Circuit Court Judge Richard R. “Dick” Vance has announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for re-election as Circuit Court Judge, Part II, of the Fourth Judicial District, the Herald News reports. Judge Vance was first appointed by Gov. Don Sundquist in 1997 to fill the vacancy in Part II, after Judge William R. Holt Jr. retired. He was re-elected without opposition in 1998 and again in 2006. The district includes Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties.

Rutherford County Assistant District Attorney General Nathan Nichols is seeking the Republican Party’s nomination for Circuit Court Judge for Division II of the 16th Judicial District, which includes Cannon and Rutherford counties. Division II hears one-half of all Circuit Court criminal cases filed in Rutherford County and all of the Circuit Court criminal cases filed in Cannon County. The Cannon Courier has more.

Chattanooga attorney Harold A. “Hal” Schwartz Jr. died Wednesday. He was 71. A graduate of Baylor School in Chattanooga, he received his undergraduate degree from Yale University, his LL.B from the University of Pennsylvania and his LL.M (in taxation) from New York University. He served as president of the Chattanooga Bar Association and the Chattanooga Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and was a Tennessee Bar Foundation Fellow. The family will receive friends Monday from 10-11 a.m. at Mizpah Congregation, immediately followed by funeral services. Memorial contributions may be made to National Parkinson Foundation, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or to the Miller Schwartz Fund at Mizpah Congregation, 923 McCallie Ave. in Chattanooga.

Attorney Catherine “Cate” White, who is running for Hamilton County Circuit Court judge, has asked the County Commission and County Mayor Jim Coppinger to post a Historical Wall at the County Courthouse. She said it would include the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, the Ten Commandments, the Magna Carta, the Star Spangled Banner, the National Motto, the Preamble to the Tennessee Constitution, the Bill of Rights and Lady Justice, the Chattanoogan reports.

Chief Deputy Clerk & Master Judy Hillyer is retiring after more than 35 years of service to Hamilton County. As Chancery Court office administrator, Hillyer handled personnel matters, purchasing, accounting, and the budget. The Hamilton County Herald has more.

The Shelby County Democratic Party censured four of its members yesterday, including two members of the General Assembly. State Sen. Reginald Tate, Rep. Joe Towns and state executive committee member Hazel Moore were censured for attending a fundraiser for Circuit Court Clerk Jimmy Moore, a Republican who is running for re-election. County Commissioner Sidney Chism was censured on claims he tried to talk Democratic sheriff candidate Bennie Cobb out of running, the Commercial Appeal reports. Chism denies the allegations.

Carma Dennis McGee of Savannah was appointed chancellor in the 24th Judicial District today by Gov. Bill Haslam. She replaces Chancellor Ron E. Harmon, who died Sept. 14. McGee will serve immediately upon her appointment and be up for election this August. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more.

Members of Moms Demand Action say Rockvale Republican Rep. Rick Womick pulled out a gun and placed it on his desk during a discussion of legislation that would keep cities from banning guns in state parks. Womick denies that, telling the Tennessean it was a gun holster and that he leaves the gun itself in his car. The women also reported other tense encounters during meetings with state representatives and have requested an investigation from House Speaker Beth Harwell’s office.

U.S. Sen. Bob Corker may leave Capitol Hill for a possible run for Tennessee governor in 2018 if the Republican Party doesn't gain control of the Senate in the upcoming midterm elections and beyond, according to Roll Call. GOP insiders say that if he does run, he would "likely clear the gubernatorial field." The Memphis Business Journal has more.

The state Senate today approved and sent to Gov. Bill Haslam a bill requiring him to win legislative approval before obligating the state to expand Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act. House Bill 937, sponsored by Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, is a watered-down compromise version of legislation that, as originally written, would have blocked Tennessee from participating in any Medicaid expansion that’s optional for states under the ACA. The Commercial Appeals has more.