State Attorney General Robert Cooper is being cautious in his response to a conservative Christian group that is calling for him to nullify Collegedale’s decision to pay health benefits to same-sex spouses of city employees. According to the Nashville Scene, Cooper’s office told the group, “We will continue to watch events around the state and take steps when appropriate in light of the fact that the Supreme Court’s DOMA decision did not invalidate state laws regarding marriage.”

U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras ruled in favor of the Department of Justice yesterday, saying it does not have to disclose the full names of the Navy SEALs and CIA officers who were key in the raid that would end in the death of Osama bin Laden. Allowing the filmmakers behind “Zero Dark Thirty” inside access to interview key players did not render the names of those officers public record, the judge ruled. The Blog of the Legal Times has the story.

In a letter to the editor of the Jackson Sun, long-time Jackson-Madison County resident Dr. Nancy Oberg discusses how completing her first jury duty service opened her eyes to a new appreciation for those in the legal professions. “I saw first-hand the judicial system at work: The meticulous attention to detail and organization of judges and staff, the vast cross section of fellow Madison County residents in the jury pool, and the commitment of law enforcement officials," Oberg writes. She concludes with thanking the “hardworking, dedicated men and women” who serve in the legal professions for their service.

Saul “TWOM” Mallen died Saturday (Aug. 24) at the age of 98. A member of the bar in Chattanooga and a businessman, Mallen served as president of Sportswear Mills for more than 40 years. He also served on several boards of directors for non-profit and other organizations. Services were held Tuesday at Mizpah Cemetery with Rabbi Bill Tepper officiating. 

A federal appeals court has struck down an invasive body cavity search that was central to the conviction of a drug suspect in Anderson County, News Channel 5 reports. With two sheriff's deputies looking on, a doctor at Oak Ridge Methodist Medical Center probed Felix Booker's rectum to find a bag containing crack cocaine. Judges for the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati on Monday called the medically induced paralysis under which Felix Booker was searched a "shock to the conscience."

In an Aug. 16 opinion, U.S. District Judge Mark Bennett criticized the U.S. Department of Justice for creating massive drug sentencing disparities by not having a policy advising prosecutors on when to double the prison time for repeat offenders. The Iowa judge blasted the "deeply disturbing, yet often replayed, shocking, dirty little secret of federal sentencing: the stunningly arbitrary application" of sentencing enhancements for repeat offenders. News Channel 5 has the story.

The TBA Access to Justice Committee's Pro Bono & Public Interest Law School Conference will be held Sept. 6-7 at the University of Tennessee College of Law. Law Students, faculty, staff and others interested in this issue are invited to attend any part of the event. The conference will feature presentations by TBA President Cindy Wyrick, Access to Justice Commission Chair Buck Lewis and representatives from law schools and legal aid programs. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in discussions on policy issues ranging from mandatory pro bono service for law school graduates to public interest career debt management strategies. Click here to register for this free conference and to view the full schedule. For more information, contact UT’s Access to Justice Coordinator Brad Morgan.

The Montgomery County Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) held its first graduation ceremony for four former solders who successfully completed the year-old program, the Leaf Chronicle reports. VTC was started by General Sessions Judge Ken Goble. It is holistic, encompassing family therapy, drug and alcohol treatment, housing issues for homeless veterans and other services. There are currently 25 participants.

Chattanooga State Community College’s paralegal program has partnered with the Olsen Law Firm and William & Mary School of Law to host a law school admissions informational session on Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. in the Omniplex on Chattanooga State’s main campus. Tennessee native Rhianna Shabsin, assistant dean of admission for William & Mary School of Law, will present information to students. For more information, contact the Olsen Law Firm at (413) 648-9390. The Chattanoogan has the story.

The Shelby County Public Defender’s office has been allocated $2 million in state and local funds to create a juvenile defenders unit, as it was directed to do by the U.S. Department of Justice after an investigation found deficiencies in the juvenile court system. “These funds will be used to hire additional attorneys and other professional staff to create a specialized juvenile defender unit within the public defender’s office, and also to meet the county’s obligation to support the work of members of the private bar who agree to take court appointments in Juvenile Court,” Stephen Bush, Shelby County Public Defender, told the Commercial Appeal.