The Knoxville offices of the Tennessee Supreme and Appellate courts will be closed until Monday because of a water main break outside the court building on Main Street. According to a press release from the court, the deadline for any documents due Thursday, Jan. 9, or Friday, Jan. 10, will be extended until Monday, Jan. 13.

Waller law firm will host its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day tribute luncheon on Jan. 16 at the Doubletree Hotel with community leader Francis S. Guess as the keynote speakers. The theme of Guess' remarks is "It's Our Turn," as it relates to building upon King's legacy to foster equality throughout the Middle Tennessee business community. At the event, Waller will also recognize its annual diversity scholarship recipient, Alejandra Dalton, a student at the University of Tennessee College of Law. Digital Journal has more.

Speaking at a Motlow State Community College legislative breakfast, Sen. Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, told state and regional leaders that funding education will be a challenge when the second session of the 108th General Assembly convenes Jan. 14. “Education is the most important thing we do at the state level,” Tracy said. But, “the budget is always a challenge … Sales tax is up but our revenues on F&E (franchise and excise tax) are down a little bit." Tullahoma News reports that Tracey was one of four legislators to speak, along with Sen. Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro), Rep. Mike Sparks (R-Murfreesboro) and Rep. Judd Matheny (R-Tullahoma).

A New Jersey man has sued the National Football League (NFL) for violating the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. The suit accuses the NFL of pricing average football fans out of the Super Bowl by only making 1 percent of all tickets available to the public for purchase at face value. The NFL says it is reviewing the suit, but notes that three-quarters of the game’s tickets are given to teams, which sell them at face value to fans who win lotteries. Knoxnews has the story.

Longtime Hamilton County litigator Stuart James has picked up qualifying papers to run for the Hamilton County Circuit Judge seat being vacated by Judge Jackie Bolton. Attorneys Catherine White and J.B. Bennett earlier announced their intention to run for the post. The Chattanoogan has more.

Award-winning author, journalist and activist Will Potter will be speaking at the Chattanooga Public Library on Jan. 16, addressing the expected introduction of “ag gag” legislation in the upcoming Tennessee General Assembly, associated First Amendment and free speech issues, and the broader trend of criminalizing dissent and how that impacts social justice activism. The presentation begins at 6 p.m. on the fourth floor. The event is free and open to the public. Visit the Chattanoogan for more information.

Several Nashville attorneys are being honored by the Nashville Business Journal as finalists for its 2014 Women of Influence Awards. The winners in each of the nine categories will be named Feb. 11 during an awards luncheon at the Renaissance Hotel. Among the finalists are Miranda Christy of Stites & Harbison, Lisa Cole of Lewis Thomason, Jimmie Lynn Ramsaur with the U.S Attorney’s office, Andrea Perry of Bone McAllester Norton and Patricia Head Moskal of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP.

State Sen. Douglas Henry has been hospitalized for dehydration but is expected to be released before the start of the legislative session next week. Henry, who represents East Nashville, Antioch and parts of West Nashville, checked into a Nashville emergency room Monday. Aides said he is slated to be released Thursday. The Tennessean has more.

The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law announced it will be launching a new Health Law Institute this spring, the Memphis Business Journal reports. The new institute will feature a ramped-up health law curriculum while also emphasizing practical skills and learning experiences with health law attorneys in the region. Associate professor Amy Campbell will lead the initiative.

In the first week to pick up petitions for the August judicial elections in Shelby County, judicial candidates have accounted for most of the activity at the Shelby County Election Commission. Juvenile Court Chief Magistrate Dan Michael has pulled a petition to run for Juvenile Court judge in the nonpartisan race to succeed outgoing Judge Curtis Person Jr. Shelby County Chancellor Kenny Armstrong, Germantown municipal judges Bob Brannon and Raymond Clift, and General Sessions Civil Court judges Lynn Cobb and Lonnie Thompson also took out qualifying petitions this week. Silvio Ronald Lucchesi pulled a petition for General Sessions Criminal Court judge, Republican State Rep. Ron Lollar picked up his petition for re-election, and Democrat Ricky Dixon pulled a petition for the Democratic primary for State Senate District 29, the seat currently held by Democrat Ophelia Ford. The deadline to file petitions for a place on the August ballot is April 3. The Memphis Daily News has the story.