The Arizona Supreme Court has approved an experimental proposal allowing third-year law students to take the bar exam in the middle of their final year, making it the only state to allow students to take the exam before they graduate. Law school officials hope it will give students a leg up in the job market. The proposal was approved as a temporary pilot program from Jan. 2013 to Dec. 2015.  The National Law Journal has the story.

The Administrative Office of the Courts is now accepting applications for a seat on the Judicial Nominating Commission as a result of the retirement of commission member Theresa Lee. Applicants may either be an attorney or non-attorney, but must have lived in East Tennessee for one year prior to the appointment, and have been a citizen of the state of Tennessee for at least five years prior to the appointment. Applications must be received by the Administrative Office of the Courts by Jan. 3

The Williamson County DUI Court received a glowing report from a recent review by the Justice Programs Office at American University. The review team consisted of Judge John Parnham, a retired Circuit Court judge, and Dr. Richard Grimm, a DUI court evaluator, who spent two days in Franklin meeting with DUI Court Judge Denise Andre, Mayor Rogers Anderson, DUI Court team members, participants and graduates. The Williamson County General Sessions DUI Court was founded in 2010 by Judge Andre.

The Nashville Pro Bono Program named Perry Happell as its “Volunteer of the Year” and Stites & Harbison PLLC as its “Leadership Award” winner at the Nashville Bar Association's recent annual banquet. “These awards reflect the work done and legal contributions made individually by Perry and collectively by Stites & Harbison to the Nashville Pro Bono Program,” Lucinda Smith, the program's director said. “Their efforts make a world of difference in the free legal help we are able to provide the Nashville community.” Download this press release to learn more.

Two BP rig supervisors charged with manslaughter in the 2010 Gulf oil spill have asked a federal judge to postpone their trials, WDEF News Channel 12 reports. Defense lawyers asked for more time to prepare and stated Justice Department prosecutors are not opposed to the delay. U. S District Judge Stanwood Duval Jr. didn’t immediately rule on their request.

Despite regular opposition to expanding the role of the federal government, most Tennessee Republicans support Gov. Haslam’s decision to reject a state-run health insurance exchange in favor of a federally-run program, the Chattanooga Times Free press reports. After Haslam’s announcement Monday, there were no recriminations for his deference to the federal government. However, a statewide poll conducted by Vanderbilt University found that 53 percent of the 829 respondents favored a state-run exchange versus the 33 percent who did not.

Researchers at the Memphis Business Journal reported today that Memphis-area law firm associates have taken the brunt of the recession, with the total number decreasing nearly 15 percent from 2008 to 2012. Partner numbers were stable during that same period, spiking above 400 in 2009 and 2011.

Gov. Bill Haslam says that while the crime rate is showing an overall decline in Tennessee, instances of aggravated assault, prescription drug abuse and domestic violence remain a major concern for his administration. He stated yesterday that domestic violence accounts for about half of all crimes committed in the state each year. This year, Haslam introduced and signed into law a measure to require mandatory jail time for repeat convictions for domestic violence, but it is too soon to tell if it has made a significant difference. Gov. Haslam said his Cabinet will continue to work with law enforcement to seek ways to reduce violent crimes and drug abuse.

A week after U.S District Judge Samuel “Hardy” Mays ruled against the Shelby County suburban municipalities' attempt at creating their own school districts, suburban leaders are not giving up. “My understanding is we're continuing to work toward the resolution of the lawsuits," Millington Mayor Linda Carter said, later adding: "We are working very hard to... reduce legal fees any way that we can for both sides." Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland, and Millington mayors have met the past two days to discuss the education system possibilities. The Memphis Commercial appeal has the story.

The U.S. Supreme Court will take up California’s ban on same-sex marriage, allowing the justices the chance to rule on whether gay Americans have the same constitutional right to marry as heterosexuals. On Monday, justices will review a federal appeals court ruling that struck down California’s gay marriage ban. The court will also decide whether Congress can deprive legally married gay couples of federal benefits otherwise available to married people.