Metro Police officers have recaptured most of the 32 teens who escaped from the Woodland Hills Youth Development Center on late Monday, the Tennessean reports. Metro Police is teaming with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to track down the six remaining escapees.

Nominations for TBA Public Service Awards are due by Friday. The annual awards recognize lawyers and law students who have shown exceptional commitment to increasing access to justice to individuals and communities. Caregories are: work performed by an attorney employed by an organization primarily involved in providing legal representation to the indigent, work performed by a private attorney and work performed by a law student volunteer. Nominations may be submitted via the TBA website or by email to Liz Todaro. Download a hard copy submission form to do so. Submissions should include a narrative of the individual’s accomplishments, the nominator’s reasons for selecting the individual and a description of how the nominee meets the award criteria. Awards are presented at the annual Public Service Awards Luncheon in January.

Judge Pam Fleenor collapsed early today while listening to her first argument as a chancery court judge, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. Fleenor interrupted an attorney and motioned to a bailiff that she was uncomfortable. A few moments later she collapsed. Attorney Phil Noblett called 911 and Fleenor was helped from the room a few seconds later, reassuring a room full of attorneys that she was “just hot.” She returned about 10 minutes later.

Newly elected Knox County chancellor Charlie Pridemore reversed an unsigned order he issued last week via Clerk and Master Howard Hogan that blocked a request from the News Sentinel to photograph his first day on the bench. Attorney Richard Hollow, on behalf of the newspaper and WBIR, filed an objection stating Pridemore failed to issue a signed order and make findings of fact to support his refusal of cameras in the courtroom. Today, Pridemore issued a signed order approving cameras in the courtroom. It did not include any explanation for his reversal. Knoxnews has the story.

Members of the Hamilton County Grand Jury said in a final report that the county needs to start "immediately" on funding a replacement for the Hamilton County Jail. According to the report, the jail is over capacity and understaffed, putting corrections officers in constant danger. Grand jurors said the county may wind up facing a costly lawsuit due to the understaffing at the jail. The Chattanoogan has more.

Two judges called on Congress last week to tap into its constitutional power to make the swamped immigration court system an independent judicial agency, the Commercial Appeal reports. Judge Dana Leigh Marks, president of the National Association of Immigration Judges, and executive vice president Judge Denise Noonan Slavin spoke out about challenges in immigration courts and the need for independence. The immigration court system receives 1.7 percent of $18 billion allocated for immigration law enforcement. So far, cost has been the objection to making the immigration court system independent, but it would be a more efficient system, the judges said.

Judge Lisa Niddifer Rice is the first woman to win a seat as Criminal Court Judge of the 1st Judicial District. Judge Rice has 27 years of experience as both a prosecutor and defense attorney. WYCB spoke with Rice about her achievement and the significance of taking her new role. "I think that my experience on both sides of the courtroom is more important than gender, but as female attorneys we have great role models in the judiciary to look to in this area.” she said.

Anthony “Tony” Craighead has been named the deputy district attorney for the 7th Judicial District, Knoxnews reports. Craighead is a prosecutor with 22 years of experience, including as an interim district attorney general. The Anderson County vacancy opened up when District Attorney Dave Clark's assistant, Sandra Donaghy, was elected Criminal Court judge in the 10th Judicial District.

Judge Keith Siskin of Division III of the Circuit Court for Rutherford and Cannon Counties has been elected as Presiding Judge of the 16th Judicial District. The Presiding Judge is responsible for assigning cases to the other judges in the district, and for taking any actions necessary to correct any condition adversely affecting the administration of justice in the district. "I want our courts to be the most open, fair, and efficient courts in the State of Tennessee,” Siskin said in a press release.

The Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women (TLAW) announced its support for Amendment 2 to the Tennessee Constitution that will be on the November general election ballot. The amendment would continue the current system of gubernatorial appointment of appellate court judges, while adding legislative confirmation. Election Day is Nov. 4. Early voting begins on Oct. 15.