The U.S. Senate today reached an agreement to vote on confirmation of Waverly Crenshaw as a U.S. District Court judge in Tennessee's Middle District, according to a post from Knoxville News Sentinel Washington reporter Michael Collins. Crenshaw was nominated by President Barack Obama in 2015 and was unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee eight months ago. 

State Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin, will be moved to offices away from the Capitol complex as an investigation into alleged inappropriate behavior continues, House Speaker Beth Harwell announced today. Durham’s access to committee rooms and the House chamber will be limited to when meetings are taking place, the Nashville Post reports. "Although the Attorney General's investigation is ongoing," Harwell, R-Nashville, said, "I feel compelled to take proactive steps to protect all parties concerned until the conclusion of the investigation." The move comes as Attorney General Herbert Slatery announced he found Durham’s “alleged behavior may pose a continuing risk to unsuspecting women" at the Capitol complex. 

Chattanooga attorney Jerry Summers has written and published a book about the legal career of Raulston Schoolfield, including his impeachment and removal from office as a Chattanooga judge. The Hamilton County Herald reports "Rush to Justice? Tennessee's Forgotten Trial of the Century – Schoolfield 1958” is available directly from Summers by calling 423-265-2385.

Two Memphis residents filed a lawsuit Tuesday alleging the City Council and City Council Attorney Allan Wade violated Tennessee’s open meetings law on March 1. The residents claim the officials “worked covertly without public knowledge” when they voted to give a large part of Overton Park Greensward to the control of the Memphis zoo, The Commercial Appeal reports. 

Two Memphis residents filed a lawsuit Tuesday alleging the City Council and City Council Attorney Allan Wade violated Tennessee’s open meetings law on March 1. The residents claim the officials “worked covertly without public knowledge” when voting to give a large part of Overton Park Greensward to the control of the Memphis zoo, The Commercial Appeal reports. 

“The job of being a Supreme Court justice has gotten more complex and requires a firmer command of legal skills than in earlier times.” U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor said while answering questions from students during her visit to St. John’s College in New Mexico yesterday. While questions about nominee Merrick Garland were off-limits, Justice Sotomayor did share her thoughts on appointing a justice with no bench experience. Read more from The Wall Street Journal.

Pro se petitioner, Michael Williams, appeals from the Shelby County Criminal Court?s summary dismissal of his motion to correct an illegal sentence pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 36.1. On appeal, the Petitioner argues that the trial court erred in summarily dismissing his motion. Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

The defendant, Willie Jones, appeals his Shelby County Criminal Court jury convictions of second degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm, claiming that the trial court erred by admitting certain witness testimony and by excluding other witness testimony, by refusing to instruct the jury on self-defense, and by limiting his cross- examination of certain witnesses.

A committee of former prosecutors, assembled by District Attorney General Neal Pinkston, released its protocol today on how to handle years of unprocessed evidence discovered in the Medical Examiner’s Office. The Times Free Press shares the multi-step plan, which involves examining every autopsy envelop between 1986 and 2002. The process should be completed by the end of 2016. 

The Defendant, Michael Mullins, pleaded guilty in the Knox County Criminal Court to aggravated assault, a Class C felony, and received a three-year sentence. See T.C.A. § 39-13- 102 (Supp. 2009) (amended 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015). The trial court granted the Defendant?s request for judicial diversion and ordered him to pay more than $8000 in restitution.