In an opinion released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court held that a Grundy County resolution regulating quarry locations is effectively a zoning ordinance enacted in violation of the Tennessee County Zoning Act (CZA). The act requires counties to hold a public hearing and submit proposed ordinances to the regional planning commission before adopting zoning measures. The court found that Grundy County passed the ordinance without complying with those requirements. The suit was brought by two quarry owners after they were informed their property was in violation of a county ordinance requiring quarries to be located more than 5,000 feet away from specified types of establishments. The trial court and Court of Appeals agreed with the county that the ordinance was not a zoning regulation subject to the requirements of the CZA. The Supreme Court unanimously reversed, finding the ordinance divided the county into zones and regulated land use in a manner consistent with zoning, making it subject to the CZA's requirements. Read more in a release from the court.

The TBA’s 4th Annual Day on the Hill and the Big Shrimp legislative reception will take place March 18 in Nashville. The day will begin at 10:30 a.m. CDT at the Cordell Hull Building with presentations from TBA’s lobbying team and members of the General Assembly. Attendees then will meet with various legislators throughout the day, focusing on building relationships, championing TBA’s legislative priorities and advocating for elimination of the professional privilege tax. After the day’s meetings, attendees are invited to join colleagues, lawmakers and legislative staff at Hotel Indigo Nashville from 5-7 p.m. for the perennial favorite Big Shrimp legislative reception. The hotel is located at 315 Union St., Nashville 37201. Register here or email govaffairs@tnbar.org with questions.

Dickson Judge Shipp Robbley Weems died Nov. 14, 2025, at age 77. While attending the Nashville YMCA Night Law School (now Nashville School of Law), Weems was a teacher at White Bluff Elementary School. At the age of 29, he became the youngest Dickson city judge of record. In 1986, he established the state's first Public Defender Pilot Program. Following its success, the state adopted the model, leading to the creation of the Public Defender’s Office as it exists today. Weems also served as the elected public defender in Dickson County and surrounding counties for several decades, then served as assistant public defender in Columbia and its surrounding counties until retirement. In 2025, Weems’ daughter established the Weems-Rezapour Family Scholarship for Justice and Public Service in his honor. The scholarship supports high school seniors in Florida (where she lives and practices) who demonstrate integrity, civic engagement and a commitment to careers connected to justice and community leadership. Donations in Weems’ memory can be made here.

The Davidson County State Trial Courts are implementing revised Local Rules and Chancery Electronic Filing Rules. Pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 18, the trial court judges of the 20th Judicial District are soliciting and will consider input from members of the public and attorneys concerning the proposed rules. Copies also are available in the Trial Court Administrator’s Office, Ste. 601 of the Historic Metro Courthouse. The deadline for comments is March 31. Comments may be submitted electronically or by mail to the Metro State Trial Court Administrator, 1 Public Square, Ste. 601, Nashville, TN 37201.

At its winter meeting last month, the TBA Board of Governors approved the publication of two proposed bylaws amendments to the membership. The first would acknowledge that judicial districts in Tennessee are changed from time to time and delete the current list of judicial districts and the counties associated with each. It then sets up a process for addressing changes in the membership of the House of Delegates whenever there is a change to a judicial district. The second amendment addresses the terms of TBA delegates to the ABA House of Delegates and acknowledges the addition of Position 6. Rather than setting out specific years for elections, it would provide that Positions 1 and 3 be elected in odd-numbered years while Positions 2, 4, 5 and 6 be elected in even-numbered years. Review a redline version of the proposed changes. Proposed revisions must be posted to the membership for at least 21 days, after which the Board of Governors may vote on them. Comments on the proposed changes should be submitted prior to the board’s spring meeting on March 19 via email to barED@tnbar.org.

The Shelby County District Attorney’s office is the latest to add artificial intelligence to its toolbox, announcing it is now using a locally developed AI to speed case reviews. District Attorney Steve Mulroy said at a press conference that the system could save “thousands of man-hours of work in a given year,” the Commercial Appeal reports. The tool, Foltrigg.ai, was developed by Memphis-based Lokion under Cosmos Holding. It is designed to organize and analyze large volumes of lawfully obtained evidence to help prosecutors identify relevant information more efficiently. Mulroy declined to specify what type of evidence the software would review but said all evidence still will be checked by prosecutors to ensure accuracy and that strict security measures will be in place.

A new report found the state lacks sufficient juvenile detention bed space in West Tennessee, forcing some counties to transport youth awaiting court dates to facilities in Middle and East Tennessee. According to WPLN, researchers found that there will be enough capacity for these placements once Department of Children's Services completes the construction of new high-security buildings that were authorized in the agency’s 2023 Real Estate Plan. The General Assembly appropriated more than $300 million for the new facilities. Lawmakers directed the study amid concerns about the state’s reliance on housing children in office buildings and proposed legislation affecting juvenile placements. The report also urged greater oversight of juvenile justice facilities, and emphasized that expanding capacity alone will not improve outcomes for youth, recommending increased investment in community-based alternatives and stronger accountability measures.

“Lovely One: A Memoir Adapted for Young Adults” by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is now available, according to the Tri-State Defender. The book traces Brown Jackson’s journey from a curious child inspired by her family and her lawyer father to a history-making jurist. In a review of the book, the reporter says the new version takes time to show that Brown Jackson was just an ordinary kid once. “Playing, attending classes she loved and ones she disliked, traveling, spending time with her grandparents, getting a new sibling — these are experiences Jackson shares with young readers, and they’re very engaging. Her narrative, though it uses adult-level language, is easy to grasp and quite relatable for her audience, and her excitement at some of her life’s highlights is delightfully charming.”

Louisville-based Stites & Harbison has appointed member Brenton Lankford as chair of its Nashville office’s family law service group, the firm reports. Lankford’s practice focuses on domestic relations, including divorce and post-divorce matters, child custody, child support, alimony and property disputes. He also negotiates and drafts prenuptial agreements and serves as a mediator. Lankford succeeds Gregory Smith, who led the group for more than 20 years. “We celebrate Greg’s many honors over the years and look forward to Brent leading the service group. We know he will do an excellent job managing the team while still running his legal practice,” firm chair Marjorie Farris said in a release.

The TBA is offering replays of four sessions from its Conference on AI & the Law, beginning with “AI-Generated Evidence and the Courts” on Feb. 25 at noon CST examining deepfakes, disputed AI-created evidence and best practices for lawyers and judges. On Feb. 26 at noon CST, “AI Gadgets, Toys and Apps (and some that wish they were AI)” will explore emerging AI-powered tools and their practical value for legal professionals. Two sessions follow on Feb. 27: “AI Policing vs. Policing AI” at noon CST will focus on law enforcement’s use of artificial intelligence and its admissibility in Tennessee criminal trials, while “AI, Legal Ethics and UPL” at 3 p.m CST will address ethical rules governing lawyer use of AI and questions surrounding the unauthorized practice of law. Attorneys can register for the replays through the TBA website.