challenging Section 1 of HB1704, which makes it a Class A misdemeanor for noncitizens to remain in Tennessee within 90 days of a final removal order, according to NewsChannel 5 Nashville. The law will go into effect July 1, and a Class A misdemeanor carries a maximum sentence of 11 months and 29 days in jail and a maximum fine of $2,500. The suit asks the court to prevent the state from enforcing Section 1 of the bill and to declare it unlawful, and names Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Jeff Long and several district attorneys as defendants. The filing alleges that hundreds or thousands of individuals could face arrest, detention and prosecution if the law takes effect.

The Shelby County Board of Commissioners on June 1 delayed a vote on an $18 million funding proposal intended to settle a lawsuit filed by Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner against the administration of Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, according to the Daily Memphian. The proposed settlement would cover overtime costs and other expenses for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office during the current fiscal year. Commissioners postponed action until June 15 after county officials said they needed additional time to review potential compromises regarding the funding. The dispute centers on overtime expenditures, with county officials differing on whether the funding should be considered a one-time allocation or could affect future budget obligations under state maintenance-of-effort requirements.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (LAS) announced the launch of "Legal Aid in Action," a new weekly podcast. Hosted by Dean Hinton, a senior attorney with LAS, the podcast will feature staff members and community partners discussing common legal issues affecting Middle Tennessee residents. The first episode features LAS Executive Director DarKenya Waller. Future episodes will address topics including debt, orders of protection, Tennessee's Safe at Home program, the organization's Volunteer Lawyers Program, trauma-informed care and resources for domestic violence survivors. The podcast will be available on major platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. More information is available at their website and social media channels.

The 6th Circuit Judicial Council is accepting applications for a bankruptcy judge position in the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga following the retirement of Judge Shelley D. Rucker in 2024. The position carries a 14-year term, with the possibility of reappointment in accordance with Judicial Conference regulations and 6th Circuit Judicial Council procedures. Additional information and application materials are available online. The deadline to apply is June 23.

Bring your lunch and join us for Sandwiches & Sidebars, a new quarterly networking meet-up hosted by the TBA Mentoring Committee. This casual gathering is a great opportunity to meet new people, expand your professional network, exchange ideas and connect with fellow members of the legal community in a relaxed setting. The first event will take place on July 20 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. CDT at the TBA Office located at 3010 Poston Avenue, Nashville 37203. Free street parking is available. TBA members should drop in as their schedule allows — stay for a few minutes or the full two hours. From experienced to mid-career attorneys to young lawyers to law students, all members of the legal community are encouraged to attend. This event is supported by the Young Lawyers Division. Hope to see you there!

The TBA will host its 2026 Federal Practice Forum as a live virtual program on July 14 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT. The program will feature three sessions covering First Amendment issues, ethical rules governing communications with judges and immigration law developments. Speakers will include Audrey Calkins of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee; Michael Holly of the Office of the Federal Public Defender; U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee Judge Eli Richardson; and Joseph Jackson of Spears, Moore, Rebman & Williams. The forum is designed to provide practical guidance and timely updates for attorneys practicing in federal courts. For more information and to register visit the TBA website.

The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law hosted a reception honoring Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Holly M. Kirby ahead of her retirement at the end of June. Kirby earned her law degree from Memphis Law in 1982. The event — held in the law school's Gordon Ball Reading Room — was co-sponsored by the Memphis Bar Association and Burch, Porter & Johnson and brought together members of the legal community to celebrate Kirby's years of service on the bench. See photos from the event.

New lawyers were welcomed to the legal profession at swearing ceremonies in Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis and Jackson. Representatives from the TBA and local bar associations were on hand to congratulate the new admittees, who passed the February bar exam. See photos from the events.

A panel of judges on the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals recently rejected an Ohio lawyer’s bid to revive his disability discrimination claim. Bloomberg Law reports that Daniel Lonergan was seeking to sue his previous law firm employer alleging that he was fired after the firm rejected accommodation requests for his attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The judicial panel found that Lonergan failed to establish that he met the initial criteria for claiming bias under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The panel decision upheld a lower court’s dismissal of the case. Lonergan represented himself in the litigation. Read the court’s opinion, which was not recommended for publication.