Nashville activist and Stand Up Nashville co-founder Odessa Kelly is moving her congressional campaign from the 5th District to the 7th District following redistricting, the Nashville Post reports. Kelly initially planned to challenge Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Nashville, in the 5th District’s Democratic primary, but redistricting split Nashville into three different districts and Cooper announced his decision to retire. Kelly now will run in the Democratic primary in an effort to take on incumbent Rep. Mark Green, R-Clarksville, whose 7th District now includes much of northern Davidson County. Kelly currently lives in the 6th District, but plans to move to the 7th District though election laws do not require congressional candidates to live in the district they seek to represent.

Those opposed to the current bail system frequently raise concerns about the number of those detained before trial and the “patchwork” of bail practices across Tennessee's 95 counties. According to the state Department of Correction, about 59% of the 24,264 people in jail in the state are being detained pre-trial. According to WPLN, three bills have been introduced this session to address issues related to bail practices. SB2377/HB2367 would create a system to send alerts to all “interested parties” at each step of the legal process, including notifying the defendant of when to return to court. SB2237/HB2355 would further regulate bail bond agencies, including requiring additional continuing legal education. And SB1791/HB1936 would require a bail hearing within 48 hours of an arrest. Read more about the proposals and track where they are in the legislative process on the General Assembly's website.

The TBA Federal Law Section will host its annual forum on May 18 as a live virtual program. This year’s forum is being produced by Audrey Calkins with the Memphis office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. Section members enjoy additional savings on this program. Not a section member yet? Join here. Watch for more details coming soon.

The TBA Adoption Law Forum is set for May 16 in Nashville from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT, offering one dual and three general CLE credits. Produced by Jennifer Williams, speakers are Meredith Brasfield, Vicki Davis, Douglas Dimond, Susan Kovac, Marianne Shore and Kevin Weaver. Register here. 

Cookeville attorney Dana R. Looper has announced her candidacy for 13th Judicial District Circuit Court judge. She is an attorney with Fry, Fry, Knight & Looper where she has a general practice including federal court and appellate practice. She received her legal education from the Nashville School of Law. Prior to becoming an attorney, Looper was a police officer for the Algood Police Department and a domestic violence advocate. The district covers Clay, Cumberland, Dekalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam and White counties.

A group of legal and community advocates in Memphis is requesting a racial equity audit of Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich and her office, The Daily Memphis reports. They made the request today on the heels of the controversial case of Pamela Moses, a Memphis woman sentenced to six years and a day in prison after she was prosecuted by Weirich’s office for voter fraud. Moses has since been granted a new trial.

Ukraine pleaded with the United Nations’ top court Monday to order Russia to halt its devastating invasion, saying Moscow is already committing widespread war crimes and “resorting to tactics reminiscent of medieval siege warfare” in its military onslaught. Russia snubbed the International Court of Justice hearings and its seats in the Great Hall of Justice remained empty, the Associated Press reports.

Vanderbilt Law School will host a short program featuring Vice Chancellor Joseph Slights III of the Delaware Court of Chancery and Chancellor Anne C. Martin of the Chancery Court of Davidson County, Tennessee, on March 15. They will will discuss the national business court movement, best practices for attorneys with business disputes, and substantive issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic as they have impacted business disputes.

Robin Smith was set to appear in a Nashville courtroom this afternoon to plead guilty to a federal charge, The Chattanoogan reports. A criminal indictment against her was unveiled on Monday that charges her with one count of federal wire fraud in connection with a conspiracy involving former House Speaker Glen Casada. She resigned from the Tennessee House of Representatives yesterday. 

Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law is hiring a visiting faculty position, to begin July 1. Applications will be accepted until April 15 or until the position is filled. Read more about the position and how to apply.