An item in Friday’s issue of TBA Today contained information from a KnoxNews story that was not correct. The article dealt with the awarding of cy pres funds in a recently decided lawsuit involving international accounting firm KPMG LLP. The article incorrectly stated that Tennessee attorney Gordon Ball had argued for unclaimed funds to be directed to the University of Tennessee's Neel Corporate Governance Center. That request was in fact made by lead plaintiff Lewis Cosby, as is noted in the Report and Recommendation filing from U.S. Magistrate Judge Debra Poplin. The article also said that there was more than $23 million available in unclaimed funds. This is incorrect. That number is the amount set aside for victims, not the amount unclaimed.

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 CLEAbroad, 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.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (LAS) will host a free legal clinic Wednesday at Operation Stand Down, 1125 12th Ave S., Nashville 37203. The clinic will offer help to veterans on a variety of civil and criminal legal issues. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT . Call 615-248-1981 to schedule or for more information. To volunteer, contact Kendra Cheek, 615-780-7131. Watch the LAS website for clinics coming in August.

Magistrate Judge Debra Poplin ruled today that unclaimed funds set aside from a lawsuit involving international accounting firm KPMG be directed to the Institute for Law & Economic Policy, KnoxNews reports. The Eastern District U.S. judge chose the recipient at the recommendation of law firm Cohen, Milstein, Sellers and Toll.

Alabama lawmakers declined to create a second majority-Black congressional district today in defiance of a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in June to give minority voters a greater voice in elections, reports Associated Press. The senate instead created a plan to increase the percentage of Black voters from 31% to 40% in the state’s 2nd District. The map was completed hours before a court-imposed deadline. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is expected to sign the legislation.

Stanford law dean Jenny Martinez informed students in an email yesterday that Tirien Steinbach has stepped down as associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion, reports Reuters. On March 9, Steinbach joined students protesting a visit by 5th U.S. Circuit Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan, who had been invited by the campus chapter of the Federalist Society. A widely circulated video showed Steinbach intervening on behalf of protestors and claiming Duncan's positions on LGBTQ+ people and others might make his presence painful for some students. Steinbach was criticized for her comments and that her failure to stop the protestors was in violation of Stanford’s free speech policies.

The TBA Environmental Law Section will host its annual forum on Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CST in Nashville. This program offers timely information on environmental legal issues. Do not miss this opportunity to learn from seasoned practitioners in the field! Visit the course site for registration and more info. 

Seven of the leading tech companies in competition to create artificial intelligence programs including Microsoft, Google and Open AI have agreed to new commitments on safeguards, sharing and developing new technology, NPR reports. President Biden said that in addition to the safeguards, the White House is working closely with Congress to develop legislation that will address concerns about AI technology. Programs such as OpenAI, which can create text, photographs, music, speech and other media independent of human input, have faced multiple intellectual property lawsuits as well as increased scrutiny from Congress and government regulators.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy announced today that Vishant Shah has been hired as the county’s first data officer, reports the Commercial Appeal. As data officer, Shah will collect and analyze data from around the county's criminal justice system, including law enforcement and the courts. The information collected will be used internally to improve the efficiency of the DA's office. In addition, Shah plans to make the data public through the DA’s website.

The Democratic-led Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-10 today along party lines to advance a bill that would mandate a binding ethics code for the Supreme Court, reports Reuters. The legislation would impose new requirements for financial disclosures and for recusal from cases in which a justice may have a conflict of interest. The bill would require Republican support to win passage in the full Senate. Democrats have sought legislation after reports by Associated Press, ProPublica and other news outlets that have called into question both liberal and conservative judge's adherence to practicing full disclosure of outside income and gifts.