The TBA Mentoring Program is looking for attorneys with at least eight years of legal practice experience to join the program as mentors for upcoming classes. The program specifically needs attorneys in Jackson who practice disability, estate or elder law and those in the Nashville area who practice juvenile law, general solo, real estate, construction law or criminal defense. Visit the TBA website for more information or contact Christy Gibson.

U.S. House Republicans took the initial step yesterday to sue President Barack Obama over the administration’s decision to delay the employer mandate of the health care law. Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, announced that Republicans had released a draft resolution that would authorize the House to file suit amid GOP criticism that the president has declined to faithfully execute the laws of the country. Boehner’s actions on the lawsuit come as some Republicans are demanding the far more formidable step of impeachment. The Jackson Sun has more.

A Memphis lawyer was scammed out of $40,000, Local Memphis reports. Attorney Wes Fowler said he received a phone call claiming his sister would be arrested if he did not pay $800. Although Fowler did not follow through, the criminals were able to gather enough information about him to send a fake email to his bank requesting a $40,000 money transfer to an account in New York. There have been other victims of similar scams across the country, according to reports. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is investigating the case and has alerted the Secret Service and FBI.

U.S. District Judge Rya Zobel dismissed a request by Saint Thomas Hospital for summary judgment in a court case focused on the hospital’s role in the deadly meningitis outbreak in 2012. If approved, the request would have ended the case without a trial. Zobel’s decision now means that plaintiffs’ lawyers can investigate defendants’ documents and ask the defendants questions under oath. The Tennessean has more.

Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey said Wednesday he has no intentions of “sitting on the sidelines” while members of the state Supreme Court try and earn yes votes in the August retention election, TriCities reports. Ramsey spoke out a day after Chief Justice Gary Wade told the Bristol Herald Courier that Ramsey’s campaign to oust him and fellow justices Connie Clark and Sharon Lee is “disconcerting” and “disturbing.” Ramsey said the retention election flies under the radar of most voters because it takes place only every eight years but the fact that voters are involved makes the justices fair game in the political arena.

National Democrats have introduced legislation to reverse the U.S. Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision by exempting federally mandated health benefits, such as contraception coverage, from the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the Nashville Business Journal reports. The Protect Women’s Health from Corporate Interference Act would prohibit for-profit companies from using religious beliefs to deny employees' coverage for contraceptives or any other essential health benefit required under the Affordable Care Act.

U.S. District Judge Curtis Collier, the senior federal judge in Chattanooga, spoke at the Federal Bar Association’s 50th anniversary civil rights celebration this week. Hundreds of people – blacks, whites, attorneys, students and professionals – listened to speeches, freedom songs and soul-moving music to commemorate the event, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. “Civil rights didn’t happen by magic,” Collier told the crowd. “People made tremendous sacrifice. That’s why we come to celebrate.”

John Seigenthaler, legendary Tennessee journalist, political figure, intimate confidant to two near-presidents and fierce advocate for racial equality, died today at his home surrounded by family. He was 86. A Nashville native, Seigenthaler served as editor and publisher of the Tennessean for almost 30 years. Under his leadership, the newspaper covered historic events such as the Nashville lunch counter sit-ins and the early swearing-in of then Gov. Lamar Alexander. On the national scene, Seigenthaler served as an advisor to former Attorney General Bobby Kennedy and former Vice President Al Gore. He was active in the Freedom Rides movement and negotiated a deal with then-Alabama Gov. John Patterson that state troopers would protect students participating in the rides. A four-time published author, Seigenthaler also founded the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University in 1991.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the John Seigenthaler Center on Vanderbilt University's campus. A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Cathedral of the Incarnation on West End Ave. The Tennessean and News Channel 5 have profiles of his life.

The Davidson County Grand Jury noted in its final report issued last week that it was concerned about whether the Aug. 7 appellate court retention election is valid based on findings that the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission (JPEC) was not properly seated. The group's term expired before members could make a full inquiry, but they recommended that the new grand jury, which was empanelled Monday, review the legality of JPEC's recommendations and the upcoming judicial elections. The Tennessean has more. 

In a 12-minute video released this week, Knoxville Bar Association President Wade Davies encourages citizens to vote in the Aug. 7 retention elections. To help voters make  informed decisions, the KBA created “Get to Know Your Judicial Candidates,” a section of the KBA website with non-partisan, objective information about the elections and the qualifications of the candidates.