Republican Gov. Bill Haslam and Democratic former Gov. Phil Bredesen are joining forces in a drive to keep appointment of state appellate judges in the hands of governors. According to the Tennessean, Haslam’s Republican administration plans to support a campaign to win passage of a proposed constitutional amendment that will be on ballots statewide this fall.

Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz has announced the addition of 15 attorneys in its Nashville office over the last month as the firm beefs up its ranks and targets growing its business line of practice, particularly in its real estate and tax group. The Nashville Business Journal reports that the increase in those areas reflects a broader trend of growth, as the firm’s Nashville office has had nearly 30 percent growth over the past 14 months. “Part of our plan has been strategic," managing partner Scott Carey said. "The guiding principle is not growing for growth's sake, but doing it in a way to benefit our clients."

The Tennessee Supreme Court filed an order today soliciting public comments to proposed amendments to Supreme Court Rule 21, Section 10 and 1.01 and Rule 8. The Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization had earlier filed a petition seeking changes to the process for certifying Tennessee lawyers as specialists. Under its proposal, the commisison would no longer certify Tennessee lawyers, but would maintain and publish a roster of lawyers who have obtained certification from an ABA-accredited organization. The deadline for submitting written comments is May 21.

Recent data from the Center for Disease Control suggests that lawyers rank fourth in proportion of suicides by profession. Due in part to professional stress, lawyers are 3.6 times more prone to suffer from depression than non-lawyers, a condition identified by the American Psychological Association as the most likely trigger for suicide. Many state bar associations are working to curb this disturbing trend, CNN reports. Eight out of the 50 bar associations they reviewed are so concerned about suicide, they took measures such as adding a “mental health” component to mandatory CLE. In Tennessee, the Supreme Court created the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP) to help attorneys with alcohol and drug abuse, depression and suicide. Since its inception in 1999, TLAP has helped more than 300 attroneys. Read more about TLAP and other impaired lawyer resources in a 2011 issue of the Tennessee Bar Journal. 

Spending by special interest groups in judicial races has surged by more than 50 percent over the previous record since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision four years ago today, Justice at Stake Executive Director Bert Brandenburg noted in a statement today. The decision allowed unlimited political spending by corporations and unions. Brandenburg writes. “The deluge of special interest and political campaign cash signals a race to the bottom in judicial elections, and they are becoming barely distinguishable from mudslinging political contests for executive or legislative offices.”

A full slate of activities are scheduled across the state for the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday.  “The role he (Dr. King) served was an incredible and important role in regards to civil rights," General Sessions Court Judge and Sevier County MLK. Day Celebration Committee Chair Dwight Stokes said. "There were so many problems in our country in regards to race, and it needed to be addressed. I have a great appreciation for all that King accomplished.” Visit the Mountain Press, the Memphis Daily News and the Nashville Scene for information on activities throughout the state.

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey yesterday released a legal opinion from the legislature’s Office of Legal Services that says employees are protected from being fired for carrying guns in their vehicles on private property. The opinion runs counter to one issued last year by Attorney General Bob Cooper, which says that since Tennessee is an at-will state, companies could still fire employees for violating policies on guns. "It is unfortunate the Democrat Attorney General has muddied the waters by calling this law into question, but his opinion is not binding," the Nashville Business Journal reports Ramsey saying. "It has no more force of law than any other lawyer's opinion."

State Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, and State. Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, filed joint resolution SJR 0493 calling for a constitutional convention that would require Congress to balance the federal budget each year. Specifically, the resolution states that in the absence of a congressional declaration of war or an economic recession, the total of all federal appropriations made by the Congress for any fiscal year may not exceed the total of all estimated federal revenues for that fiscal year. The Chattanoogan has more.

Knoxville Businessman Jason Emert announced his plan to run in the Republican primary to unseat 13th District State Rep. Gloria Johnson, a freshman Democrat. Emert, who graduated from the University of Miami Law School but did not take the Tennessee bar exam, has already raised $100,000 in donation pledges and began campaigning full-time Tuesday. Knoxnews has more.

The attorney general would stand for popular election rather than being appointed by the state Supreme Court under a proposed constitutional amendment that this week advanced to a full Senate vote. According to the Memphis Daily News, this is the second proposal to surface for changing the way the AG is selected -- the full chamber voted 22-9 last year in favor of a proposal by Sen. Mark Green, R-Clarksville, to have the attorney general appointed by a joint convention of the General Assembly. The rival measures are still at the earliest steps of a lengthy process for constitutional amendments. In order to be placed on the ballot in 2018, they must pass both chambers during the General Assembly that ends this year, and again by a two-thirds vote during the next two-year session.