"I think it's important for me to nominate a Supreme Court nominee quickly because I think it's important for the Supreme Court to have its full complement of justices," President Barack Obama said today at a White House news conference. He added that he does not feel “constrained to a pool to draw from” following Senate Republicans’ plan to block the president’s nomination. The Associated Press shares a list of potential nominees.

This is a termination of parental rights case. The case proceeded to trial on the amended petition of the Department of Children?s Services seeking to terminate on multiple grounds the parental rights of L.M. to his children, K.F.R.T., L.E.M.R., and B.A.M.R. (collectively the children). The trial court dismissed the petition after a bench trial, finding and holding that DCS “ha[d] failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence any ground sufficient to justify termination of [father?s] parental rights.” Whittney N.L. Good, guardian ad litem for the children, appeals.

Following a jury trial, the Defendant, John Russell Giles, Jr., was convicted of premeditated first degree murder and sentenced to imprisonment for life. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-202.

TBA Senior Counselor Alden Hitchcock Smith Jr. died Feb. 25 at the age of 84. After serving in the Navy, Smith received his law degree from Vanderbilt University. He spent his legal career in the Trust Department of Third National Bank. After retiring from the bank, he entered private practice and continued to help many families with their estate planning. Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 4815 Franklin Road, Nashville, TN 37220.

Charles Robert Bone was named President and CEO of the Nashville firm Bone McAllester Norton PLLC. The position was previously held by the late founding member Mike Norton. Bone concentrates his law practice in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and advising emerging businesses, entrepreneurs and governmental entities. Earlier this year, Nashville Mayor Megan Barry appointed Bone to the board of directors of the Metropolitan Development Housing Agency.

The U.S. Sentencing Commission has been tasked with developing criteria that courts and prisons will use to determine inmates eligible for the Bureau of Prisons' compassionate release program. The program allows for early release of certain inmates for "extraordinary and compelling" reasons. The Justice Department’s inspector general has criticized the program for lacking clear and consistent standards. Read more from the Associated Press.

The Tennessean reports there have been 119 assaults against Tennessee correctional officers since Jan. 11, following prison officials changing the definitions of assault on officers and inmates. The American Correctional Association recommended that the state change its definitions for assaults. Following the implementation of those definitions, department Commissioner Derrick Schofield said he assumed the number of reported assaults would increase. The Tennessean also reports Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey today said he is "adamantly opposed" to a state measure that would reconstitute a corrections oversight committee.

The University of Tennessee College of Law reports Karen Britton will leave her position as director of Admissions and Financial Aid and the Bettye B. Lewis Career Center after more than 20 years of service to the law school. Britton has also served as president of The National Association for Law Placement and on the TBA’s Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity. Read a statement from Dean Melanie D. Wilson.

This post-divorce appeal concerns the mother’s petition to modify the residential schedule in an agreed parenting plan. Following a hearing, the trial court found that a material change in circumstances had occurred that necessitated a change in the plan. The court modified the plan by order and further required the parties to attend parenting classes and mediation before seeking further relief from the court. The mother appeals. We affirm the court’s modification of the plan.

Appellant appeals the trial court?s grant of Appellee?s complaint for declaratory judgment and the trial court?s denial of Appellant?s counter-complaint for injunctive relief. After Appellee filed notice with Appellant of his intent to leave Appellant?s employ and join a competing appraisal firm, Appellant sought to enforce the non-competition provision of the parties? agreement. Appellee then filed for a declaratory judgment that the non-competition provision was unenforceable. The trial court determined that there were no special facts present over and above ordinary competition or any legitimate protectable business interests to warrant enforcement of the non-competition agreement. Appellant appeals. Discerning no error, we affirm and remand.