The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill Friday that would restore sections of the Voting Rights Act that once required officials in all or parts of 15 mostly Southern states to receive federal approval before making changes to their voting processes, the New York Times reports. The bill essentially reverses a 2013 Supreme Court decision that tossed out a “pre-clearance” provision that determined which jurisdictions needed federal oversight of elections. The White House opposed the bill arguing it was an unjustified expansion of government power.

Gallatin lawyer James Barrett Hawkins died Friday following a battle with lymphoma. He was 63. Hawkins was a high school teacher in Danville, Kentucky, before earning a master's degree in educational policy studies from Vanderbilt University and a law degree from Duke University. He clerked for the Tennessee Supreme Court, worked with Harsh, Kelly & Smith and BellSouth Corporation, served as managing attorney of the Legal Aid Society’s Gallatin office, and, in 2009, opened a general practice law office in Gallatin. A funeral service will be held Wednesday at noon at the First United Methodist Church, 149 W. Main St., Gallatin 37066. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Family Heritage Funeral Home, 100 Albert Gallatin Ave., Gallatin 37066, and again on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to noon at the church. Memorial donations may be made to the church or a charitable organization of the donor’s choice.

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett last week certified the names for the statewide ballot for March 3, otherwise known as Super Tuesday when 14 states conduct presidential primaries. Three Republican and 16 Democratic contenders will be on the ballot in Tennessee. The Daily Memphian has the list of candidates who qualified. Voters participating in the Republican primary will select their preferred presidential candidate as well as delegates to the summer national convention. Democratic primary voters will cast their ballots for presidential contenders only, as convention delegates are chosen by an internal party method.

Knox County parents are voicing concerns over a program that allows children to leave class to attend one hour of Bible instruction, WBIR reports. The program requires students to have parental consent to participate and must be conducted off public school property. The school board said it is drafting a policy to address religious programs. In related news, the ACLU of Tennessee recently filed a federal lawsuit against officials in the Smith County School System, alleging they engage in the widespread promotion of religion in district schools. News Channel 5 has a release from the group and an initial response from the district.

The American Constitution Society (ACS) recently recognized the University of Memphis School of Law ACS Student Chapter as its “Chapter of the Week.” The feature highlighted the school’s work to revive the chapter after a period of dormancy and recent events it has held, including a panel discussion on the de-merger of Shelby County public schools, a discussion with Democrat Congressman Steve Cohen about the Electoral College, and a community organizing training with the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center. In January, the group will hold a Winter Break Book Club to read and discuss The Guarded Gate by Daniel Okrent.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands will hold its monthly legal help clinic at the Gallatin Civic Center tomorrow from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The center is located at 210 Albert Gallatin Ave., Gallatin 37066. The clinic is staffed by the Sumner County Bar Association but residents from all middle Tennessee counties are welcome.

The Nashville Scene magazine has named the staff of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRC) its Nashvillians of the Year for 2019. The organization was formed in 2003 to empower and protect immigrants and refugees throughout the state. The news comes as the group announces a capital campaign to build a stand-alone headquarters in Antioch. Attorney Anne Davis and her husband and former Mayor Karl Dean, will serve as honorary co-chairs. The new $2.5 million headquarters will provide green space, gathering places, more office space and a legal services suite — allowing TIRRC to expand its legal team, Nashville Public Radio reports.

Leroy Hall Jr. was executed by electric chair last night at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution, Nashville Public Radio reports. He was convicted of murder nearly three decades ago for killing his estranged girlfriend. A last-minute appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court early yesterday evening was denied, according to the Tennessean. Hall’s attorneys had attempted to delay his execution by arguing he was deprived of his constitutional rights because a juror failed to disclose during jury selection that she had been raped and abused by her ex-husband.

The Nashville Bar Association (NBA) elected new leaders and board members at its Annual Meeting Thursday night. Laura Baker, a shareholder with the Law Offices of John Day, took over as president from Laura Smith with the Nashville Electric Service. Others elected included First Vice President W. Brantley Phillips Jr., Second Vice President Tracy Kane, President-elect Michael G. Abelow, First Vice President-elect Lynne T. Ingram, Second Vice President-elect Daniel P. Berexa, Secretary J. Bart Pickett, Treasurer Jeffrey L. Allen, and YLD President D. Gil Schuette. New board members are Lora Barkenbus Fox, William J. “Paz” Haynes III, Marlene Eskind Moses, Junaid Odubeko and Gulam Zade. Read more in this press release from the association.

Nashville attorney Robert "Bob" Mansell Moses died Wednesday. He was 71. Moses and his wife, Marlene Eskind Moses, also a lawyer, practiced at the firm of MTR Family Law PLLC. He had earned a masters degree in business administration from Tulane University and a law degree from the Nashville School of Law. Before practicing law, he was president of a sound studio and worked in the wholesale liquor and wine business. A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Temple Congregation Ohabai Sholom, 5015 Harding Pike, Nashville 37205. A private burial will precede the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Abe’s Garden, Harding Academy or the W.O. Smith Music School.