M. Lee Smith Publishers

06/16/2026

This week in Alabama Law Weekly:

The Alabama Supreme Court addressed a two-vote sheriff’s race out of Conecuh County, reversing after concluding that two disputed “logo ballots” could not be counted because voter intent could not be determined without speculation.

Also in this issue:

• A later-added plaintiff could not appeal a summary judgment entered before she became a party.

• An interpleader action involving disputed hospital liens could proceed even though one lienholder was a state university hospital.

• A divorce judgment awarding permanent periodic alimony was reversed because the required statutory findings were missing.

• A contempt order modifying visitation was reversed because the evidence did not show a willful violation of the juvenile court’s no-contact order.

• A tax-sale dispute involving HOA assessments was reversed because the record did not establish that the original owners had been divested of title.

• A parental-rights termination judgment was reversed because DHR did not present sufficient evidence that termination would likely achieve permanency and stability for the child.

Read this week’s issue for the full summaries and appellate outcomes.

ALW 35-25 will hit inboxes on Thursday, 18th at 1 pm.
To subscribe, contact Customer Service at 1 (800) 727-5257 or via email at [email protected].

06/11/2026

The next issue of the Fourth Circuit Review (42FCR12) will be delivered to subscribers' inboxes by 8:00 AM on Monday, June 15.

This issue includes opinions related to civil procedure, civil rights, commercial law, criminal law, and more.

To subscribe, contact Customer Service at 1 (800) 727-5257 or via email at [email protected].

06/08/2026

This week in Alabama Law Weekly:

Alabama voters return to the polls on June 16 for primary runoffs that will determine party nominees in several important races, including the open U.S. Senate seat, lieutenant governor, attorney general, commissioner of agriculture and industries, and Public Service Commission Place 2.

This issue also includes new appellate coverage from the Court of Civil Appeals and the Eleventh Circuit, including:

• A due-process challenge involving the Monroe County Board of Education’s termination decision and whether notice to an attorney of record was sufficient.

• A restrictive-covenant dispute involving subdivision approval requirements, an aboveground pool, a concrete patio, and a raised deck.

• An Eleventh Circuit immigration decision addressing whether a Florida aggravated-assault conviction qualified as a “crime of violence” for removal purposes.

Read this week’s issue for the full summaries, outcomes, and key appellate analysis. ALW 35-24 will hit inboxes on Friday, 12th at 1 pm.

To subscribe, contact Customer Service at 1 (800) 727-5257 or via email at [email protected].

06/08/2026

⚖️ Inside the new issue of the Tennessee Attorneys Memo:

Our feature story dives into the multi-front constitutional battle over the state's upcoming "Immigration 2026" legislative package, breaking down the federal preemption challenge and the high-stakes friction over municipal funding autonomy.
Beyond the headlines, this issue also delivers essential practice updates on appellate waiver traps, Rule 10B judicial recusal boundaries, and complex trust remainder disputes.

📬 Subscribers, the next issue hits inboxes at 5PM on Monday, June 8.

To subscribe, contact Customer Service at 1 (800) 727-5257 or via email at [email protected].

06/08/2026

The Tennessee Trial Court Vacancy Commission recently met in Jonesborough to select nominees for a vacancy in the 1st Judicial District Criminal Court. After holding a public hearing and conducting public interviews, the Commission selected the following nominees:

Tessa Nichole Lunceford

Robert Mitchell Manuel

Lawrence Scott Shults

To view the nominees’ applications, click here:

May 6, 2026 The Trial Court Vacancy Commission has received four applications for a vacancy in the First Judicial District following the appointment of Honorable Stacy Street to the appellate bench. The First Judicial District covers Carter, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties.The applicants for...

06/02/2026

This week’s Alabama Law Weekly looks at a busy election season that is still unfolding across Alabama.

The May 19 primary settled some major races, including the governor’s race, but several statewide contests are headed to June 16 runoffs. The open U.S. Senate race, lieutenant governor’s race, and attorney general’s race remain unresolved. At the same time, redistricting litigation continues to affect Alabama’s election calendar, including special primaries set for August in certain congressional and State Senate districts.

This week’s publication also includes summaries from the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals and the Eleventh Circuit, including a public-employment appeal involving the Jefferson County Personnel Board and a securities-regulation decision involving SEC approval of IEX Options.

Read more in this week’s Alabama Law Weekly.

To subscribe, contact Customer Service at 1 (800) 727-5257 or via email at [email protected].

05/29/2026

The next issue of the Fourth Circuit Review (42FCR11) will be delivered to subscribers' inboxes by 8:00 AM on Monday, June 01.

This issue includes opinions related to civil rights, constitutional law, contracts, criminal law, and more.

To subscribe, contact Customer Service at 1 (800) 727-5257 or via email at [email protected].

05/26/2026

🚨 This week in Alabama law: Alabama’s congressional-map fight is back in the spotlight.
This week’s issue covers the latest turn in Alabama’s redistricting litigation after a three-judge federal court blocked the state from using the Legislature’s 2023 congressional plan for the 2026 elections. The ruling comes after the U.S. Supreme Court sent the Alabama cases back for further review, and it leaves important questions about the state’s election calendar and congressional districts still unsettled.
Also in this issue:

⚖️ The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals affirmed a judgment denying a father’s custody request after concluding he had voluntarily forfeited his custodial rights and had to satisfy the Ex parte McLendon standard.

⚖️ Another Court of Civil Appeals case dismissed an appeal from a void judgment after the circuit court lacked jurisdiction to enter contempt, custody-modification, and child-support orders without a new action, filing fee, or hardship waiver.

⚖️ The Eleventh Circuit revived Mobile Baykeeper’s environmental citizen suit against Alabama Power, holding that the organization plausibly alleged standing and that its coal-ash closure-plan claims were ripe for review.

Read more in ALW 35-22, May 29, 2026.

To subscribe, contact Customer Service at 1 (800) 727-5257 or via email at [email protected].

05/21/2026

BREAKING: Tennessee Department of Correction calls off Carruthers ex*****on after failure to set IV. Prior to the ex*****on's start, the state refused to answer reporters' questions regarding the efficacy of the drugs planned for the ex*****on, with some questioning whether they might be expired. Check out next week's issue of the Tennessee Attorney's Memo for updates and a deep dive into the Carruthers' case.

05/21/2026

The Office of the Attorney General has announced that Madeline (Lansky) Clark will serve as Tennessee’s next Solicitor General. She will succeed Matt Rice, who is leaving for private practice, on June 8. Previously, Clark clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Amy Coney Barrett as well as for former 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge William Pryor Jr.