Longtime Ninth District Public Defender Joe Walker died Wednesday (June 18) at a West Knoxville hospital. He was 69. Walker was named public defender in September 1989 and was first elected to the position in August 1990. In May 1991, he and his son were involved in a car wreck that left them both quadriplegics. The accident did not stop him from doing his job, Assistant Ninth Judicial District Public Defender Walter Johnson told Knoxnews. Funeral services are pending.

Tennessee attorneys are invited to join in celebrating the retirement of Tennessee Supreme Court Justice William C. Koch Jr. at a July 7 event in the Supreme Court Building in Nashville, beginning at 11 a.m. Justice Koch announced earlier this year that he is retiring in order serve as dean of Nashville School of Law. RSVP to Lisa Hazlett-Wallace by July 1.

State lawmakers are calling for strengthening a Tennessee domestic violence law following the early release of a suspect who police said returned home to abuse his girlfriend a second time, the Tennessean reports. Nashville General Sessions Judge Casey Moreland has come under fire for authorizing the release after only three hours in jail. Tennessee law says that domestic abuse and stalking suspects should be held in jail for 12 hours after an arrest if they are determined to be a continued danger to victims. House Speaker Beth Harwell, Rep. William Lamberth, R-Cottontown, State Rep. Gary Odom, D-Nashville, and Rep. Sherry Jones, D-Nashville, all pledged to introduce similar laws and make strengthening domestic violence laws a “priority when they get back in session.” Several are calling for Moreland’s resignation, including Tennessean writer Frank Daniels, mayoral candidate Megan Barry and Davidson County Republican Party Chairman Robert Duvall.

The Washington Post examines why being a public defender is increasingly bad for a candidate’s political future in a June 17 article. Political candidates in Arkansas and South Carolina were subjected to attacks for having "personally defended dangerous criminals" as part of their jobs as defense attorneys. The paper notes one of the reasons Debo Adegbile’s nomination to lead the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division was rejected was because he once helped prepare a brief in defense of a man convicted of murdering a police officer. Potential presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also faced attack for her work as a defense attorney early in her career. Steven Benjamin, the immediate past president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, called the attacks on criminal defense attorneys and public defenders assigned by the state “grossly unfair.” "Public defenders and court-appointed attorneys are the backbone of the criminal justice system," he said. "Without them, the criminal justice system couldn't function."

Jane Crisp, owner-operator of Chigger Ridge Bed and Breakfast and Horse Farm in Pegram, is seeking the District 78 Tennessee House of Representatives seat as a Democrat, the Tennessean reports. Crisp worked as a probation officer during law school and became Director of Project First Offender upon graduation. Besides private practice, she was a Regional Attorney and later lead attorney with the State of Tennessee, pursuing civil prosecution of child abuse and neglect and adult protection cases.

A group of Crossville-area conservative Republicans will host a pre-election meeting with local, state and federal Republican candidates, including those running for judicial posts. The event will be held at St. George Marina in Fairfield Glade on June 28 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The format for the afternoon meeting will provide voters with a brief description of the requirements and duties for each political and judicial office. A picnic lunch plate will be available for $7 per person. The Crossville Chronicle has more.

The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees voted today to freeze tuition for College of Law students for the 2014-2015 academic year. Tuition will remain at $16,078 for Tennessee residents and $34,522 for out-of-state students. “While UT Law has been identified as a solid value in legal education for years, even modest tuition increases make the cost of attendance very challenging for many candidates who would add talent and diversity to our student body,” College of Law Dean Douglas A. Blaze said in a statement.

The YWCA is urging Tennesseans to take a stand against racism and join the organization as it celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, District Attorney-elect Glenn Funk and others will speak at noon on July 9 at the Church Street Park, 600 Church St. Live music, food trucks and ice cream will be available.

The Bradley County Bar Association has elected the following officers for the 2014-2015 bar year: Ashley L. Ownby, president; Jerry Hoffer, vice president; Rex A. Wagner, treasurer; and Daniel W. Clanton, secretary.

Chancellor Kenny W. Armstrong of Memphis has been appointed to the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Western Section by Gov. Bill Haslam. Effective Sept. 1, Armstrong will replace Judge Holly Kirby, who has been appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more.