Metro Nashville and Davidson County District Attorney General Torry Johnson will join Belmont University’s College of Law faculty as a visiting professor in January. Johnson, who has held the Nashville post for 27 years, will teach criminal justice courses on a full-time basis. “Bringing Torry Johnson on board as a faculty member is truly a significant coup for our College of Law," Belmont President Bob Fisher said. "His devotion to his work and to public service is exceptional, and the expertise he can transmit to our students will raise the bar again on the educational opportunities Belmont Law provides.”

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands has announced its fall People’s Law School schedule. The free program, which is taught by Legal Aid Society attorneys and volunteer attorneys, provides an overview of common civil legal issues people may face, such as renters' rights and responsibilities and Social Security options. For the first time, People’s Law School is offering a class on child support. Learn more at www.las.org.

Officials elected by Putnam County citizens earlier this month will be sworn into office within the next couple of weeks, the Herald-Citizen reports. Swearing-in ceremonies for county officials such as county executive, sheriff, property assessor, county clerk and others will take place Aug. 30 at 10 a.m. in the county commission chambers on the third floor of the Putnam County Courthouse, County Clerk Wayne Nabors says. Additional officials will be sworn in during other events throughout the coming weeks.

Longtime Circuit Court Judge Robert E. Burch will have many memories to take with him when he retires this month after more 30 years on the bench, the Tennessean reports. Some of his most satisfying ones come from the 23rd Judicial District Drug Court program, which was established 14 years ago. The Drug Court program is an alternative to incarceration, and integrates chemical-dependency treatment and community resources with the criminal justice system. After retirement, Burch — who was named the Tennessee Trial Judge of the Year in 2002 — said he hopes to continue working with the Drug Court program.

An audit of the procedures in the Knox County criminal justice system released last week shows a need for improved quality control measures, training and computer systems, the Knoxville News Sentinel said in an editorial today. The findings affirm reporting on errors in the Criminal Court Clerk's Office that resulted in wrongful arrests and other problems. The Knox County Commission ordered the audit as a result of the news reports. The office handles the enormous amount of paperwork generated in Criminal Court and the Criminal Division of General Sessions Court. Now it is up to incoming Criminal Court Clerk Mike Hammond to implement recommended changes to make the office more efficient and effective, the paper says.

The government has reached a $16.65 billion settlement with Bank of America over its role in the sale of mortgage-backed securities in the run-up to the financial crisis, the Justice Department announced today. The deal calls for the bank, the second-largest in the U.S., to pay a $5 billion cash penalty, another $4.6 billion in remediation payments and provide about $7 billion in relief to struggling homeowners. At a news conference, Attorney General Eric Holder said the bank and its Countrywide and Merrill Lynch subsidiaries had "engaged in pervasive schemes to defraud financial institutions and other investors" by misrepresenting the soundness of mortgage-backed securities. WATE has more from the Associated Press.

Today was the deadline for communities to qualify to have the wine-in-grocery stores question put on the November ballot, the Tennessean reports. Supporters in several counties across Tennessee secured enough signatures needed to add the referendum to the ballot, 10 percent of the number who cast a ballot in the 2010 gubernatorial election, said Deputy Williamson County Election Administrator Chad Gray. Grocery stores will be able to sell wine in cities and counties that allow bars or liquor stores starting in 2016 if local voters support the change.

The 15th Annual Shelby Bottoms Boogie 5K run/walk and 15K run will take place on Sept. 20 at Shelby Park,1601 Davidson St., in Nashville. The 5K starts at 7:30 a.m., 15K starts at 7:40 a.m. The event benefits CASA Nashville (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children). Both races are also both part of the Nashville Striders 2014-2015 Grand Prix Series. Registration is $30 through Sept. 17 and $35 on race day.

A day after the certification of the Monroe County election, incumbent Sheriff Bill Bivens has filed suit against the election commission to contest the results, Knoxnews reports. Republican Randy White won the Aug. 7 election against Democrat Bivens despite a ruling by the state Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission in July rescinding the certification for White to be on the ballot. The suit contends the election should be declared void and the outcome determined by an elected body such as the county commission or by holding another election. The suit asks that Bivens be allowed to hold office as sheriff until his successor, if any, is elected, appointed or qualified.

Metro Council passed a new law adopting the so-called contextual overlay district, giving Nashville communities another tool to help regulate development. Supporters say it will combat new buildings that chafe against neighborhood fabric. The new law places restrictions on what builders can do in terms of height and width, taking into consideration the average shape of homes on either side of a proposed development. It’s not a blanket law; residents apply to be considered for the overlay. A vocal critic of the contextual overlay district said it will likely stagnate property values and create hurdles to home renovations. Nashville Public Radio has more.