The National Center for State Courts will provide live coverage of state supreme court races and court-related initiatives on election night next Tuesday from its website.

Attorney General Robert Cooper said in an opinion released today that tax breaks for the solar industry may be unconstitutional, the Tennessean reports. The 2010 law that slashed property tax bills for green energy installations was one of three tax breaks backed by former Gov. Phil Bredesen. In the opinion, Cooper said that the tax effectively gives certain business owners exemptions that are not authorized by the state Constitution.

The Ben F. Jones chapter of the National Bar Association will host its annual Barrister’s Ball and Scholarship Awards Saturday at the Racquet Club in Memphis. The Ball is an opportunity for lawyers, judges, and their families to come together for a night of great food, music, dancing, recognition of outstanding achievements, and fundraising to support scholarships to deserving minority students of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.

The Nashville Bar Foundation will host its annual Fellows Dinner on Saturday at the Hutton Hotel. Visit the NBA website for more information.

For the second day, jurors weighing six federal counts against former Knox County Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner could not come to a verdict. Knoxnews reports that the panel told Judge Ronnie Greer they’d reached unanimous verdicts on some counts but were deadlocked on others. After deliberating for more than 12 hours over the past two days, the jury will try again tomorrow morning to reach a full and final verdict.

Memphis attorney Donnie McFerren, 55, died on Oct. 23 after a long illness. Mr. McFerren practiced in the Public Defender’s Office for a number of years, then practiced in both the civil and criminal areas. Visitation will be held tomorrow from 4-6 p.m. at the N.J. Ford & Sons Funeral Home, 12 S. Parkway West. The memorial service will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m. Donations are being accepted to help defray the funeral expenses. Contact Carolyn Watkins at (901) 494-2965 or (901) 222-1104 or Viola Johnson at (901) 355-3269 to donate.

Longtime Knoxville attorney John B. Rayson died yesterday at the age of 79. Mr. Rayson graduated from The University of Tennessee College of Law in 1958, where he was a member of The Tennessee Law Review. He joined the firm Kramer Rayson in 1959 and focused his practice primarily in the area of employment and labor law. For many years he served as vice-chancellor (legal counsel) for the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee. He was a fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation, served as president of the Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society and was a past president of Legal Aid of East Tennessee. A memorial service will be held on Monday at 4 p.m. at The Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 800 Northshore Dr. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Episcopal Church of the Ascension or Legal Aid of East Tennessee.

Vanderbilt University Law School announced six new members to its Board of Advisors: Andrew T. Bayman (1989), Rachel A. Beck (2012), Robert Beck Jr. (1975) David R. Gelfand (1987), Michael B. Hammond (1975) and Christine E. Lagod (1980).  Members serve three-year terms, and a member of Vanderbilt Law School's most recent graduating class serves a one-year term. 

The Tennessee Supreme Court asks lawyers to "aspire to render at least 50 hours of pro bono publico legal services per year,” and many do that and more. In Memphis, Linda Warren Seely is there to help them make those hours count. As director of private attorney involvement for Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS), Seely coordinates pro bono work for the principal provider of civil legal assistance to low-income individuals and the elderly in the area. She tells the Memphis Daily News that  her long career in bringing pro bono help to those in need is personally rewarding and feels like “mission work.”

The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today that photo ID cards issued by the Memphis public library qualify as a valid and acceptable form of identification required to vote, the Tennessean reports. State election officials announced that only residents of Shelby County will be allowed to use library-issued IDs in next week’s Presidential election, after which the court will take up the question of whether the state’s new voter ID law is constitutional.