Tens of thousands of federal inmates serving time for drug crimes may be eligible for early release under a cost-cutting proposal adopted today that would dramatically reduce the nation's prison population over time. The U.S. Sentencing Commission, which earlier this year voted to substantially lower recommended sentences for drug-dealing felons, voted unanimously to retroactively apply that change to more than 46,000 prisoners now behind bars. WRCB has more.

Lipscomb University's Institute for Law, Justice and Society will host Justice William C. Koch, Jr. July 24 at 6:30 p.m. for a Conversation of Significance as he retires from the Tennessee Supreme Court and begins work as Dean of the Nashville School of Law. The conversation with Justice Koch will touch on the future of the Nashville School of Law, Justice Koch's career in the judiciary, judicial independence, the upcoming judicial retention elections, and the difficult legal issues that are on the horizon in Tennessee. This event is free and open to the public.

Charles Powell Jackson III was suspended on July 3 for failing to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility regarding two complaints of misconduct. View the BPR notice.

Elbert Jefferson Jr. was temporarily suspended for failing to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility regarding a complaint of misconduct. View the BPR notice.

The law license of Mary Ellen Stevens was transferred to disability inactive status on July 15. Stevens may return to the practice of law after reinstatement by the Tennessee Supreme Court upon showing of clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and she is fit to resume. View the BPR notice.

Matthew Bastian was suspended for 11 months and 29 days, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,000 and contact the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program for evaluation. Bastian improperly used his trust account for personal transactions, failed to timely respond to discovery requests, failed to appear at a hearing and failed to timely respond to pleadings resulting in default and dismissal of his client’s case. View the BPR notice.

Joseph Scott Bean Jr. was suspended from the practice of law on July 3 based upon his guilty plea to theft in an amount over $10,000. View the BPR notice.

Former Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt will not be called to testify in former spokeswoman Debby Jennings’ federal job discrimination lawsuit, an attorney said today in U.S. District Court. Jennings claims she lost her job when she took up for Summitt when Summitt believed she was being forced to retire due to a diagnosis of early onset dementia. The Tennessean has more.

Montgomery County Judge Ken Goble and Juvenile Magistrate Tim Barnes are asking citizens to look at their circumstances and see if they have the ability to become a foster parent, the Leaf Chronicle reports. There are currently 50 foster families, but the judges say the county needs to double that number to adequately serve all of the 279 children in the system.

Several family members of murder victims gathered in Knoxville yesterday to discuss opinions issued by the three State Supreme Court Justices up for a retention vote. The group is pushing for more rights for crime victims, and one woman said she was upset that justices weren't in support of showing a photo of a murder victim during a trial and felt that their decisions limited victim impact statements. WATE has the story.