Herbert Slatery has been unanimously selected the new Tennessee Attorney General by the state Supreme Court. Slatery is currently chief legal counsel to Gov. Bill Haslam. Prior to that appointment, he was in private practice in Knoxville with Egerton, McAfee, Armistead & Davis PC for 30 years. A Knoxville native, Slatery earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia and law degree from the University of Tennessee. The Nashville Post reports Slatery said he was humbled and "profoundly grateful" for the apppointment and promised "no quick wholesale changes" to the office. Soon after the announcement current Attorney General Robert Cooper released a statement congratulating his successor and expressing his gratitude to those who served with him.

As part of Gavel to Gavels’ review of Tennessee’s Amendment 2, the publication compares the final provision regarding the retention election for appellate judges with similar provisions in others states. Twenty states provide for some form of retention election at some stage in the judge’s career, however they don’t all operate quite the same. Sixteen states use the typical retention system: a judge is initially appointed to the bench and then serves for a short period of time. The judge then must receive a simple majority of votes in a yes/no retention race to receive a full term. The language of the question also varies by state with some using “yes/no” and others “retain/replace.”

The Department of Children Services (DCS) is reviewing the transportation procedures of one of its largest private contractors after two teens escaped during transportation in two separate incidents on Sept. 2 and Sept. 10. Omni Visions, a Nashville-based private contractor for DCS, provides foster care placement, therapeutic services, treatment centers and other services for children in DCS custody. WKRN News 2 spoke to Omni Visions Director of Children Services Kathy Joyner who said they are also reviewing how the two teens escaped. ?“The safety of the kids we serve is paramount,” Joyner said. “Every time we have a child run we are worried.”

A federal appeals court judge yesterday called for an overhaul of federal sentencing rules after upholding the 15-year prison term of a Tennessee man convicted of possessing seven bullets, the Johnson City Press reports. Edward Lamar Young of Hixon pled guilty in January 2013 to being a felon in possession of ammunition after being found with the shells, which he acquired helping a neighbor dispose of her late husband's belongings. Lawmakers need to reconsider the Armed Career Criminal Act which "over-criminalizes" certain conduct by imposing mandatory minimum sentences for some crimes, said Jane Branstetter Stranch of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati. Young's attorney, Chris Varner of Chattanooga, said "I anticipate that we are not finished as far as whether we will continue the fight."

The Hamilton County Commission on Wednesday voted 9-0 to appoint Marc Gravitt as the interim District 30 representative to the Tennessee House, the Chattanoogan reports. The seat became vacant after Vince Dean resigned to assume duties as the newly elected Hamilton County Criminal Court clerk. While the appointment is effective today, Gravitt will officially be sworn into office at 11 a.m. Sept. 30 in Nashville.

Court of Criminal Appeals Judge John Everett Williams recently spoke at the Bradley County Bar Association meeting regarding the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP) and shared a story about living, dying and how we should treat those who have emotional and substance abuse issues. Williams, the first chairman of TLAP, stressed to the group the importance of being aware of depression signs in peers and family, and to make sure that everyone gets the help they need. “Attorneys are the hardest-working people, and it is important to work hard in the practice of law, but it is also important to work hard keeping your family, and your priorities, in order,” he said. The Cleveland Banner has more.

Former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales will speak at Tennessee Tech University on Tuesday as part of Constitution Day activities. Gonzales’ talk will be at 6 p.m. in Derryberry Hall Auditorium with a reception to follow. Both events are free and open to the public. The Herald Citizen has more.

The law license of Stacy D. Attkisson was transferred to disability inactive status on Sept. 10. Attkisson may return to the practice of law upon showing of clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and she is fit to resume. View the BPR notice.

Autry L. Jones has recently accepted an appointment as the Child Support Magistrate for the Hamilton County Juvenile Court. The swearing in ceremony will be Friday at 1 p.m. at the juvenile court.

More than 120 members of Congress are urging the Supreme Court to recognize that pregnant workers are entitled to reasonable accommodations such as light duty and other protections to ensure expecting mothers are not forced out of their jobs, the Memphis Daily News reports. A friend-of-the-court brief was filed today regarding the case of a pregnant UPS delivery worker who was asked to take unpaid maternity leave, rather than being provided a less strenuous position as her doctors advised. Many of the lawmakers are pushing legislation to make the pregnancy protections explicit in federal law. The case is scheduled to be heard by the Supreme Court in December.