Sen. Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, head of the Senate Transportation Committee, moved yesterday to block state funding for the Amp, Nashville’s proposed bus rapid-transit system. The Nashville Business Journal reports that Tracy's plan would add language to an appropriations bill for the Tennessee Department of Transportation preventing any spending on a bus rapid transit service that uses a portion of a state highway. Officials have said they could still fund the $174 million Amp without help from the state, however, they have not detailed how.

The Senate Judiciary Committee last week narrowly approved the nomination of a longtime legal advocate Debo Adegbile to run the civil rights division at the Justice Department. Praised by civil rights groups as one of the nation's leading attorneys in the field, Adegbile was opposed by conservative Republicans and half a dozen law enforcement groups over his legal work at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund on behalf of Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was sentenced to life in prison instead of the death penalty for the killing of a Philadelphia police officer. WRCB has the story.

The Tennessee Bar Foundation inducted 29 new fellows at the annual Fellow’s Dinner in Nashville last month. The Bar Foundation's purpose is two-fold: to honor attorneys who have distinguished themselves in the profession and to administer a grant making program. That project, known by its acronym “IOLTA” (Interest On Lawyers' Trust Accounts), has awarded grants in excess of $19,000,000 to law-related, public interest projects throughout Tennessee. This year’s class is made up of Donald H. Allen, S. Leo Arnold, Jerri S. Bryant, Lisa M. Carson, Wade V. Davies, Steven A. Dix, Sherie L. Edwards, Jerry N. Estes, Brian S. Faughnan, Brandon O. Gibson, Frank Grace Jr., Cynthia D. Hall, Clarence Halmon, Jeffrey S. Henry, Michele M. Johnson, Edward K. Lancaster, James E. Lanier, Jason H. Long, M. LeAnn Mynatt, Robert S. Patterson, James I. Pentecost, Amy M. Pepke, Christine M. Sell, Rheubin M. Taylor, Charles L. Trotter Jr., Jack M. Vaughn, James L. Weatherly Jr., Joseph R. White and William E. Young.

A 40-foot sink hole at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green swallowed eight of the sports cars on display inside the facility’s iconic Sky Dome this morning, the Tennessean reports. A recent TBA CLE webcast looked at the growing problem of sinkholes and related insurance claims. The course is now available as an online video program.

Retired Wilson County lawyer Jon Setzer died Monday when a package sent to his home exploded. Marian Setzer, who was also in the house at the time, was seriously injured. She is hospitalized in critical condition. Setzer’s former law partner George Cate Jr. told CNN he couldn’t imagine why anyone would target Setzer. An $8,000 reward is being offered for information leading to a conviction in the case. The ABA Journal has more.

University of Tennessee College of Law faculty members Jerry Black and Carl Pierce have announced they will retire at the end of the semester after more than 80 years of combined service. Black, who came to UT in 1975, has devoted much of his career to working in the college’s Legal Clinic — the oldest continually operating clinical program in the nation. He’s served as its director four times over the years and remains a member of the clinic faculty. During Pierce’s 42 years at UT, he has served as director of the College of Law’s Center for Entrepreneurial Law and taught courses in contracts, business associations, professional responsibility, and legal history. He currently serves as the W. Allen Separk Distinguished Professor of Law. Read more about their careers from Tennessee Today.

Proposed state legislation filed by Sen. Becky Duncan Massey, R-Knoxville, at the behest of Metro Nashville’s legal department could shield the identify and personal information of rape victims from the public, the Tennessean reports. Metro Law Director Saul Solomon said the main push for the bill is “balancing the victim’s right of privacy with the public’s right to know,” and would simply allow police and prosecutors to redact personal information. But, as written, critics say it could turn rape into an “invisible crime" and interfere with a defendant’s right to a fair trial by preventing attorneys from discussing key evidence with their clients. In an editorial, the Tennessean goes further, saying the bill is an attempt to intimidate news media organizations throughout the state as they pursue a lawsuit against Metro over its refusal to release records in the rape investigation involving former Vanderbilt University football players.

David Michael DiScenza died Monday (Feb. 10) at the age of 39. He was the son of Tim DiScenza, former federal prosecutor and disciplinary counsel at the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct. Visitation will be held Friday at Calvary Episcopal Church in Memphis at noon, with funeral services immediately following. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Calvary Episcopal Church (102 N. Second St., Memphis, TN 38103), The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee (2021 21st Ave., Suite C400, Nashville, TN 37212) or the charity of your choice.

A bipartisan group of Tennessee's Congressional delegation issued a joint statement today criticizing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for not doing enough to protect musicians and their instruments, the Nashville Business Journal reports. The statement was issued by Democratic U.S. Reps. Jim Cooper and Steve Cohen, Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander and Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn. It said that airline policies fail to protect musical instruments, which are sometimes lost or damaged. In 2012, Congress approved language meant to help musicians by requiring the FAA to set standards for the transport of guitars, flutes and other instruments. The legislators contend, however, that the FAA hasn’t event started the rulemaking process.

Elizabeth Catherine Cox was temporarily suspended from the practice of law for failing to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility regarding a complaint of misconduct. Download the BPR notice.