The American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary has given a “Well Qualified” rating to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Joe Biden’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. The committee voted unanimously on the rating after evaluating Jackson’s professional qualifications including integrity, professional competence and judicial temperament. Chair of the committee, retired Judge Ann Claire Williams, will testify on the rating before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 24. Read the ABA’s full letter the Senate Juciary Committee here.

The Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth (TCCY) earlier this month honored Davidson County Juvenile Court Judge Sheila Calloway with the Senator Douglas Henry Public Official of the Year Award at its annual Children’s Advocacy Days. Calloway was recognized for her work on the behalf of Tennessee children, specifically her implementation of a trauma-informed youth justice system that’s helping to change the lives of Nashville youth. “It’s truly an honor to be recognized as someone who is also a servant,” Calloway said. “I absolutely love my job and love what I do. I do it not to be honored or admired; I do it because it’s what I love and it’s my passion.” Read more from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today ordered the law license of Charles David Deas be transferred to disability inactive status. Deas cannot practice law while on disability inactive status. He may return to the practice of law after reinstatement by the Tennessee Supreme Court upon showing that his disability has been removed.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will hold three clinics in Nashville next week. Two clinics for veterans only will be held on March 23 and March 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at Operation Stand Down Nashville, 1125 12th Ave. S. Nashville 37203. Another clinic open to the public will take place on March 26 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. CDT at McHugh Clinic at Belmont, 2005 12th Ave. S., Nashville 37204. Those coming in-person must wear a mask. To volunteer for a clinic, contact Kendra Cheek, 615-780-7131. See all March clinics.

Rep. Michael Curcio, R-Dickson, announced yesterday that he will not run for reelection in 2022, the Nashville Post reports. “It’s hard to believe, but 10 years have passed since I first announced my candidacy in 2012, and it has been a lightning-fast decade,” Curcio wrote. Curcio, an insurance broker, represents District 69, which includes Hickman and parts of Maury and Dickson counties. He currently chairs the Criminal Justice Committee and has been vocal at the Capitol on criminal justice reform and changes to the state’s court system. “Serving in this capacity was a heck of a mountain to climb, and I now look forward to the next mountain,” he said. Democrat Valerie Sloan of Waynesboro is the only candidate to have registered with state regulators to run in the district.  

The Davidson County Election Commission today voted to remove Luvell Glanton from the May 3 Democratic primary ballot for circuit court judge after a challenge to his residency, the Nashville Post reports. Glanton’s opponent in the race, incumbent Judge Kelvin Jones, filed the challenge last week, arguing that Glanton resides in Williamson County. Glanton’s mother currently lives in the home and Glanton says he moved to his Nashville offices last summer. The commission voted 3-2 to remove Glanton from the ballot. Glanton is deciding whether to appeal the decision in Davidson County Chancery Court.

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments has sent the names of three attorneys to Gov. Bill Lee to be considered for the Court of Appeals Middle Section vacancy. Alexander Stuart Rieger, Joycelyn A. Stevenson and Jeffrey Usman were selected from five candidates following public interviews with the council. Read more on each applicant from the Administrative Office of the Courts or watch a recording of the interviews on the AOC’s YouTube page.

The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance yesterday voted to send its investigation of former House Speaker Glen Casada, R-Franklin, and former Casada chief of staff Cade Cothren to Williamson County prosecutors, the Tennessee Journal reports. The vote comes after former Rep. Robin Smith, R-Hixson, pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud for her role in a political consulting kickback scheme in which Casada and Cothren are also implicated. The vote will also send the registry’s probe of the Faith Family Freedom Fund PAC to prosecutors. The PAC’s treasurer, a former girlfriend of Cothren, testified in January that she had created the group at Cothren’s behest, but had no further role in its activities. The PAC then lobbed attacks at former Rep. Rick Tillis, R-Lewisburg, during his unsuccessful re-election bid in 2020. According to the Associated Press, Cothren has told the registry he’ll invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and won’t abide by a subpoena. Casada told the registry he was not involved with the PAC.  

The Chattanooga branch of the NAACP is calling on Hamilton County district attorney candidate Coty Wamp to apologize for comments she made during a women’s group meeting, the Chattanoogan reports. Speaking to the Tennessee Valley Republican women on Tuesday, Wamp remarked that she does not support the NAACP, saying that, in addition to listing how many Black people are shot by police each year, it should list “how many African Americans are shot by African Americans” or “how many police officers are shot by anybody…” to its website. Local Branch President Rev. Ann Jones Pierre on Friday said Wamp "does not understand the purpose of the NAACP and should apologize for misleading the public.”

Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R- Oak Ridge, says he will not support a new anti-abortion bill because it would conflict with the state’s “heartbeat” abortion ban currently making its way through federal court, the Tennessean reports. The new measure, House Bill 2779, would ban almost all abortions, with no exceptions for rape or incest. It would also allow private citizens to bring civil action against abortion providers for “each abortion that the defendant performed.” McNally said the new bill could “complicate” the state’s current abortion law. Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston, said the new legislation could “really upend the current tort system of law.” A House subcommittee has approved the new bill, and it will be heard by a full House committee next week. McNally says he hopes it will not advance in the Senate.