The Davidson County General Sessions Domestic Violence Court has been selected to participate in a domestic violence court mentorship program run by the Center for Justice Innovation and the U.S. Department of Justice. The Nashville Banner reported on the development in a recent newsletter (scroll to the seventh story). The goal of the program is to provide resources and education on how to better handle domestic violence cases and improve outcomes for victims and children. Davidson County’s domestic violence docket was established in 2014, and is currently presided over by three judges: Allegra Walker, Ana Escobar and Marcus Floyd.

The 21st Annual TBA Leadership Law (TBALL) program is accepting nominations for the 2025 class through tomorrow. Nominees should have from five to 15 years of experience in practice. Nominations should be submitted using this online form. Last year, 35 lawyers from across the state were accepted into the program. The new class will kick off in January 2025 with an opening retreat at Montgomery Bell State Park and end next June with a commencement ceremony during the TBA Annual Convention in Franklin. Email TBALL coordinators Tanja Trezise or Jarod Word with any questions.

The U.S Justice Department announced Monday it plans to launch a review of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, a white mob attack on a Black district in Oklahoma. The attack is considered one of the worst single acts of violence against Black people in U.S. history, according to Associated Press. The review — initiated under the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act, a federal cold-case initiative — aims to detail findings by year's end. While prosecutors have "no expectation" of living perpetrators, the descendants of survivors have embraced the news. The Oklahoma Supreme Court previously dismissed a lawsuit by survivors seeking reparations. According to the article, survivors hope the investigation will bolster their efforts to seek financial amends for the attack.

The TBA's annual Animal Law Forum is taking place this Friday at the Nashville Zoo. This unique CLE will provide updates on trends and advancements in animal law while allowing participants to network with each other and enjoy all the zoo has to offer. 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!

A survey by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism found nearly a quarter of lawyers in that state were victims of workplace bullying within the past year, according to Reuters. Of the more than 6,000 Illinois lawyers surveyed, 24% said they had recently experienced bullying on the job, with the rate higher among women, racial minorities, LGBTQ+ and younger lawyers, the survey reports. The report recommends that legal workplaces develop and enforce anti-bullying policies, that law schools offer anti-bullying training, and that judges enforce anti-bullying policies in their courtrooms.

A Memphis man who drowned while saving a child from a flooded ditch has been posthumously honored with the Carnegie Medal, a prestigious award recognizing civilian heroism, according to the Daily Memphian. Will Drennan, a father of two, died in August 2022 while attempting to rescue a young boy during a severe storm. This has earned him national recognition for his bravery. Drennan’s son, Hayden, who was present at the scene of the accident, often describes his father as a superhero, the paper reports.

Ascension Saint Thomas, Rutherford County’s largest hospital, plans to rebuild and expand its sexual assault exam program according to Tennessee Lookout. Earlier this year, the hospital had allegedly stopped providing specialized sexual assault nurse exams (SANE exams) according to the Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Center in Murfreesboro and a Rutherford County district attorney, who also noted that the exams yield key evidence needed to bring perpetrators to justice. A hospital spokesperson earlier this month denied claims that the hospital had stopped performing exams. The hospital now has released a written plan outlining its commitment to “rebuilding and expanding" the program, which it said had been facing staffing shortages.

Tennessee's congressional delegation is advocating for the establishment of a federal passport agency in Nashville, citing legal concerns related to access and efficiency in passport processing for residents. Currently, Nashville-area residents must travel several hours to the nearest agency in Atlanta, hindering timely applications and renewals, according to Axios Nashville. The delegation, led by the U.S. Rep. John Rose, a Republican from Cookeville, has formally questioned Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding Nashville's exclusion from the State Department's recent announcement of six new passport offices. In the letter, the representatives highlight the significant legal and practical challenges faced by constituents who require expedited passport services.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Monday requested the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) expedite resources under his Major Disaster Declaration to assist Tennessee’s storm and flood victims. If the request is granted, Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties will receive public assistance and individual assistance on top of the federal assistance that has already been authorized. Lee surveyed storm damage and met with local officials in affected areas of East Tennessee this week, KnoxNews reports. The TBA has resources for lawyers who need assistance and those wanting to help colleagues. Access more information about those opportunities.

Terrance McNeil, an assistant professor at Tennessee State University’s College of Education, has been appointed chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of State and Local Government Law's Public Education Committee. McNeil, who has a focus in educational leadership, will serve in the role until August 2025. With more than 20 years in K-12 and higher education, McNeil has experience in program coordination, curriculum development and grant writing, according to a press release from the group. McNeil received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in political science and a doctorate degree in educational leadership from Florida A&M University. The ABA Section of State and Local Government Law serves as a resource for lawyers involved in urban, state and local government law and policy.