The Campaign for Accountability, based in Washington D.C., filed its second ethics complaint against U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Chattanooga. The complaint, filed with both the federal Securities and Exchange Commission and the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, alleges Corker “concealed information" about his financial stakes in two Chattanooga-based funds, as well as one based in Memphis. The Times Free Press reports Corker’s office said the filing is “another baseless accusation.”

In an e-mail sent today to staff and students, University of Tennessee Chancellor Jimmy Cheek said the university since 2011 has been "in high gear" to address sexual assault. Cheek wrote, “While I cannot specifically address the allegations in the lawsuit, I can say that any assertion that we do not take sexual assault seriously enough is simply not true.” Read more from WBIR.

The lease for Middle Tennessee’s U.S. Bankruptcy Court, located in Nashville’s Customs House, is set to expire at the end of April and could result in the court having to relocate. The Tennessean reports negotiations have been ongoing between landlord Customs House Associates and the U.S. General Services Administration. The landlord has reportedly said they'd like to use the space for events.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands announced David Kozlowski, managing attorney of Legal Aid Society’s Columbia office, will also assume the newly created role of director of advocacy. Kozlowski will now lead and coordinate the non-profit firm’s advocacy work throughout its eight offices and entire 48-county service area. “This will be a chance for me to work with the lawyers and advocates in each of our offices as we work together to address the most significant problems — domestic violence, healthcare, housing, consumer and financial maintenance,” Kozlowski said.

House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, named her five appointees to the state's Trial Courts Vacancy Commission tasked with nominating judges to fill vacancies to the state's lower courts. The Nashville Post reports Harwell’s appointees are: Ed Lancaster, a Columbia attorney; Kim Helper, District Attorney General for the 21st Judicial District; Bradford Box, equity member with the Jackson firm of Rainey Kizer Reviere & Bell; Bill Koch, dean of the Nashville School of Law; and DeWayne Bunch, magistrate judge in Cleveland. Harwell’s appointees join Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey’s five appointees who were named earlier this month. Nashville attorney Tom Lawless will chair the commission.

The University of Tennessee said in a memorandum filed last week that the plaintiffs in their Title IX lawsuit repeatedly published "irrelevant and incorrect (if salacious) allegations intended to inflame the passions of journalists and sports fans alike." The Tennessean reports the memorandum is in support of the university’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit or transfer the case to a federal court in Knoxville instead of Nashville. Federal Judge Aleta Trauger asked plaintiffs in the lawsuit to reply by today on the change-of-venue motion. Plaintiffs previously requested to keep the trial in Nashville to avoid the “trauma” of holding the trial close to the university.

The Nashville Bar Association honored its 2016 Class of Fellows on March 12. The event also honored Ashley T. Wiltshire Jr., former director of the Legal Aid Society, with the David Rutherford award.

March 18 marks the anniversary of Gideon v. Wainwright, a 1963 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that recognized that people who are charged with crimes are entitled to legal counsel even if they cannot afford to pay for it themselves. The day has now been dubbed Public Defense Day. Kira Fonteneau, an Alabama public defender, writes on Al.com about the importance of ensuring all defendants receive a fair trial. “Justice is only possible when it is extended to all parties in the criminal system,” she writes.

Legislation amending Tennessee’s adoption law will be heard Tuesday in the House Civil Justice Committee. Proponents of the amendment (HB1389) that would amend 24 code sections say it represents technical changes. The measure is sponsored by Rep. John Mark Windle, D-Livingston. TBA members may comment on the bill via TBAImpact under the Famiily Law section of state bills. Read a summary of the bill provided by proponents.

The Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women will hold its 2016 Empowerment Conference: Great Expectations! on April 8, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., at Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis LLP, 511 Union Street in Nashville. Speakers include Gwen K. Young, director of the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Global Women’s Leadership Initiative, and Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon Lee. The cost is $100 for TLAW members and $150 for non-members. The event will kick off with a cocktail reception April 7 at the Nashville City Club.