A stay has been issued for the April 22 execution of Nickolus Johnson, a spokesperson for the Department of Corrections confirmed yesterday. This is the second execution to be delayed after Billy Ray Irick's January date was postponed. Michele Wojciechowski, the communications director at the administrative offices of the courts, told the Nashville Scene the stay was likely. “When a case goes up on direct appeal, they have one year to file a motion for post-conviction relief," she said.

Soddy Daisy City Court Judge Marty Lasley filed his qualifying papers to run for re-election on Monday. "The Soddy Daisy City Court Judge position is a serious office with great responsibilities," he said, "I pledge my very best efforts to continue to be fair, impartial, respectful and courteous to everyone who appears before our court." Judge Lasley is currently running unopposed, the Chattanoogan reports.

Attorney Lynn England Alexander has announced her candidacy for Smyrna Town Judge. Alexander has served as an administrative judge for the state of Tennessee since 2001, where she hears regulatory disputes involving citizens and state agencies for more than 70 state and local agencies. Alexander regularly conducts hearings and mediations for the cities of Nashville and Chattanooga, as well as due process hearings for the Department of Education’s Special Education Division, the Daily News Journal reports. The Smyrna Town Judge election is Aug. 7, with early voting from July 18 to Aug. 1. The term is eight years.

State Rep. Barrett Rich says he will not run for another term representing his rural West Tennessee district, the Memphis Daily News reports. The Somerville Republican has served three terms in the lower chamber of the General Assembly. Other incumbents who aren't seeking re-election this year include Republican representatives Vince Dean of East Ridge and Eric Watson of Cleveland, and House Democratic Caucus Chair Mike Turner of Nashville.

Clarksville City Councilman Joel Wallace, who represents Ward 9, picked up a candidate petition yesterday to run against John. W. Carney Jr. for District Attorney General, the Leaf Chronicle reports. No rules prohibit a candidate from running for that office while maintaining a City Council seat, Montgomery County Administrator of Elections Vickie Koelman told the newspaper.

The Tennessee Faith and Justice Alliance Summit will be held Monday at the Ezell Center of Lipscomb University in Nashville, hosted by the Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission. After the summit, people are invited to advertise their pro-bono clinics and initiatives. For more information or to register, contact Pro Bono Coordinator Christina Magráns.

Charmarcus Floyd Sr. of Nashville is the recipient of the 2014 Diversity Scholars Award presented by national labor and employment law firm Constangy, Brooks & Smith LLP. Floyd, a second-year student at Belmont University College of Law, will receive a $2,000 scholarship in recognition of his accomplishments in academics, his commitment to diversity in the community, school or work environment, and his personal achievements in overcoming challenges to reach his goals. Constangy initiated the award program to recognize deserving law students and help defray the expense of law school, while promoting diversity in the legal profession.

Former U.S. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales has been appointed dean of Belmont University College of Law, effective June 1, the university announced today. The news follows founding Dean Jeff Kinsler’s decision to return to a full-time faculty position. Gonzales joined Belmont Law in 2012 as the then-newly established Doyle Rogers Distinguished Chair of Law. He has taught courses in Constitutional Law, Separation of Powers, National Security Law and First Amendment Law, while also practicing at Nashville’s Waller law firm. Nashville Public Radio reports that Gonzales will resign from the law firm to serve as dean full-time. Read more in a release from the school.

Nashville native Ramsey B. Leathers died Friday. He was 93. Leathers was a Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps during World War II, serving as a glider pilot. He was a graduate of Cumberland School of Law and practiced in Nashville briefly before being appointed Probate Master of the Davidson County Court. He later was appointed Tennessee Supreme Court Clerk, a position that included serving as Clerk to all Tennessee appellate courts, as well as Clerk to the Court of the Judiciary and Clerk to the Board of Professional Responsibility. He retired in 1987 after more than 20 years of service. Visitation was held today at 5 p.m. at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home and will be held again tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. at St. David's Episcopal Church. Services will follow at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. David’s, 6501 Pennywell Dr., Nashville.

In an editorial released today, the Memphis Flyer criticizes the return of the whistleblower legislation nicknamed the “Ag Gag” bill. Gov. Bill Haslam vetoed the bill last year, which mandated that anyone observing animal cruelty report it to law authorities within 48 hours or be liable for arrest and penalty. "Ostensibly designed to bring swift attention to animal cruelty, the effect of such bills is nearly the opposite one, to discourage anyone from attempting to document such cruelty," the paper argues. The new bill, HB 2258/SB 2406, is sponsored by Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden, and Sen. Dolores Gresham, R-Somerville. The newspaper claims the new bills are just as “constitutionally suspect” as previous versions, and urges the legislature to oppose them.