The Senate Judiciary Committee held the third day of hearings and a second day of questioning today for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. Questions from Republican senators continued to center on the judge’s track record on sentencing, especially in child pornography cases. Jackson pushed back on the questions saying, “no one case can stand in for my entire record.” When asked if she regretted some of the sentences, which fell below the sentencing guidelines, she said, “What I regret is that in a hearing about my qualifications to be a justice on the Supreme Court, we’ve spent a lot of time focusing on this small subset of my sentences.” Republicans on the committee also asked today to get copies of pre-sentencing reports related to the cases in question. Committee Chair Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, said that move would be unprecedented and could negatively impact victims. The Hill has a wrap up of the day. Tomorrow, the committee will hear from a number of outside groups, including the ABA.

Williamson County lawyer Kathryn Goff Brinton was reinstated to the practice of law effective March 7 after being on inactive status since Nov. 15, 2006. The Tennessee Supreme Court issued the order this week after the Board of Professional Responsibility reported that Brinton’s reinstatement petition was satisfactory.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue will hold its next free webinar on state tax issues on March 29 at 9 a.m. CST. This session will focus on preparing a business tax return. Participants will learn how to file, determining gross sales, calculating deductions, filing for multiple locations and more. Register here.

The Sequatchie County Chancery and Probate courts recently received approval to implement e-filing. The local rules for the 12th Judicial District are now available for review here or on the Sequatchie County Clerk and Master’s webpage. The rules must be made public as part of a 30-day comment and notice period. For more information, contact Sequatchie County Clerk & Master Jared Smith at 423-949-3670.

The Memphis law firm of Dinkelspiel Rasmussen & Mink is seeking an associate attorney to serve in its litigation department. Applicants must have strong organizational skills, the ability to communicate effectively, attention to detail and strong legal writing skills. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: communicating with clients, preparing legal research and pleadings, reviewing discovery and appearing in court. No minimum experience is required. Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to Dee Dee Dunehew. See the full job description on TBA’s Job Link or see all openings.

Tennessee state House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and other legislators have been subpoenaed, News Channel 5 reports. The move comes two weeks after Rep. Robin Smith, R-Hixson, resigned from the House and pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Smith said she participated in a scheme to defraud the state and members of the Republican caucus by setting up and running a direct mail consulting firm under a false identity. In related news, an ethics bill to address corruption among lawmakers is in the works. According to Tennessee Lookout, Rep. Sam Whitson, R-Franklin, is developing legislation that could tighten disclosure requirements, alter the makeup of the Registry of Election Finance, and change reporting requirements on campaign receipts.

Five days after being removed from the ballot by the Davidson County Election Commission, Luvell Glanton has filed suit to be placed back on it, Nashville Post reports. The suit, filed this morning, alleges that the partisan nature of the commission’s vote (all Republicans voted to exclude him) was responsible for “usurping the Democratic Party’s exclusive control over its primary ballot and denying Mr. Glanton procedural protections.” The suit further alleges that the commission structured the hearings incorrectly, placing the burden of proof on Glanton to show why he should not be removed rather than on Jones to prove Glanton lived outside the county after Aug. 4, 2021. Glanton is asking for a temporary injunction to prevent ballots being printed without his name on them. He is seeking the Democratic nomination for the Eighth Circuit Court seat Jones was elected to in 2014. Also running is former Legal Aid Society attorney Lynne Ingram.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands has announced that Alise Housden has joined the firm as a housing attorney in the Murfreesboro office, the Daily News Journal reports. Housden will provide legal services for Rutherford County residents in eviction-related cases and assist clients in applying for the county’s COVID-19 Rental Relief Program. Housden previously worked with Long, Burnett & Johnson in Nashville. She earned her law degree from Charlotte School of Law in 2015.

Miller & Martin attorneys David Kesler and Merrill Nelson have been awarded the ABA Military Pro Bono Project Outstanding Services Award for representing a paralyzed Navy veteran in his appeal for additional disability benefits, Chattanoogan.com reports. Beginning in 2018, the attorneys dedicated more than 150 pro bono hours, exhausting all appeals and administrative remedies. They then filed a request with the Board for the Correction of Naval Records, which has the authority to correct a service member’s record. The board denied the request but said it would reconsider if additional evidence was found. With the help of a JAG captain, the team was able to identify evidence not previously considered. This time their persistence paid off and the client was awarded the full $100,000 to which he was entitled. 

Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles has announced he is running for the state's 5th Congressional District seat, the Columbia Daily Herald reports. Ogles won the Republican nomination for a second term as mayor in a January county Republican caucus and says  he will keep his hat in that race, relinquishing office if he wins the 5th District seat. Ogles said he is running to help Maury County continue its prosperity and maintain its freedoms. The recently redrawn 5th District includes all of Maury, Lewis and Marshall counties, and parts of Davidson, Wilson and Williamson counties.