Madison County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) launched its new website Thursday, The Jackson Sun reports. The new website was funded through a grant from the Jackson Service League.

The Commercial Appeal describes business in Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Carolyn Wade's courtroom as “chaotic" on Thursday. Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich filed a motion on Oct. 30 asking Blackett to recuse herself from all cases after questioning Blackett’s impartiality; however, defense attorney Michael Working instead asked for the recusal of Weirich’s office. "Total disqualification from all pending matters of the only African-American woman serving as a Criminal Court Judge ... would appear to be an especially egregious deprivation of democracy by dismissing the people's elected representative on the bench,” Working wrote in a motion this week.

Today is “Love Your Lawyer Day," an event created by lawyer marketer Nader Anise in 2001, Tampa Bay Business Journal reports. "Lawyers are always painted as the bad guy, even if they pull off some crazy Houdini-esque maneuvers to help their clients. We're hoping this day will spark public interest in commending lawyers rather than condemning them,” Nader said. The event is celebrated annually on the first Friday of November.

Lisa Baird, executive director of Cannon County S.A.V.E, was honored by the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands’ Murfreesboro office with the organization’s inaugural Murfreesboro Community Award. S.A.V.E. is a non-profit agency that provides domestic violence victims with court advocacy, counseling and emergency shelter. “(Lisa) is an oasis in the middle of a desert for victims in Cannon County who would have nowhere to turn,” Andrae Crismon, managing attorney of Legal Aid Society’s Murfreesboro office, said.

Hamilton County Juvenile Court celebrated its 30th anniversary with the Court Appointed Special Advocated Program (CASA), a national program that trains volunteers to work with abused children within the legal process, the Times Free Press reports. Since the late Judge Dixie T. Smith applied for CASA in 1985, the program has provided abut $22,000 in services to the county. "CASA volunteers are the lifeblood. They are extremely effective and are able to bring immediate concerns to members of the court's Volunteer Services Department for review,” Juvenile Court Judge Rob Philyaw said. 

What can lawyers do to manage and conquer anxiety? The ABA Journal features Will Meyerhofer, a psychotherapist who has also been a practicing attorney, in a podcast (with transcripts) with information about anxiety and tips on how lawyers can manage and overcome it.

Vanderbilt University joined 12 universities in filing an amicus brief Nov. 2 with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting the continued consideration of race as one factor used in their admissions decisions. “At Vanderbilt we believe that an inclusive, intellectually stimulating environment with remarkably talented students from diverse backgrounds living and learning together enhances everyone’s experience and capacity for expanding their knowledge and understanding of one another,” Vanderbilt Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos said. The court will hear arguments in the case, Fisher v. University of Texas, on Dec. 9.

Former Clarksville attorney Carrie Gasaway, who was disbarred in October by the Tennessee Supreme Court after being convicted of extortion, was indicted with three counts of theft following a TBI investigation. The Leaf-Chronicle reports that Gasaway commingled funds with her attorney trust account and operating account beginning in 2014. Gasaway was arrested Wednesday. She is the wife of retiring Circuit Court Judge John Gasaway. 

Check out our video on Tennessee's newest lawyers at the TBA Open House earlier this week. The page also features photos from the event and Nashville's swearing-in ceremonies. Search and share photos from swearing-in ceremonies around the state by using #newTNattorney. 

Scott Greytak, Policy Counsel for Justice at Stake, will speak at an event hosted by the American Constitution Society tomorrow at the University of Tennessee College of Law in Knoxville, Room 241. Greytak is the lead author of Bankrolling the Bench; The New Politics of Judicial Elections 2013-2014. Lunch will be provided.