The TBA Young Lawyers Division met last week at the TBA's 2024 Annual Convention in Memphis. On Friday, the group held its Annual Meeting during which Franklin attorney Sean Aiello took office as president. Others taking office were President-elect Alex McVeagh, Hamilton County General Sessions judge; Vice President Jen Sneed of Memphis; Secretary Ross Smith of Nashville; and Treasurer Darius Walker Jr. of Nashville. The 2024-2025 YLD Board met on Saturday for committee planning sessions and its first board meeting. On Friday evening, both the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 boards met for the YLD annual dinner and gavel pass tradition. They were joined by members of the 2024 DLI Class for their graduation and the YLD Fellows for induction of new fellows. The YLD Fellows also elected new officers: Jackson lawyer Michelle Greenway Sellers, president; Memphis lawyer Mason Wilson, vice president; Chattanooga lawyer David McDowell, secretary; and Memphis lawyer Nicole Grida, treasurer. Click the links above to see photos from the events.

The Tennessee Democratic Party (TNDP) on Thursday announced the hiring of Brian Córdova as its new executive director. Córdova is joining the TNDP after almost a decade of working in Tennessee politics. He served as political director for the House and Senate Democratic Caucuses in 2022 and has worked on or consulted on races across Tennessee and around the country, including in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Hawaii. Clarksville Online has more.

The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a federal law that bans people under domestic violence restraining orders from owning firearms, rejecting a defendant’s challenge to the ban. The Hill reports that the 8-1 decision, with Chief Justice John Roberts writing for the majority, noted a tradition of disarming individuals found to pose a credible threat to the physical safety of another. Justice Clarence Thomas was the lone dissenter, writing that “not a single historical regulation justifies that statute at issue.”

HB2472/SB2682, sponsored by Rep. Kevin Raper, R-Cleveland, and Sen. Dawn White, R-Murfreesboro — both former teachers — was signed into law recently by Gov. Bill Lee. The new law requires a one-year suspension for students who assault teachers at school. According to data from the Tennessee Department of Education, there were 1,918 assaults of teachers and staff reported by schools across Tennessee during the 2022-2023 school year ― the highest number in the last five years and up nearly 700 from the 2021-2022 school year. “We have a teacher shortage,” Raper said. “And we are losing a number of these teachers because they just said 'I'm not going back to this situation, and I'll go work somewhere else.'” The Tennessean reports on the story.

TBA's annual Adoption Law Forum will be held Sept. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT at the Tennessee Bankers Association's Barrett Training Center in Nashville. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available!

The Biden administration will allow certain undocumented immigrants who are married to U.S. citizens to stay in the country and work legally, expanding a program that’s currently used for immediate family of military service members. The Hill reports that the new effort, announced Tuesday, expands the “parole in place” program to new individuals and pairs it with measures designed to make the work visa application easier for those — particularly DACA beneficiaries — who have graduated from U.S. colleges and have been in the United States for 10 years. Approved applicants will receive a three-year work permit, deferral from deportation and three years to apply for permanent residency.

Petitioner, Jason L. White, appeals the Shelby County Criminal Court’s denial of his “Petition for Writ of Error Coram Nobis.” Following our review of the entire record, the briefs and oral arguments of the parties, and the applicable law, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Grandmother appeals the denial of her petition for grandparent visitation, arguing that the trial court failed to apply the presumption of irreparable harm contained in Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-6-306(a)(5). Because Grandmother never asked the trial court to apply a rebuttable presumption of harm, we affirm.

Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel will hold an open house on June 27 to showcase its newly renovated 17th floor. The new space is designed to foster a professional, collaborative environment that enhances the firm’s ability to provide exceptional client service, according to the firm. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. EDT with remarks at 6 p.m. for dedication of the Songwood Library in honor of longtime partner Max Bahner and his wife Sara. The firm is located in the Liberty Tower at 605 Chestnut St., Ste. 1700, Chattanooga 37450. Hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served. Bahner served as TBA president from 1980-1981.

A growing number of law schools are adding courses and degree programs in artificial intelligence (AI) as a way to meet employer demand and capitalize on the booming AI industry. According to a recent American Bar Association (ABA) survey, more than half of schools now offer classes on AI, while at least two law schools — Arizona State University and University of California Berkeley — are launching special degree programs focused on AI. Reuters reports on the developments. The TBA launched an AI Task Force this past spring to explore the intersection of AI and the legal profession with the goal of ensuring that Tennessee attorneys are well-equipped to navigate this evolving technology.