The annual Access to Justice Awards were presented to six outstanding legal community leaders as part of Equal Justice University in Murfreesboro. The awards recognized Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee, Judge Suzanne Bauknight, Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle, Allison Jones, Elizabeth Leiserson and Julie Yriat. Retiring Justice Lee received the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her exceptional contributions to the civil justice system. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Bauknight received the Janice M. Holder Access to Justice Award in recognition of her role in creating the statewide virtual debt relief clinic model. Chancellor Lyle and Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands (LAS) attorney Jones were both recognized with the B. Riney Green Access to Justice Award for their work in promoting successful inter-program cooperation across the state. Finally, LAS attorney Leiserson and Yriat, legal director at the Nashville Hispanic Bar Association, were recognized as New Advocates of the Year, both working with the Eviction Right to Counsel Project in Davidson County. Read more about the annual ATJ Awards on the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services website. The conference wrapped up today with a keynote address by Legal Services Corporation President Ron Flagg, who noted LSC's priority focus on innovation and technology to support legal services and better leverage pro bono initiatives. See photos from today's event.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti joined 15 other state attorneys general in urging the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to require any foreign-owned company to certify via an independent process that it is compliant with Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which prohibits the import of any product manufactured wholly or in part by forced labor as a condition of being listed on a U.S. based securities exchange. The attorneys general question the business practices and reports of alleged forced labor of the Chinese fast-fashion retailer SHEIN, which is potentially launching an initial public offering (IPO) later this year.

United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz yesterday traveled to Dyer County in the 29th Judicial District of West Tennessee to host a series of roundtable discussions with law enforcement, local prosecutors and community stakeholders. Roundtable participants had an open dialogue with the U.S. Attorney, addressing their issues and concerns and learning more about the department’s priorities, which include addressing gun violence.

The Hamilton County Concurrent Grand Jury for May-August provided high praise for the court system and strongly recommended the establishment of a veterans' court, noting that both the Trump and Biden administrations have funded mental health and drug court programs, which Gov. Lee also supports. The grand jury heard and deliberated on 192 cases, returning 162 indictments. It also received detailed information about various crimes, the challenges faced by law enforcement officers, and various programs aimed at addressing issues such as mental health and drug-related crimes. Additionally, the group recommended increased resources for drug enforcement training and better facilities and technology. The Chattanoogan has the grand jury’s full report.

The Hamilton County Commission has approved payment of additional legal bills, bringing the total cost of the Weston Wamp-Rheubin Taylor lawsuit to approximately $290,000. Both parties have decided to drop the case in Chancery Court and plan to work amicably together in the future, with County Mayor Wamp expressing a desire to move past the legal dispute and focus on the county's important work. The Chattanoogan has the breakdown of the total costs.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has revealed that it did not turn over all of the patient records requested by the Tennessee Attorney General's office in a billing investigation. The Tennessean reports that initially, VUMC informed over 150 patients that their comprehensive health records had been provided to the attorney general's office, but it later confirmed that records for only 82 patients were actually provided. The investigation, described as a "run-of-the-mill" fraud investigation by Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, has raised privacy concerns and led to two patients suing the hospital, claiming distress and hostility toward transgender people in the state.

A special invitation has been extended to those serving in the legal and law profession to celebrate the Annual Diocesan Red Mass at 5 p.m. CDT on Sept. 16 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 1695 Central Ave., Memphis 38104. As a time-honored tradition of the Catholic Church, the Red Mass is celebrated for judges, attorneys, law school professors, students and government officials, invoking guidance for all who seek justice.

Elected officials and community stakeholders in Memphis, including law enforcement leaders and state legislators, yesterday convened in a non-public public safety summit hosted by the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office. The gathering aimed to foster collaboration and address the root causes of crime in the city, with legislators considering potential legislation to address aggravated assaults and juvenile offenders within the criminal justice system. The Daily Memphian reports that they agreed on various initiatives to combat the city's crime crisis, focusing on violence prevention programs, addressing crime hotspot areas, providing rehabilitative services and sharing data among agencies. Preliminary results are expected in six to 18 months, with ongoing efforts to solve public safety issues.

The ACLU of Tennessee has filed a lawsuit to block the enforcement of the Adult Entertainment Act, which critics argue effectively bans drag shows. The Tennessee Lookout reports that this action comes after District Attorney Ryan Desmond warned organizers of Blount County Pride that he intended to enforce the act at their upcoming Sept. 2 event. While a federal judge previously declared the law unconstitutional, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has advised that the ruling only applies in the Memphis area, leading to continued enforcement threats in other parts of the state.

The Biden administration is requesting an additional $4 billion from Congress to replenish FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, bringing the total request to $16 billion. The Hill reports that this funding is needed in response to recent extreme weather events, including the Maui wildfires and Hurricane Idalia. President Joe Biden has emphasized the urgency of approving this funding to aid disaster-affected communities, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) today urged Congress to take swift action to approve it.