White Bluff resident and Dickson County attorney Leonard Belmares has announced his candidacy for White Bluff Municipal Court Judge. Belmares has interned with the 23rd Judicial District Attorney General’s Office in Charlotte and is in private practice with the Baker Law Group PLLC in Charlotte, where he handles criminal defense cases. The Tennessean has more.

Fortune recently released its annual list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, naming Memphis-based Baker Donelson number 31 — a big jump from the law firm's 45th ranking in 2013. Among the reasons the publication listed for its rank, more than half of the staffers are women and the firm employs a dedicated pro bono attorney. The only other company in Tennessee to make the list was St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which was ranked 30. CNN has the full list. 

State Senate Democratic Leader Jim Kyle of Memphis announced today that he is running for Shelby County Chancery Court judge, the Commercial Appeal reports. The seat is to be vacated by Gov. Bill Haslam’s appointment of Chancellor Arnold Goldin to the Tennessee Court of Appeals. As minority leader, Kyle is the top-ranking Democrat from Memphis in the statehouse, where he has served in the Senate since 1983. “I will be a fair judge who will work hard to ensure that our citizens get their day in court,” Kyle said. “I have a proven track record in the Senate of making the right decision, and that is one of the reasons my colleagues elected me their leader.”

Gov. Bill Haslam today spoke to reporters about various bills he intends to support this legislative session. The Republican governor said he will support a school voucher bill similar to the one he proposed last year that once again will be limited to students from low-income families attending failing schools. He had the measure withdrawn when Senate Republicans sought to expand to a larger number of children. Knoxnews reports that Haslam also said he is proposing legislation to require a prescription for more than a 20-day supply of cold medicines that are used to make methamphatamine. The bill is meant to target the purchase of large amounts of medicines from a variety of stores, which is known as “smurfing.”

T. Maxfield “Max” Bahner has been named the recipient of the Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga’s Distinguished Service Award for outstanding leadership. Bahner, who has lived in Chattanooga for more than 50 years, is a founding member, Life Fellow and former president of the Chattanooga Bar Association. The award will be presented during a recognition luncheon on Jan. 28. The Chattanoogan has more.

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments yesterday in a case challenging the Massachusetts law that created buffer zones prohibiting protestors from standing within 35 feet from the entrance of an abortion clinic. Protestors sued over the limits on their activities at Planned Parenthood health centers in Boston, Springfield and Worcester, claiming the law is an unconstitutional infringement on free speech. According to the Washington Post, predicting outcomes is difficult because Chief Justice John G. Roberts, who probably is key to the court’s ultimate decision, kept his own counsel. Normally an active participant in the court’s major cases, the justice did not pose a single question to the three lawyers who argued the case.

This week, the high court also refereed the dispute between President Barack Obama and Senate Republicans over the president’s power to temporarily fill high-level positions without Senate approval — a practice that has accelerated in recent years due to partisan gridlock in Congress. The Supreme Court appeared on Monday to lean toward Congress in the fight over presidential recess appointments, politicalticker notes. A ruling by the court against the Obama administration could invalidate hundreds of decisions by the National Labor Relations Board — the federal agency at the center of this legal storm.

Philip Rubin Strang received a public censure on Jan. 13 for paying a personal expense from funds in his trust account resulting in an overdraft. Later, he issued a check to a client for funds collected for the client, but there were insufficient funds in the trust account to cover the check. Download the BPR notice.

A burst sprinker pipe flooded the Tennessee Justice Center on Friday, and the TJC is now seeking help recovering from the damage. The TJC is requesting donations of new or gently used furniture, especially conference room tables and chairs, bookshelves, and office desks and chairs. Volunteers are also needed to help organize. If you have questions or want to help, please email Kristin at kware@tnjustice.org or visit the TJC's Facebook page.

The Lions Club of Rutherford County will sponsor the first charter night of the Murfreesboro Downtown Barristers Lions Club, a new community service club for law professionals. Chancellor Robert E. Corlew III, who has been involved with the Lions Club for 35 years, approached retired judge Steve Daniel about establishing the club. “Our shared vision is that, with the incorporation of seasoned lawyers and judges, there’d be the opportunity for development and mentoring for younger attorneys and at the same time, continue legal education to improve their abilities and service to our community,” says Daniel, who is president of the new club. Meetings will be held at 5 p.m. every second Tuesday of each month in the Rutherford County Courthouse. The Daily News Journal has the story.

Victor “Torry” Johnson III, Davidson County’s longtime top prosecutor, today announced to staff and Metro leaders he will not seek re-election as district attorney general when his term ends in August. Johnson has been Davidson County’s district attorney general since 1987, with the majority of his career before that as a prosecutor, the Tennessean reports.