Tennesseee Attorney General Hebert Slatery said he has no interest in applying to fill a Supreme Court vacany created by Justice Gary R. Wade's retirement, according to the Times Free Press. "While my name has been mentioned in some of the conversations, a compliment that I really appreciate, I want to clarify that I do not intend to submit an application for the position," he said. The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments is accepting applications for the vacancy.

The Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence will host the third annual Pearls & Pinstripes Gala Oct. 2 from 6-10 p.m. at Nissan Stadium’ West Club in Nashville. The event, which is the group's annual fundraising gala, includes dinner, entertainment and live and silent auctions. Tickets are $100 each and may be purchased online. For more information or to donate an auction item, contact Kyndyll Lackey.

Shelby County announced plans to open a Mental Health Court in January, WREG reports. The court hopes to help nonviolent offenders suffering from mental illness receive mandatory treatment or counseling instead of jail time. "If we can bring more resources to the table and make sure that these individuals who need this help get linked with those services, then that's a better day for those individuals, and that just might keep them from victimizing you and your neighbors," District Attorney General Amy Weirich said.

Sullivan County Sheriff Wayne Anderson filed a $6.5 million lawsuit against the county saying his department is underfunded, Bristol Herald Courier reports. “Of the $9.4 million projected to be generated by the recent property tax increase, the Sheriff’s Office will only receive approximately $135,000,” Anderson said. “That money will cover the cost of a mental health nurse as well as the cost of leasing a new camera system for the jail. It does not come close to fixing the other major issues we are facing.” Anderson filed a similar lawsuit over funding in 2012.

Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Lyle will speak about the Tennessee Business Court at Memphis Law School on Sept. 24 at 3 p.m. Chancellor Lyle is the first judge of the new business court, a pilot project to centralize certain business-related cases in a court of specialized jurisdiction and knowledge. RSVP by Sept. 22.

Around 80 state employees remain at work in a state-owned building in Chattanooga, a year after the state said the employees would move under Gov. Bill Haslam’s outsourcing experiment. The Times Free Press reports a request was issued 10 days ago for office space for the workers. State General Services Commissioner Bob Oglesby said the delay is due to finding a “suitable” location for the Department of Corrections because the office deals with sex offenders who face restrictions on where they can go in public.

The Commercial Appeal highlighted “substantial issues” found during a background investigation of five Memphis city court clerk candidates hoping to succeed City Court Clerk Thomas Long Sr, who is retiring after 20 years. The investigation revealed personal debt issues for William Chism Jr. and funeral home director Justin Ford, and ethics charges that had been filed against former circuit court judge Kay Spalding Robilio.

Boyd Patterson, a Chattanooga assistant district attorney and former director of the city’s Gang Task Force, submitted papers to run for criminal court judge in in the upcoming March election, The Chattanoogan reports. Patterson will run as a Republican. "I look forward to applying on the bench that experience and the knowledge I gained while working with the Gang Task Force,” he said. Patterson was among three initial finalists for the vacancy created by Judge Rebecca Stern’s retirement in Division Two, but Gov. Haslam later requested three more names to be presented by a judicial selection panel and has yet to make a selection.

Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero said proposed legislation that would charge residents to inspect public records would “create obstacles for citizens seeking information about their own government,” the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. “We in public service must be transparent in our actions and our decision-making, and that includes providing easy and free access to public records,” Rogero said. Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett submitted comments Friday with the Office of Open Records Counsel also stating charging to inspect records would hinder government accountability. The Office of Open Records Counsel created an online survey to collect opinions and will hold public meetings this week in Knoxville, Nashville and Jackson.

Janice Holder, Tennessee’s first female chief justice of the Supreme Court, will be inducted this year into the Tennessee Women's Hall of Fame, the Daily News Journal reports. Along with Holder, former NASA astronaut Rhea Seddon and six other women will be inducted Oct. 26 as part of the 12th Annual Economic Summit for Women. Holder retired from the Supreme Court in August 2014.