Maryam Abolfazli has officially launched a campaign for Tennessee's Fifth Congressional District seat, which is currently held by Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia. Abolfazli is running as a Democrat in a district that encompasses parts of Davidson and Williamson counties and southern Middle Tennessee, the Nashville Scene reports. Currently chair of the Metro Human Relations Commission, she has been active on local issues such as the recent Titans stadium deal and issues of gun safety, especially following the shooting at Nashville’s Covenant School. Ogles will face Brentwood cybersecurity expert Tom Guarente and singer-songwriter Stokes Nielson in the Republican primary. Abolfazli will run against Williamson County resident Kiran Sreepada in the Democratic primary.

Homeless advocacy group Open Table Nashville has filed an amicus brief in a U.S. Supreme Court case that could affect how cities and states address homeless encampments. The organization joins other service providers and legal advocates across the country in encouraging the Supreme Court to uphold a ruling that prevents cities from punishing people for sleeping outside when they have no access to adequate shelter. The brief comes in the case of Grants Pass v. Johnson, which involves an Oregon town seeking to enforce a ban on camping on public property. The U.S. 9th Circuit of Appeals previously ruled that such a ban violates the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. The Supreme Court will hear arguments on April 22, the Nashville Post reports. In 2022, Tennessee lawmakers made camping while homeless a felony.

Bobby Harshbarger — the son of U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger, who represents Tennessee's First Congressional District — will run against incumbent state Sen. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, in the Senate District 4 Republican primary, WJHL reports. The younger Harshbarger, a pharmacist, announced his campaign this week for the seat representing Hawkins and Sullivan counties. Lundberg was elected to the Senate in 2016 and currently chairs the Senate Education Committee. He also was a state representative for 10 years. The Republican primary will be held on Aug. 1, followed by the general election on Nov. 5.

Tennessee State University (TSU) is considering suing the state over 30 years of underfunding, WSMV reports. The move comes after the federal government found that the state owes TSU $2.1 billion. Leaders argue that funds meant for the school went to predominantly white schools across the state instead. The university has been in the news recently after the state legislature voted to vacate its board of directors and Gov. Bill Lee appointed new members. The news source notes that similar lawsuits filed by other historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have been successful.

Four members of the Tennessee Democratic Party Executive Committee have filed suit against the organization seeking to strip non-elected committee members of their right to vote on party business. According to Tennessee Lookout, the law mandates that political parties have an executive committee composed of one man and one woman from each of the state’s 33 Senate districts. The Democratic Party also allows representatives from the House and Senate Democratic Caucuses, Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women, Tennessee Democratic County Chairs Association, Tennessee Young Democrats, College Democrats and High School Democrats to serve on its executive committee. The group argues there is nothing in state law that allows these ex-officio members to have voting rights. The party argues that while the law sets out the minimum number of members, it does not prohibit the addition of others.

Sessions from this year's Construction Law Forum are now available for purchase in the CLE Course Catalog. Topics covered include contracts, dispute resolution, liens, the Prompt Pay Act, ethical considerations for each of these topics and a legislative update. Check out the individual videos or purchase the convenient 1-Click CLE package. 

The Tennessee Bar Association and Tennessee’s American Inns of Court are accepting nominations for the 2024 Judge Pamela L. Reeves Tennessee Professionalism Award through Monday. The annual award is presented to a lawyer or judge whose life and practice display sterling character and unquestioned integrity, coupled with ongoing dedication to the highest standards of the rule of law and the highest standards of the legal profession in Tennessee. This year's award will be presented to a lawyer or judge residing in the West Grand Division. Nominees must be alive when nominations are submitted but they need not be an active member of an American Inn of Court or the TBA. The award will be presented at the TBA's Annual Convention, which will be held in Memphis June 12-15.

Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee recently voted 5-3 to advance legislation that would move two judicial seats from Shelby County to other locations in the state. Before voting, the members heard from Memphis Bar Association member Justin Joy, who testified against the measure. Specifically, the bill, SB2517/HB2002, would move the circuit court seat held by state Supreme Court designee Mary Wagner to the East Tennessee district composed of Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties, while the criminal court seat previously held by Melissa Boyd would go to Montgomery and Robertson counties. Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis, offered an unsuccessful amendment to keep the positions in Memphis, but then was able to add language stating that if the bill becomes law, there should be an identifiable backlog where those cases could be distributed to circuit court judges with concurrent jurisdictions. Read more from Action News 5. The House Civil Justice Committee also approved its version of the bill yesterday, sending it to the Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee.

A bill that would make it a felony to help pregnant minors get abortion care, even if it includes taking them out of state, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday. It is now headed to the Senate Calendar Committee to be scheduled for a floor vote, WBIR reports. The bill, SB1971/HB1895 – introduced by Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, and Sen. Paul Rose, R-Covington – passed the House Health Committee in February, but was placed behind the budget in the House's Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee yesterday accepted the resignation of Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Melissa Boyd, who has been charged with coercion of a witness and harassment, and then jailed after she violated her bond agreement by testing positive for cocaine. Erin Merrick, Lee’s chief counsel, notified Boyd’s attorney of the decision in a brief letter, the Associated Press reports. Earlier in the day, Boyd had submitted a letter to the Administrative Office of the Courts saying she would resign immediately, a move that avoided a vote by the General Assembly to consider her removal from office. Her criminal trial is set for April 24.