The Chattanooga branch of the NAACP is calling on Hamilton County district attorney candidate Coty Wamp to apologize for comments she made during a women’s group meeting, the Chattanoogan reports. Speaking to the Tennessee Valley Republican women on Tuesday, Wamp remarked that she does not support the NAACP, saying that, in addition to listing how many Black people are shot by police each year, it should list “how many African Americans are shot by African Americans” or “how many police officers are shot by anybody…” to its website. Local Branch President Rev. Ann Jones Pierre on Friday said Wamp "does not understand the purpose of the NAACP and should apologize for misleading the public.”

Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R- Oak Ridge, says he will not support a new anti-abortion bill because it would conflict with the state’s “heartbeat” abortion ban currently making its way through federal court, the Tennessean reports. The new measure, House Bill 2779, would ban almost all abortions, with no exceptions for rape or incest. It would also allow private citizens to bring civil action against abortion providers for “each abortion that the defendant performed.” McNally said the new bill could “complicate” the state’s current abortion law. Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston, said the new legislation could “really upend the current tort system of law.” A House subcommittee has approved the new bill, and it will be heard by a full House committee next week. McNally says he hopes it will not advance in the Senate.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee will hold a “Community Justice Pro Bono Night” on March 31 at the downtown Chattanooga Whiskey Event Hall. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the event beginning at 6 p.m. EDT. The celebration will feature live music, food and drink, and a silent auction. Tickets are available for $45 online or at the door. Contact Pro Bono Project Managing Attorney Caitlin Torney, 865-251-4951 with any questions.

The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) is testing a program that allows prospective law school applicants to take undergraduate courses in lieu of the LSAT exam, the ABA Journal reports. LSAC says it will offer the option this fall with partner institutions Cornell College, Northeastern University and the University of Maryland at Eastern Shore. The group says it will study the results, consult with an advisory committee established to review the program, and work closely with the council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. LSAC CEO Kellye Testy said the program will “focus on helping students develop and demonstrate mastery of the skills necessary for success in law school.”

Knoxville lawyer Andrew Johnson Evans Jr. died Monday at 95. Following high school graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and fought overseas during World War II. He went on to earn his law degree at the University of Tennessee College of Law and launch a private practice. In 1968, he was elected to Knox County General Sessions Court, where he served through 1989. The family will receive friends at noon on Saturday at Berry Funeral Home, 3704 Chapman Highway, Knoxville 37920, with the funeral to follow at 2 p.m. EDT. Interment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery, 4500 Woodlawn Pike, Knoxville 37920.

Former Gov. Bill Haslam and criminal justice reform advocate Cyntoia Brown-Long have forged an unlikely friendship in the years since he granted her clemency. This week, they both expressed support for criminal justice reform, particularly for juvenile offenders, while speaking at “Reform for Redemption” hosted by the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy. Brown-Long, who as a teenage was convicted of killing her trafficker, has become a national figure. During the event Haslam said, “My viewpoint [after] peering into the judicial system is we have too many people serving too long. We have too many juveniles serving too long.” He also said he waited too long to consider clemency cases as governor and ultimately ran out of time. "It was a big mistake ... a lot more cases" deserved review. Axios Nashville has more from the event or watch a recording of the program.

National Republican leaders have narrowed their list of potential 2024 nominating convention sites to two: Nashville and Milwaukee, Politico reports. The Republican National Committee’s site selection committee recently voted to eliminate Salt Lake City from contention leaving just Nashville and Milwaukee. Representatives from the two remaining contenders will visit Washington, D.C., next week to make final pitches. Last year, Gov. Bill Lee asked Nashville tourism officials to bid for both the Republican and Democratic conventions.

The United Nations' top court for disputes between states ordered Russia yesterday to immediately halt its military operations in Ukraine, saying it was “profoundly concerned” by Moscow’s use of force. Two weeks ago, Ukraine asked the International Court of Justice to intervene, arguing Russia violated the 1948 Genocide Convention by falsely accusing Ukraine of committing genocide and using that as a pretext for the ongoing invasion. Countries who refuse to abide by court orders can be referred to the U.N. Security Council, though Russia holds veto power there, the Associated Press reports.

The 41st Annual Tennessee State High School Mock Trial Competition will take place March 25-26 at the Historic Davidson County Courthouse in downtown Nashville — the first in-person competition in two years. The roster of competitors is now set with 14 teams: two teams from Agathos Classical School in Columbia; Clarksville High School; Farragut High School; two teams from Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga; Knoxville Catholic High School, Memphis University School; two teams from Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville; St. Mary's Episcopal School in Memphis; Signal Mountain High School; Unicoi County High School; and Warren County High School. The state competition is sponsored by the TBA Young Lawyers Division and will involve 150 students and 100 attorneys, sitting judges and law student volunteers. Thank you to Belmont College of Law and University of Memphis School of Law for sponsoring this year’s competition. Learn more about the competition.

A bill that would require DNA proof of paternity before an unmarried man signs a child's birth certificate is making its way through the state legislature, News 5 reports. The bill, HB2698, is sponsored by Rep. Antonio Parkinson, D-Memphis. It passed the House Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee yesterday and now heads to the Civil Justice Committee. The Senate version of the bill was scheduled for a floor vote today. Parkinson says the bill is necessary to protect those forced to pay child support after finding out a child they thought was their own was not. The Tennessee Department of Human Services has expressed concern that the proposal could affect compliance with federal regulations.