The Justice Department says the U.S. Supreme Court should review a federal appeals court decision that agreed with religious-oriented nonprofits' claims that the option to opt of out mandatory birth control provisions unjustly burdens companies. The Associated Press reports that the court in St. Louis last month became the first to agree with the religious-oriented nonprofits after seven other appellate panels sided with the Obama administration.

Testimony resumed Friday in the Erlanger Health System lawsuit in which former interim chief executive officer Charlesetta Woodard-Thompson seeks to prove she was wrongfully terminated two years ago during her medical leave. The Times Free Press reports that during opening arguments last week, Jennifer Lawrence – Woodard-Thompson’s attorney – described Erlanger's board of trustees as a "country-club clique" that was unhappy with Woodard-Thompson after she reported inappropriate behavior from a former hospital cardiologist. Woodard-Thompson filed a $25 million wrongful termination lawsuit against the Chattanooga hospital. 

Speaking with The Tennessean, TBA President Bill Harbsion said that he was often “wowed” by the work of his former law colleague Andrée Blumstein, Tennessee’s first woman solicitor general. "We always viewed the cases as stories, and how to tell the story in a way that is convincing," Harbison said. "That’s a skill she has." Blumstein, who became a lawyer at the suggestion of her husband, now drafts AG opinions and counsels 176 attorneys in the Attorney General’s office as they prepare cases and practice arguments.

A new software system for state lawmakers’ constituent communications and casework will be optional for use, the Times Free Press reports. The clarification comes after some Democrats expressed concerns over the software’s security. Scott Gilmer, chief of staff for Republican House Speaker Beth Harwell, said the software system is similar to that used in the governor’s office and U.S. Congress to manage constituent issues and calls.

Tennessee is ranked sixth in greatest growth for lawyer population during a 10-year trend according to the American Bar Association’s (ABA) 2015 National Lawyer Population Survey. Overall, lawyer population grew 17.7 percent in the last decade. Read more in the ABA Journal.

Learn about the Department of Veterans Affairs and the types of claims commonly requiring attorney assistance in this series of webcast CLEs. Topics to be covered include service and non-service disability, health care and burial issues. VA-accredited lawyers can earn up to three hours of CLE. Join us on Nov. 2, Nov. 9 and Nov. 17 to take advantage of the series.

The 2015 Celebrate Pro Bono Initiative kicks off this week with more than 50 events planned across the state during the month of October. Tennessee lawyers help thousands of clients throughout the year by providing free legal advice, but this assistance is especially celebrated and emphasized during the month of October as part of a nationwide celebration. Now in its seventh year, the Tennessee initiative brings together bar associations, law schools, law firms, legal services providers and individual lawyers to offer free services to those unable to afford a lawyer. This year's celebration is expected to involve more than 300 volunteers -- including lawyers, law students, paralegals and language interpreters. A summary of events is posted online and will be updated throughout the month.

A new White House Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable, established last week by President Barack Obama, will bring together 20 federal agencies that will work to increase access to civil legal services for low income individuals. "Gaps in the availability of legal aid...for America's poor and middle class threaten to undermine the promise of justice for all and constitute a crisis worthy of action by the federal government," Obama said in creating the roundtable. According to a press release from Legal Aid of East Tennessee, just 10 percent of those who qualify for services are helped in that region due to limited funding. The agency expressed optimism that the presidential action could mean more resources for the state.

Former Tennessee Attorney General Bob Copper will lead Bass, Berry & Sims' new practice group focused on nonprofits, Memphis Daily News reports. “We want clients to know that we can be a one-stop shop for all the unique issues nonprofits face, whether they’re in tax, litigation, regulation – whatever it is,” Cooper said. The practice group, which will primarily focus on health care within nonprofits, will also counsel organizations on corporate governance, employment, compensation and business transactions.

Melvin Bayless, former director of the Eighth Judicial District Drug Task Force, was sentenced to five years of probation after being convicted of two counts of official misconduct and one count of theft over $10,000, Claiborne Progress reports. District Attorney General Jared Effler terminated the employment of Bayless on April 23. Bayless was ordered to pay $21,872.91 in restitution to the drug task force, which consists of law enforcement agencies from Campbell, Claiborne, Fentress, Scott and Union counties.