“The story of the Tennessee’s Lottery is the story of much of my life,” writes Sen. Steve Cohen in a Tennessean column this week, marking the 10th anniversary of the state’s monopoly on legalized gambling. While acknowledging the program’s imperfection, Sen. Cohen takes (and probably deserves) responsibility for legislation leading to the lottery referendum passed
If you are a public official or employee in Tennessee and you are emailing, texting or otherwise communicating about public business, then those digital data–even if sent from or stored on personal devices–are considered “public records” and are open to inspection upon request. The Tennessee Public Records Act defines “public record or records” as “all
“We are witnessing today a tremendous and ominous expansion of preventive law in the area of civil liberties. More and more, our controls are being devised not as punishment for actual wrongful conduct, but with a view to preventing future evils by a series of restrictions and qualifications that seriously jeopardize freedom of expression.” Thomas
If you are active on social media—meaning that you post items to your Facebook page, Tweet or comment online—you need to be familiar with your employer’s personnel policy or your employment contract. You may think what you do online “after hours” doesn’t affect your job, and/or that you are protected by the concept of “freedom
In a recent Reuters article about a Nashville divorce case involving an entrepreneur husband and orthopedic surgeon wife, contributor Geoff Williams wrote: “Society is starting to catch up to the law. In 1979, with Orr vs. Orr, the Supreme Court made it clear that there shouldn’t be gender bias when it comes to alimony. Yet
When you are charged with a crime, anything you say can and may be used against you in court. As most people are aware, the police must inform a person arrested for a crime of this fact, prior to questioning. The reading of the Miranda Warning—named for the landmark 1966 Supreme Court Case Miranda v.
December marks the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the Federal Reserve Act, creating the United States’ central banking system. The Federal Reserve System is the most recent and longest lasting “bank” established by the federal government; the debate over the validity and wisdom of such an institution predates the Constitution. The Supreme Court unanimously
A recent Brentwood Homepage article provides good insight into the current “criminal mentality” of drinking and driving laws. “DUIs in Williamson County: Read and heed” is an interview with Asst. District Attorney Carlin Hess. “Do not drive drunk in Williamson County” is sound advice, as it is in any jurisdiction. However, the combination of the “strict
Tennessee Attorney General Robert E. Cooper, Jr. has issued an opinion stating that local laws requiring prescriptions for the purchase of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine drugs are a violation of state law. More than a dozen Tennessee municipalities have enacted local ordinances, generally in an effort to stifle the production of illegal methamphetamines. However, Cooper’s opinion
In 2002, the State of Tennessee condemned a strip of land and a 625 square-foot building from its owners, the Meeks. The state offered the Meeks $30,550, which they could have accepted while keeping the remainder of their 1/3 acre lot. However, property owners in condemnation cases have a right to have a jury determine