The Supreme Court’s conservative justices cast doubt on President Biden’s student debt forgiveness plan during oral arguments today in a pair of challenges to the administration’s relief program. In the first case, Biden v. Nebraska, a majority of the justices appeared skeptical that Congress gave clear enough authorization for the Biden administration to forgive billions of dollars in student debt. But conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court’s three liberals in questioning whether a group of Republican-led states had legal standing to challenge Biden’s plan. The Hill as the full story.

LAW TECH ’23 is returning as a live and in-person program this year! Join us March 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST at Belmont University College of Law in Nashville. This year's program will offer opportunities to network with sponsors, attendees and speakers, and win prizes! Topics to be covered include using technology to advance your practice, what role ChatGPT AI will play in legal document creation, analyzing online advertising, and a deep dive into remote ADR. Another highlight of the day will be the ever-popular "Bill & Phil Show" with Bill Ramsey and Phillip Hampton. Learn more and register here.

Voting begins tomorrow in the 2023 TBA election. Two candidates are competing for the Second District Governor position — Knoxville attorneys Ben Jones and Andrew Roskind — with voting continuing through April 1. Three candidates are competing for the two East Grand Division Governor positions — Brittany Thomas Faith and David McDowell from Chattanooga and Deborah Yeomans-Barton from Johnson City. Access to the electronic ballot will be sent from the email address TBA.Election@intelliscanvotes.com. Please check your spam filters if you do not receive a ballot notification. Please feel free to reach out to elections@tnbar.org if you have any questions or concerns.

Attorneys general from 36 states, including Tennessee, have written Congressional leaders of their concern with the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Polaris has operated the National Human Trafficking Hotline since 2007 with funding authorized by Congress. The letter says that Polaris only forwards tips to state law enforcement about adult victims in limited circumstances. This practice is contrary to what Polaris advertises, to what states and organizations have come to expect from this partnership, and, the attorneys general believe, to what Congress expects from its funding. 

Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton said he plans to introduce legislation that would do away with federal funding for the state’s education system, WATE in Knoxville reports. The state receives $1.8 billion in funding from the U.S. Department of Education. The federal money covers many programs within the school systems. “This helps those who are most in need, the low socio-economic students, our students that need it for special ed,” says Tanya T. Coats, President of the Tennessee Education Association. Speaker Sexton said that Tennessee would replace those funds with state tax dollars, citing $3.2 billion in new spending outlined in Gov. Lee’s recent budget proposal as evidence that the state could cover the difference.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said Monday he intends to sign an anti-drag show bill into law when it reaches his desk, the first time he has publicly taken a position on the legislation. The Tennessean reports that the legislation (SB 03/HB 09) bans “adult-oriented entertainment” that is “harmful to minors” from public property and places where it might be seen by children. The law specifically mentions “go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers” and “male or female impersonators” — the latter of which includes drag performers. Opponents have argued that laws are already in place to prevent public obscenity and that the bill's broad language will have a chilling effect on artistic performance and depictions of gender nonconformity.

Legislation designed to let physicians determine when an abortion is needed to save the life of a mother has been put on hold while its sponsor, State Sen. Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville, tries to shore up support before presenting it to the Judiciary Committee, The Tennessee Lookout reports. The bill, Senate Bill 745, was to be heard this afternoon. Judiciary Chairman Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, recently told the Lookout he would prefer to see current law stay in effect for at least a year to see how it works. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and Gov. Bill Lee also have said they prefer to keep the “trigger” law in effect. 

WPLN reports that Tennessee State University’s Board of Trustees has been granted a one-year reprieve by a joint committee with the General Assembly. A recent state comptroller’s audit recommended that TSU vacate top management positions. The Board of Trustees has agreed to make changes suggested in the audit, most of which require more frequent reporting. In response, the joint committee is recommending that TSU’s Board of Trustees be extended for one year.

Rutherford County lawyer Andre Chase Rabideau was suspended from the practice of law today. The Tennessee Supreme Court took the action after learning that Rabideau failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning a complaint of misconduct.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti will hold three town hall meetings across the state to discuss the impact technology is having on Tennessee families, particularly children. Meetings are open to the public. The schedule is as follows: March 2 at 6 p.m. CST at Ross View Middle School in Clarksville; March 9 at 6 p.m. CST at Southwest Tennessee Development District in Jackson; and March 27 at 6 p.m. EDT at the Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts.