The Palmersville Historical Society will honor the 50-year legal career of retired Judge Ben H. Cantrell on April 29 at the Old Baptist Church/Masonic Lodge in Palmersville. Cantrell retired April 1 after serving for seven years as a trial judge on the Chancery bench in Davidson County and for 23 years as an appellate judge on the Middle Section of the Tennessee Court of Appeals. For the past four years, he served as a senior judge for the Tennessee Supreme Court. The event will begin at 7 p.m. 

The world’s first artificially intelligent attorney is coming to Vanderbilt University Law School this week. Andrew Arruda, CEO and co-founder of Ross Intelligence, will be show the company’s super-computer lawyer at an event – titled "Watson, Esq.: Will Your Next Lawyer Be a Machine?” – during the school’s two-day conference beginning tomorrow. The Nashville Business Journal reports Arruda does not expect his machine, dubbed “Ross,” to replace attorneys; he believes, rather, Ross will act as a research assistant and expand client services. 

The Tennessean explores the potential lawsuits that Tennessee could face if Gov. Bill Haslam signs off on the Bible as the state’s official book. A handful of legal organizations on either side of the debate have said they will consider legal action if the measure (SB1108 / HB0615) is enacted. “If Tennessee becomes the first state in the nation to recognize the Bible as its official book, it also could become the first state in the U.S. to be sued for it,” the author writes. Haslam has until April 19 to make a decision on the measure. 

Jeff Carr, a senior leader at Vanderbilt University for more than 30 years, died Sunday (April 10) at his home in Dickson County, The Tennessean reports. He was 75. Carr first came to the school in 1953 to attend law school. He served as general counsel, university secretary, vice chancellor for university relations and trusted adviser to multiple chancellors. “The property that Jeff had was the ability to communicate with a group very effectively, with minimum words but with maximum thought and effect,” said Chancellor Emeritus Joe B. Wyatt. 

Sen. Steven Dickerson, R-Nashville, and Rep. Harold M. Love Jr., D-Nashville, along with leaders in the judicial and legal communities, today announced an initiative to improve awareness of and access to expungements in Tennessee. Under the initiative, a webpage has been launched to provide details on eligibility for expungements, links to local information and resources to help people get started. The initiative will include training for judges and court clerks as well as providing resources for them and the legal community.

Verna Wyatt, executive director of Tennessee Voices for Victims, explains in The Tennessean how she believes the justice system fails victims in Tennessee. Wyatt references “the sensational trial of the former Vanderbilt football players accused of raping a Vanderbilt coed.” The article is published during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 10-16.

Gov. Bill Haslam and House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, today announced the creation of a legislative task force to focus on Tennessee's options for expanding health coverage. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports the announcement comes after the failure of the Haslam’s alternative Medicaid expansion plan, “Insure Tennessee,” last year. The task force will be chaired by Rep. Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and the group will complete its work by June. 

Tapas for Justice, an event to benefit Justice For Our Neighbors, is planned for April 21, 5:30 p.m., at Bone McAllester Norton, 511 Union Ave. Suite #1600 in Nashville. Contributions may be given online to RSVP. The cost is $100 to host, $200 per couple and a $50 suggested contribution to attend.

The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act and the Sentencing Reform Act of 2015 passed out of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees respectively. The measures, according to Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), address “legitimate over-incarceration concerns while targeting violent criminals and masterminds in the drug trade.” Brookings shares data on the U.S. prison population in areas the bill would impact.

A committee is raising funds to honor retired Judge W. Frank Brown III with a portrait, the Hamilton County Herald reports. Brown served as chancellor of the 11th Judicial District between 1998 and 2014. Donations will go towards the artist’s fee, travel expenses to Chattanooga for the prep work and sitting, and a reception at the unveiling ceremony. Checks from firms or individuals to the Tennessee Judicial Conference Foundation should contain the notation “Chancellor Frank Brown” in the memo line and may be sent to 629 Woodland St., Nashville, TN, 37206.