The Tennessee Bar Foundation has announced important dates for the 2024 IOLTA grant application process. The grant application is now available on the foundation’s website, which also has tips for drafting successful applications. Funding is available for projects that improve the administration of justice or provide legal services. Completed applications must be submitted in hard copy via U.S. mail with a visible postmark dated no later than Sept. 13. IOLTA awards are made possible from the interest earned on lawyers’ pooled trust checking accounts. The foundation predicts that the total grant amount for 2024 will increase significantly over the 2023 total and encourages all organizations, but especially new applicants, to apply.

The ABA’s legal education arm has advanced a proposal that would require all law schools to have written free speech policies as part of the accreditation process, Reuters reports. Schools would develop their own policies but such policies would have to protect the rights of faculty, staff and students to communicate controversial or unpopular ideas; safeguard robust debate or protests; and forbid disruptive activities that hinder free expression or interfere with law school functions. A member of the ABA Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar said the proposal was born out of two concerns: legislative efforts to restrict the teaching of certain subjects and controversial speakers not being allowed to express their opinions on campus.

The Commercial Appeal take a deep dive into what it says is an increasing mortality rate at the Shelby County Jail. The paper found that 52 individuals have died in custody since 2016, and that in just the past three years, the mortality rate has gone up sharply compared to the average population. The majority of deaths have been attributed to cardiovascular issues, followed by suicide and then by drug use. One individual was killed by a fellow inmate. The paper also looks at nationwide trends on inmate deaths and the lack of reliable information when deaths occur.

Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp’s office has released surveillance footage of a shooting that killed an alleged offender Aug. 11 at a Speedway in Chattanooga, WDEF reports. City police officers were seeking to serve warrants on several individuals, including Roger Heard Jr., who were suspected of a number of criminal activities. Police located Heard at the gas station and when they attempted to approach his vehicle, Heard shot an officer, wounding him in the arm. Police then killed Heard, a Black man, which lead to calls from community members for a full investigation, AP reports. Police say they later found a large amount of cash, approximately one pound of marijuana and a stolen firearm on Heard, who as a previously convicted felon should not have been in possession of a firearm.

The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance voted last week to take no action regarding allegations of questionable contributions to Nashville District Attorney General Glenn Funk's reelection campaign, News Channel 5 reports. Registry board members credited Funk for quickly working to respond to questions raised by media reports and argued that there was nothing else for them to do since no one filed a sworn complaint alleging violations of campaign finance laws. The station had questioned payments to companies that were not registered with the state and the affidavits of two donors, one who told the station he did not make a donation and another who could not recall making a donation to Funk's campaign.

Legal Aid of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands will hold three legal clinics this week. On Wednesday, a legal clinic specifically for veterans will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at Operation Stand Down, 1125 12th Ave. S., Nashville 37203. On Thursday, a clinic will be held at the Greenhouse Ministries, 309 South Academy St., Murfreesboro 37130 from 3-4:30 p.m. CDT. Then on Saturday, the Belmont Clinic will be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m. CDT at 2005 12th Ave. S., Nashville 37204. See all August clinics. To volunteer, contact Kendra Cheek, 615-780-7131.

The investiture ceremony for incoming Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Dwight E. Tarwater will take place Sept. 5 at 3 p.m. EDT at the Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay St., Knoxville 37902. Gov. Bill Lee will be on hand to administer the oath of office and a reception will follow the ceremony. Please RSVP to tscrsvp@painetarwater.com by Friday to attend. View the invitation.

Registration is now open for the TBA's Law & Culture in Ireland CLE program scheduled for May 2024. Two travel options are available: a four-night trip to Dublin and a six-night trip to Dublin and Belfast. In conjunction with CLE Abroad, travelers will engage with local experts, academics, officials and change makers who will offer in-depth commentary on the EU and UK legal-political systems, economics, environmental justice, history and religion. In Dublin, the group also will explore ancient castles, visit landmarks, museums and notable legal institutions, and sample local cuisine. In Belfast, travelers will learn about the region's unique political history, Good Friday Agreement, ongoing reconciliation efforts and peace process. Add on trips to the West Coast and Cliffs of Moher also are available. View a brochure for the trip or learn more online.

Five former Memphis Police Department officers facing charges in the death of Tyre Nichols appeared in court last week. Shelby County Criminal Court Judge James Jones Jr. scheduled a Sept. 15 date to consider motions from three officers — Desmond Mills Jr., Justin Smith and Tadarrius Bean — requesting separate trials. Mills is the most recent former officer to make this request; Smith and Bean filed their motions in June. The officers are charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and oppression. While some expect a federal criminal case against the officers, pretrial motions and a trial date are yet to be set, pending the judge's ruling on the release of additional documents and video footage related to the case. The Daily Memphian has the story.

House Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons of Nashville is calling for an audit of Gov. Bill Lee’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives after concerns were raised about the allocation and transparency of $1.2 million in taxpayer funds provided to the office. Clemmons has asked the state comptroller to examine both the state office and its affiliated nonprofit, the Faith Based and Community Initiatives Foundation. The Tennessean reports that the audit request comes amid questions about the use of the funds and the operational effectiveness of the office, including the redirection of its website to a non-related site and a lack of recent social media activity.