Christian County, Kentucky, attorney Edmund Victor Smith was publicly censured Sept. 1 by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Smith did not promptly refund an advance payment of fees after he withdrew from representation. He also failed to enter into a written fee agreement with another client. Read the BPR release.

An article in The Wall Street Journal’s Law Blog said some law firms are increasing hourly rates to increase or maintain revenue despite dropping legal demand. According to a survey by Wells Fargo Bank’s Legal Specialty Group, revenue rose 4.1 percent at 60 of the nation’s highest-grossing firms, while the number of hours logged by the firm’s attorneys rose just 1.7 percent. The research group also found the average rate increase across the board was 3.3 percent.

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments extended the deadline for applications for the Criminal Court judge vacancy in the Ninth Judicial District, which includes Loudon, Meigs, Morgan and Roane counties. The impending vacancy was created by Judge E. Eugene Eblen’s announcement that he is retiring effecting Dec. 31. The council has received two nominations and three names are needed to be submitted to the governor, according to Gov. Bill Haslam’s Executive Order 41. Attorneys interested in the vacancy must complete and submit the application by noon EDT on Sept. 8.

A federal lawsuit filed by three Uber drivers in California can proceed as a class-action suit and challenge the company for tips and gas reimbursement, following a ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Edward Chen, Forbes reports.The lawsuit now represents 160,000 people who drive for Uber in California. Judge Chen rejected Uber’s assertion that the three people filing did not represent the entire company, saying that the 400 driver testimonials presented by Uber in the courtroom were “statistically insignificant." Uber’s current business model is based on drivers paying their own expenses because they are independent contractors, not employees.

A new state law permits people who have had their drivers’ licenses revoked for nonpayment of child support to apply for and possibly receive restricted driver’s licenses, Herald-Citizen reports. Parents who prove they work at least 30 hours a week and live more than a mile from their job or school may apply. Thirteenth Judicial District Attroney Bryan C. Dunaway said the law went into effect July 1. “This new law seeks to eliminate barriers that prevent noncustodial parents from maintaining steady employment and paying their child support timely,” he said.

Stites & Harbison PLLC is starting a new Nashville-based entertainment law practice, bringing on Stephanie Taylor as a partner from Bone McAllester Norton PLLC to lead the new practice, Nashville Business Journal reports. Taylor serves on the board of the Foundation for Bluegrass Music and the International Bluegrass Music Museum. Stites & Harbison currently employs 28 attorneys in its Nashville office, making it the sixth-largest law firm in Nashville, according to the Nashville Business Journal. Bone McAllester recently added Suzanne Kessler to its entertainment law practice. 

Transactional practice programs in Memphis on Oct. 2 and in Nashville on Oct. 30, will provide lawyers with the information, tools and tips needed to successfully handle transactional and traditional business matters. The courses, providing six CLE credits each, will offer practical approaches to handling probate matters, real estate transactions, wills, trusts and more.

A bill to allow banning guns from major sports and music venues was introduced Monday by Senate Minority Leader Lee Harris, D-Memphis, and state Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, WATE reports. The bill challenges the new state law that allows guns in parks. "Allowing guns in areas with large crowds where alcohol is consumed is a recipe for disaster and creates a grave danger for law enforcement officers," Harris said in a statement. The bill’s exemption would apply to events that require a ticket for entry.

Former television judge Joe Brown was released from a Memphis jail after spending five days for a 2014 contempt of court charge, WREG reports. Before surrendering Aug. 27, Brown released a statement that said in part, “I will not apologize for vigorously defending my client and demanding that the court follow the law. What I saw was a miscarriage of justice and I did what needed to be done.”

U.S. District Judge David Bunning summoned Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis and her staff to appear in his court following Davis' refusal to issue marriage licenses, the National Law Journal reports. On Monday, the Supreme Court rejected Davis' request for protection from having to issue marriage licenses, pending the outcome of her appeal. Davis stopped issuing all marriage licenses after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in June, citing religious objections to same-sex marriage. Tuesday the American Civil Liberties Union filed contempt motions against Davis. "The law is clear and the courts have spoken," ACLU national legal director Steven Shapiro said in a statement. "The duty of public officials is to enforce the law, not place themselves above it.”