Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder argued that the Supreme Court ruling in favor of an Ohio law that restricts early voting will disproportionately affect African-Americans, many of whom "heavily" use early voting. The law cut down the state's 35-day early voting window by seven days. "Early voting is about much more than making it more convenient for people to exercise their civic responsibilities,” Holder said in a video message posted on the Justice Department’s website. “It's about preserving access and openness for every eligible voter, not just those who can afford to miss work or who can afford to pay for childcare.” WCYB has more from CNN.

Special Judge Donald Ash said he will deliver his ruling in a few weeks on a lawsuit brought by former Monroe County Sheriff Bill Bivens that alleges current Sheriff Randy White was elected illegally in the Aug. 7 election. White defeated Bivens by about 700 votes. The ruling may come down to Judge Ash’ interpretation of a 2011 amendment to state law that requires candidates for sheriff to have three years of full-time law enforcement experience in the past 10 years. Knoxnews has more.

The Supreme Court on Thursday added 11 cases to its docket, including ones on redistricting, judicial elections and discrimination in housing and employment, the New York Times reports. The court, which will return to the bench on Monday, took no action on seven petitions urging it to hear cases on same-sex marriage. The cases it did agree to hear will be argued this winter and are likely to be decided by the end of June. The case on judicial elections is a challenge to bans on personal solicitations of campaign contributions by candidates for judicial office.

Music City is crawling with artists struggling to turn their passion into a living. When they run into legal needs, that’s when Thor Urness, a partner of the law firm Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, steps in. As board chairman at the Arts and Business Council of Greater Nashville (ABC), Urness provides free legal services for songwriters, authors, craftspeople and others in need, covering everything from copyright to leasing disputes to financial issues. After 25 years of practicing law, Urness intends to spend even more of his time helping the city’s starving artists. “With the exclusive privileges (lawyers are given), we have an obligation to the community and greater world to help people,” he said. The Tennessean has more.

Free Speech Week is a nonpartisan, national celebration of the value of freedom of speech, co-sponsored by the American Bar Association. Held Oct. 20-26, this year's event kicks off with a photo contest showing how citizens use the right to free speech everyday. Upload or tweet photos with #FreeSpeech365 by Oct. 20 for a chance to win cash and more. Multiple entries are encouraged. Visit www.freespeechweek.org for more information. 

The City of Clarksville is receiving over $1.7 million dollars in grant funds from the U.S. Department of Justice’s COPS Hiring Program according to an announcement by Mayor Kim McMillan. The grant funds may be used over a three-year period and will be used to hire 14 new police officers by June 2015. Business & Heritage Clarksville has more.

Plans for a mental health court in Hamilton County are finally are gaining traction, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. Last winter, a Hamilton County grand jury called for the creation of a mental health court, and other local grand juries since have followed suit. Advocates say they hope to see one in place as early as next year. Such a court could help ease overcrowding in the jails by keeping offenders with mental health concerns out. It would provide alternative sentencing, mental health support and close monitoring of each defendant’s case.

A federal judge yesterday rejected a request by the Obama administration to close a hearing into the force-feeding of a Guantanamo Bay prisoner who has gone on a hunger strike, WKRN reports from the Associated Press. The Obama administration has sought to keep the hearing closed on grounds that much of the information about the man is classified. U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler rejected the government's motion to close the hearing in its entirety, however, the judge wrote that the hearing can be held in open and closed sessions to accommodate the government's concerns.

Former University of Tennessee media director Debby Jennings has reached a $320,000 settlement in her lawsuit against the university and athletic director Dave Hart, alleging “unlawful discrimination and retaliation” after Jennings’ abrupt departure from the athletic department in May of 2012. “I am hopeful my lawsuit has cast some light on some of the inequities that I and others experienced in the combined UT Athletics Department,” Jennings, a UT alum, said in a statement. “My sincere desire is that my University will strive to bridge the gap in the disparity of the number of women and minorities in leadership roles within the UTAD.” Knoxnews has more.

Memphis Area Legal Services will host a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house on Oct. 30 from 5- 7 p.m. to celebrate the recent move to the Falls Building located at 22 N. Front St., Memphis. For more information, contact LaSandra A. Brown at (901) 255-3452.