The Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation announced Katherine "Kitty" Boyte as the fifth recipient of its Sue Ann Head Award for Excellence in Workers' Compensation. The award was presented to Boyte at a luncheon ceremony during the group's educational conference on June 15 in Murfreesboro. The award honors a professional who has or is currently making a lasting, positive impact on Tennessee’s workers’ compensation system.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin announced that the committee will mark up ethics legislation for the U.S. Supreme Court in July. The ABA Journal reports that Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, tweeted Wednesday that the Supreme Court “is in an ethical crisis of its own making.” Currently, federal trial-level and appellate judges — but not Supreme Court justices — are bound by the Code of Conduct for United States Judges. In February, the ABA House of Delegates called on the Supreme Court to adopt a binding code of ethics for its justices that is similar to the code for other federal judges.

Tennessee’s Community Corrections program for felony offenders is set to be renewed when a new law takes effect July 1. According to the Tennessee Lookout, the Department of Correction is believed to be assessing the program to determine its next step. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Andrew Farmer, R-Sevierville, and Sen. Ed Jackson, R-Jackson, placed “community-based supervision” back into state law and will allow Community Corrections to provide intensive probation, treatment and supervision for convicted felons who, otherwise, could be headed to prison.

Preliminary results in the House District 3 special election show that Timothy Hill of Blountville won the Republican primary election with 81% of the votes, according to unofficial results from the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office. Hill is filling the seat recently vacated by Scotty Campbell, R-Mountain City, who resigned after an internal investigation by a state subcommittee in late March found that he violated a discrimination and harassment policy. Hill will face Democrat Lori Love of Kingsport in the general election on Aug. 3.

Above the Law has released its annual Top 50 Law School Rankings. Vanderbilt Law School has dropped two places to seventh on the list, while the University of Tennessee College of Law has moved up five places to 43. See the full list of rankings here.

In an 8-1 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday ruled that states cannot challenge the Biden administration’s guidelines for when to deport migrants from the country. The Hill reports that the suit from Texas and Louisiana challenged the Department of Homeland Security's immigration enforcement policies, which includes guidelines for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to prioritize certain immigrants for detention and deportation. The policy urges agents to focus on the most serious and violent criminals for deportation.

Former Memphis Police officers Justin Smith and Tadarrius Bean have filed motions to have their cases tried separately from the other three officers who are charged in the beating and death of Tyre Nichols. The Commercial Appeal reports that both motions point to every officer being charged with two counts of aggravated kidnapping — which were assessed for each of the scenes at which officers interacted with Nichols — and some of the officers were not at both scenes. 

Undocumented Tennesseans are no longer able to access basic reproductive services like family planning and birth control at health clinics that formerly relied on federal Title X funding. According to the Commercial Appeal, Tennessee lost millions in federal money due to noncompliance with a key Title X requirement that providers had to offer information on all options for pregnant patients, including information about abortion access. Tennessee's post-Dobbs policy stated patients "must be provided information and counseling regarding all options that are legal in the State of Tennessee." While the state has budgeted funds to replace the lost federal dollars, its policies do not allow the money to be used to provide services for undocumented families and individuals.

Nashville’s Metro Council has approved $6.5 million to improve radio communications between Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) and police and install shatter-resistant protection on glass across the district. WPLN reports that at a meeting last week, MNPS officials highlighted several ways the council could support the district’s safety goals. An updated radio system will help ensure seamless communication between schools and police in case of an emergency. The glass protection will make it more resistant to breaking if an intruder attempts to force their way in.

The TBA Animal Law Forum will take place Sept. 22 at the Nashville Zoo. The annual favorite allows attendees to earn CLE in a fun environment and explore the award-winning facility. This year’s forum will feature topics relevant to several practice areas, including general ethics, pets in divorce, veterinarian liability, crimes against animals, conservation and more. Breakfast, lunch and admission are provided, with an extended lunch break in the savannah and an optional walk around the zoo. Space is limited for this experience, so register now before it’s too late. You never know who, or what, might show up!

When: Sept. 22, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. CDT
Where: Nashville Zoo, 3777 Nolensville Pike

REGISTER NOW