A Chattanooga lawsuit filed by Erlanger Hospital’s former interim CEO Charlesetta Woodard-Thompson that includes claims of racial remarks made against Thompson could make upcoming jury selection arduous. The Times Free Press reports that Thompson claimed several high-ranking hospital officials called medicine "a white man's world.” "In this situation, a problem would arise if the defense attorney used peremptory challenges to remove all or most African-Americans as prospective jurors," said Stephen Wasby, an emeritus professor at University at Albany.

Davidson County Drug Court will hold its Veteran Court Graduation Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Justice A.A. Birch Building in Nashville. Rep. Dawn White, R-Murfreesboro, will also be honored for her sponsorship of the Criminal Justice Veterans Compensation Act of 2015. For more information, contact Mark Winslow at 615-862-8320, ext. 6.

Shelby County renamed its courthouse Friday in honor of long-time judge and civil rights activist D’Army Bailey, WMC Action News 5 reports. “(Judge Bailey’s) work as a civil rights advocate is known throughout the world," County Mayor Mark Luttrell said. "I, along with the Shelby County Commission, take great pride to name the Shelby County Courthouse for him as a lasting tribute for his service to others."

The new rape trial for a pair of former Vanderbilt football players -- in which jurors will be brought to Nashville from Chattanooga -- will cost more than $47,000 not including travel costs, according to Fox 17. Prosecutor Tom Thurman said the out-of-town jury will mean a quicker trial for Brandon Vandenburg and Corey Batey. "The jurors will be sequestered so that requires us normally to work longer hours," Thurman said.

Tom Greenholtz was sworn in as Criminal Court Judge for the 11th Judicial District, which serves Hamilton County, News Channel 9 reports. Appointed by Gov. Bill Haslam, Greenholtz replaces Judge Rebecca Stern, who retired June 1. 

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments met today to consider three applicants – Walter B. Johnson II of Lenoir City, Porsche Lyn Shantz of Lenoir City and Jeffery H. Wicks of Rockwood – for the impending criminal court vacancy in the Ninth Judicial District, which serves Loudon, Meigs, Morgan, and Roane counties. The seat will become vacant Dec. 31 when Judge E. Eugene Eblen retires. The council recommended all of the candidates to Gov. Bill Haslam for his consideration.  

Knox County Expungement Court employees are now offering expungement screenings of eligible criminal cases every Monday and Thursday, 3 – 4:15 p.m. in the Fourth Sessions Courtroom on the Main Floor of the City-County Building. The program is a joint effort between District Attorney General Charme P. Allen and Criminal Court Clerk Mike Hammond. "We looked at the expungement process, and we realized that it was more complicated than it needed to be," Allen said. 

Knoxville’s Red Mass is scheduled for Oct 4., 11:30 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church, 414 West Vine St. A reception will follow mass. For more information, contact Paul Simoneau by email or at 865-584-3307.

Madison County Sheriff John Mehr applied for a $325,000 grant to implement a risk assessment program that could help reduce the county jail’s overcrowding problem. The Jackson Sun reports that the overcrowding is due in-part to a large pre-trial population that sometimes waits months before being brought into court. “If it is done properly and (the program) provides relevant information (it is) something the court might use to set bonds that are appropriate, and more importantly, set conditions of bonds that are more appropriate,” Judge Don Allen said.

Speaking with Nashville Public Radio, Nashville Schiool of Law Dean William Koch Jr. said that he believes the school's "tenacious students" graduate practice-ready and able to handle cases, pointing to grads working in 93 Tennessee counties. Koch’s investiture as dean will be held tomorrow. “Part of my job is going to be to break open some of those doors and give our students the chance to show what they can do,” Koch said. The former Tennessee Supreme Court Justice said he hopes to see the school’s bar passage rate – which currently hovers between 65 and 70 percent – increase.