Ahead of this month’s special session, several state legislators from Memphis met with constituents to hear what they would like to see accomplished during the session. Members of the Memphis Police Department joined about 50 people Tuesday night at the Riverside Missionary Baptist Church to talk about legislative proposals to address crime and violence in the city. The Commercial Appeal reports that those who spoke called for greater youth resources and stronger gun laws.

Officials from the U.S. Department of Justice said this week they are "just getting started" in their pattern or practice investigation of the Memphis Police Department. According to the Commercial Appeal, officials from the department held their first meeting via a Zoom call to explain the investigation to Memphians, introduce themselves and allow residents to pose questions as they prepare for the investigation.

White County General Sessions Court Judge John Meadows now can hear adoption cases thanks to a private bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Paul Sherrell and Sen. Paul Bailey, both of Sparta. The legislation was approved by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Bill Lee during the last session, Sparta Alive reports. Under Tennessee law, only chancery and circuit courts have jurisdiction, power and authority to hear and decide adoption cases. The change was enacted to expedite adoption proceedings in the county, where residents often had to wait to be scheduled on a crowded docket and then travel to Cookeville for court appearances. According to the Department of Children’s Services, the change will “accelerate child placement, namely allowing for a judicial waiver to speed adoption finalization from six to three months if a court sees fit.”

After 28 years on the bench, Hamilton County Circuit Court Judge L. Marie Williams will retire as of Jan. 3, 2024, due to family concerns, the Times Free Press reports. Williams indicated her plans in a letter sent to Gov. Bill Lee on July 27. "Needs of my family, which were not anticipated when I sought re-election, now require me to retire," Williams said. Whoever is appointed to fill Williams' seat will have a quick turnaround for campaigning, with primary elections set for March 5 and general elections in August.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito last week blocked a Texas-based federal judge’s decision to strike down a regulation aimed at reining in firearms known as “ghost guns,” Reuters reports. Alito put the case on hold for one week, which ends tomorrow. The Justice Department issued the gun rule in 2022 to target the proliferation of homemade weapons kits that can purchased without a background check. The rule would require manufacturers to be licensed, to conduct background checks and to add serial numbers to their products. U.S. Judge Reed O’Connor blocked the rule nationwide in July saying the department exceeded its authority in adopting it. The administration asked the Supreme Court to halt the ruling while it appeals to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Florida-based Unbottleneck, a provider of remote staffing services, is growing its offerings in the legal sector, naming Nashville-based attorney Larry Bridgesmith as a strategic adviser. Services provided by the company include virtual legal receptionists, legal administrators, legal transcriptionists, legal operations managers and legal project managers. Bridgesmith has taught at Vanderbilt and Belmont universities and is a co-founder of the International Institute of Legal Project Management, the Nashville Post reports.

Nashville law firm Neal & Harwell has named John Southwood as its director of financial operations. Southwood previously served as director of financing and accounting at Waller Lansden for 14 years. He also was chief financial officer at Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry for 13 years before it merged with Bradley Arant Rose & White. Southwood holds an MBA degree in accounting from Vanderbilt University and an undergraduate degree from the University of the South. The Nashville Post has more on the story.

Join us Aug. 30 in Chattanooga for Intersections of Family Law. Hosted by the TBA Family Law Section, this event will examine how domestic law intersects with other legal segments to provide a more holistic view to incorporate into practice. Speakers include Chattanooga family law attorney Barry Gold with McWilliams, Gold & Larramore and TBA's Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs Berkley Schwarz. The program will run from 1-3:30 p.m. EDT in the Chattanooga office of Baker Donelson.

Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp says that the county's opioid epidemic is her top priority, and she will hire a chief opioid prosecutor, a new item specified in the county’s budget effective July 1. The chief opioid prosecutor is the newest category of chief prosecutors since Wamp took office last September. The Chattanoogan reports that a Tennessee statute allows a person who sells or delivers illegal drugs to be charged with second-degree murder if the drugs result in death. But Wamp said the connection is very difficult to prove, usually requiring an eyewitness or cell phone records. A dedicated prosecutor with experience can follow that thread, she said.

Tennessee Bar Association staff and leaders are in Denver this week joining colleagues from across the country for a series of bar leadership meetings. Senior staff members, led by Executive Director Sheree Wright, are taking part in National Association of Bar Professionals seminars on current trends, wellness, cybersecurity, technology and other topics. TBA President Jim Barry and other leaders will take part in National and Southern Conference of Bar Presidents meetings later in the week and delegates to the ABA House of Delegates will also join in at a Sunday night reception honoring TBA Immediate Past President Tasha Blakney.