The Hamilton County Courthouse will be given a centennial tribute this Saturday, the Chattanoogan reports. Chattanooga’s big band, Sweet Georgia Sound, will perform in addition to a laser show. Designed by Reuben H. Hunt, the architect of numerous downtown buildings, the courthouse was constructed of Tennessee gray marble in 1913 after a fire destroyed the previous building. Visit the Hamilton County website for more information about centennial events.

Four out of five voters back stronger disclosure laws for judicial campaigns in state elections, according to the Center for American Progress, which commissioned a new poll. In 2012, a record-setting $29.7 million was spent on TV advertising to influence judicial contests across the nation, the Center said in relying on estimates from Justice at Stake and the Brennan Center for Justice, and half of that came from non-candidate groups. The poll also showed that 68 percent of respondents voiced support for non-partisan judicial elections, and a clear majority of voters favor merit selection systems for picking judges. Gavel Grab has the story.

Democratic leaders oppose the proposal by the state Department of Education that seeks to change the minimum teacher salary schedule, the Memphis Daily News reports. House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh, D-Ripley, said the proposal could deter individuals looking to teach in Tennessee. According to WATE, the new schedule increases base pay, but reduces incremental pay steps from 21 to four. It also eliminates pay increases for training higher than a Master's degree. The Tennessee Board of Education approved the proposal 6-3 today.

President Barack Obama announced today the nominations of three lawyers to serve as commissioners on the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Election Commission. Obama nominated Ann Revel and Lee Goodman to the FEC and Terrell McSweeny to the FTC. Additionally, Obama nominated former deputy attorney general James Comey to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Blog of the Legal Times has more.

Overall employment rate for the law class of 2012 fell by 1 percent compared to a year ago, according to figures released Thursday by NALP. It marked the fifth straight year that the overall employment figure has fallen, although the actual number of jobs obtained by new graduates was up slightly, as was the median starting salary. "The employment picture remains decidedly mixed,” NALP executive director James Leipold said. “However, with the Class of 2012 we see the beginning of a rebounding private practice sector, particularly at large law firms—and, with that, we see some rebounding salary numbers.” The National Law Journal has the story. 

Residents who have been displaced by a fire are now facing other problems, as some have apparently been told to sign documents without reading them by a management company, WRCBTV reports. Some of the residents knew to call Legal Aid, and were able to speak to attorney Emily O'Donnell, who offered help. Russel Fowler, who also works for legal aid, said, "These documents may be perfectly fine. When a person asks you to sign a legal document without looking at it, you should run and run fast."

Nashville-based Bone McAllester Norton PLLC is renovating its downtown office space at the Nashville City Center by expanding in the building’s 18th floor. The Nashville business Journal reports that Bone McAllester, which has just over 30 attorneys, is adding more conference and general purpose meeting space as well as space to add more attorneys over time.

The two inaugural awards for the Justice Adolpho A. Birch Jr. Memorial Scholarship were presented to rising second-year Belmont University College of Law student Candace Meagan Carter and University of Tennessee College of Law student J. Nasrollashi, a rising third-year student. The family of the late Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Birch Jr. and the Napier-Looby Bar Foundation announced the establishment of the scholarships earlier this year. The scholarships, supported by the Adolpho A. Birch Jr. Legal Education Fund, are the beginning of an ongoing effort to recognize Justice Birch’s commitment to academic excellence, public service and diversity in the legal and judicial professions. Download the press release.

Memphis attorney Karen Wilson Tyler was suspended June 19 for one year, retroactive to April 5, when she was temporarily suspended for failure to respond to a complaint. In September 2012, the board filed a petition for discipline alleging that Tyler failed to competently and diligently handle the administration of an estate, for making a statement against the integrity of a chancellor, and upon her failure to properly respond to a request for information from the board. Download the BPR notice.

The law license of Robert David Strickland was transferred to disability inactive status. He 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 he is fit to resume the practice of law. Download the BPR notice.