TBA leaders today discussed legal aid funding and other issues of importance to the legal profession in meetings with five members of the Tennessee congressional delegation and a number of legislative staffers. The TBA team met with Republican representatives David Kustoff of Memphis, Andy Ogles of Columbia, Scott DesJarlais of Winchester, Chuck Fleischmann of Chattanooga and John Rose of Cookeville. Staff members with Rep. Tim Burchett of Knoxville and Sen. Marsha Blackburn also met with TBA leaders. The sessions continue tomorrow with visits to the offices of Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty and Rep. Steve Cohn, D-Memphis. See photos from the meetings.

This year's Dispute Resolution Forum makes its return in person, also offering a Zoom simulcast. Join colleagues for carefully crafted sessions tailored to both lawyers and mediators featuring accomplished speakers from the ADR vocation. Topics include crafting a settlement, the art of negotiation, a discussion of litigation and/vs. arbitration in court, handling pro-bono cases, and more. The forum will take place on May 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CDT at the Nashville office of Butler Snow, 150 3rd Ave. S., Nashville 37201.

Leaders of the Tennessee State Conference of the NAACP issued a public demand for the release of five Black children taken from their parents after a misdemeanor traffic stop last month. The organization, joined by its local, youth and college chapters, also called for an investigation into all departments involved in removal of the children, Tennessee Lookout reports. Bianca Clayborne and Deonte Williams were traveling from Georgia to Chicago when they were pulled over in Coffee County for tinted windows and driving in the left-hand lane without passing. During a search of the car, police found five grams of marijuana. Williams was arrested while Clayborne was given a citation and told she could leave. Later, as Clayborne waited to post bond for Williams, DCS took the children from her saying they were “dependent and neglected.” It later amended its court petition to say the children were abused.

Four adults and three children are dead following a shooting at The Covenant School, a small private Christian elementary school affiliated with Covenant Presbyterian Church in the Green Hills area of Nashville. The suspect, a 28-year-old and former student at the school, had two "assault-type" weapons as well as a pistol, according to police. Police identified the suspect by his name at birth, Audrey Hale, and did not provide another name. They later reported he was a transgender man who used male pronouns. The suspect died at the scene after being shot by police. The Tennessean has the latest on developments. In a statement, President Joe Biden expressed condolences for victims' families and renewed his call for Congress to ban assault weapons.

About a dozen Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) personnel were seen going in and out of Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk's offices in downtown Nashville last week as part of an ongoing criminal investigation, News Channel 5 reports. Technicians were seen using a device that, according to the manufacturer, is "designed to detect illicit eavesdropping signals." A TBI spokesperson confirmed the agents were at the office "working in an official capacity" but declined to speak about the "nature or scope of efforts." Funk released a statement saying his office "extended an invitation to the TBI and the Attorney General’s Office several weeks ago to come inspect our office security system. We are pleased they are finally here and we expect their investigation will find nothing inappropriate, much less illegal."

A federal appeals court in New Orleans last week upheld a district court judge's ruling blocking enforcement of President Joe Biden's 2021 executive order, which required all federal employees to take a COVID-19 vaccine. The Associated Press reports that the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected arguments that Biden, as the nation’s chief executive, has the same authority as the CEO of a private corporation. The ruling from the full court reversed an earlier ruling by a three-judge panel that had upheld the vaccination requirement. Biden issued the order in September 2021. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown issued a nationwide injunction the following January.

The Women’s Political Collaborative of Tennessee will celebrate 50 years of action on Wednesday with an event and awards presentation. The event will take place beginning at 5:30 p.m. CDT at the Woolworth Theater, 223 Rep. John Lewis Way N., Nashville 37219. Nashville lawyer Margaret Behm with Dodson Parker Behm and Capparella will be honored with the group’s inaugural Barbara Haynes Lifetime Achievement Award, which is named for the city’s first female general sessions court judge. Legislative Advocate Awards will be presented to La Quita Martin and Jenny Ford, and Community Advocate Awards will be presented to Metro Councilwoman Tanaka Vercher and Joyce Searcy. Learn more or register online.

Belmont University recently received the 2023-2024 Silver Military Friendly School designation for the ninth consecutive year. The designation recognizes support for veterans and military-affiliated students who attend the university. Within the College of Law, a unique intersectionality exists for military-affiliated students, the school reports. A recent release highlights students who are earning their law degrees while serving in the armed forces. Read more to learn more about a 2L who is a student judge advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps, a 3L who is attending law school through the Air Force’s Funded Legal Education Program and a recent graduate who served in the U.S. Army Reserve while earning his degree.

ABA Day 2023 is back in person this week in the nation’s capital. TBA President Tasha Blakney, President-elect Jim Barry, YLD President Brittany Faith, ABA Resource Committee Chair Jonathan Cole and Interim Executive Director Barry Kolar are in Washington, D.C., through Wednesday to build relationships with new House and Senate members and advocate for issues important to lawyers. The group has heard from ABA leaders on issues to be discussed in legislative meetings and from the Legal Services Corporation about the need to increase access to civil legal services. See the full schedule for the week.

The TBA is excited to announce the special guest for its April 12 discussion on the book "Memphis" will be the author herself, Tara Stringfellow. This national bestseller was named as one of the top books for 2022 by Amazon, The New York Times, The Boston Globe and NPR, among others. Stringfellow, a Memphis native, renowned poet, semifinalist for the Fulbright Fellowship and former lawyer, will offer insight into this powerful book that only the author can provide. TBA West Tennessee Governor Will Perry will lead the discussion. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear directly from the author about this story of family, legacy and meditation on the city itself. Learn more and register here.