Knoxville lawyer Leslie Muse will lead the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization through 2015. The Commision has also added Columbia attorney Houston Parks to replace Edward Lancaster on the board. See the full list of Commission members.

Learn more about the recent developments in hemp farming, climate change policy, Tennessee agriculture programs and food safety during the School of Environmental Law CLE, Jan. 22 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. in Nashville.

Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Holly Kirby will be honored with the 2015 Marion Griffin-Frances Loring Award by the Association for Women Attorneys. The banquet and silent auction will be held Jan. 29 at the Holiday Inn University of Memphis. RSVP by Jan. 21 to Keating Lowery, (901) 844-4438.

Florida today became the 36th state to allow same-sex marriages, as two state court judges in Dade and Monroe counties ordered clerks to start issuing licenses to same-sex couples. Licenses are expected to be issued across the state tomorrow morning, under an order by a federal trial judge. In the wave of court rulings following the Supreme Court’s July 2013 decision in United States v. Windsor, this is the first time that same-sex marriages will be allowed for an entire state even though there is as yet no ruling that is binding statewide — by any federal or state court. SCOTUSBlog has more.

President Barack Obama will visit Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville Friday to discuss his upcoming efforts to help more Americans get a college education, the Tennessean reports. Along with Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden, the president also plans to visit the Techmer PM facility in Clinton, where they will tout the administration's efforts to create new manufacturing jobs. The Tennessee trip is part of a week-long trek across the country focusing on housing, economic development and education policies.

Tennessee high school students would be required to pass the same civics test to get their high school degrees that immigrants must pass to become U.S. citizens under legislation sponsored for the upcoming session of the General Assembly by legislative leaders, Nashville Public Radio reports. House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick says he decided to push the measure after reading reports on the “pathetic” lack of knowledge about basic principles behind American government and citizenship, especially among younger people. Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris will sponsor the legislation in the Senate.

Alabama-based law firm Burr & Forman today announced the addition of six partners in its Nashville office, which will now total 16 attorneys. The six attorneys previously practiced in the Nashville office of Stites & Harbison, the sixth-largest law firm in Music City, the Nashville Business Journal reports. Burr & Forman has nearly 300 attorneys across nine offices in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Tanja L. Thompson has been named office managing shareholder of Littler's Memphis office. Thompson succeeds Jay Kiesewetter, who will be retiring from the firm. Thompson serves as a co-chair of Littler’s Labor Management Relations Practice Group. Her practice focuses on representing companies in the area of traditional labor law. She received her law degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and her undergraduate degree from Rhodes College. View the press release.

Criminal defense attorney Dick Strong knows his name is funny, but he's finding a way to use the innuendo to his advantage. Eye-level posters can be found stuck to bathroom stalls and above urinals at 50 locations throughout Middle Tennessee. All encourage you to call DUI Dick and visit duidick.com if in need of an attorney. The ad campaign has received a firestorm of national attention, mostly through social media. Strong says he was hesitant to use the bold moniker at first, but now laughs along: "The ad campaign works with the clients I'm trying to have hire me.” The Tennessean has more.

Airlines will soon be required to allow musicians to carry their instruments on board when they fly, a long-fought victory for the Nashville music industry. The U.S. Department of Transportation only this week issued rules implementing the law Congress passed three years ago. The Nashville Business Journal has the story.