The Tennessee Republican Party has finalized the candidates for the Aug. 1 primary. Of those who sought to run for various positions, the party removed 14 and restored eight after those individuals paid their party dues. Among those blocked from running were three candidates for Congress, two for the state Senate and nine for the state House, Tennessee Journal reports. Party leaders said these individuals failed to meet “bona fide” standards, which require Republican candidates to have voted in at least three of the last four statewide GOP primaries. With that move, U.S. Reps. Mark Green and David Kustoff no longer face primary opponents, while Rep. Scott DesJarlais will face two opponents rather than three. The Associated Press has more specifics.

Fayetteville lawyer Thomas Owen Bagley died April 12 at the age of 94. A graduate of Washington and Lee University School of Law, Bagley moved to Fayetteville in 1953 and entered private practice with Robert W. Stevens. He served with the law firm of Stevens, Bagley & Stevens until his retirement in 2002. Bagley served as Fayetteville city attorney for more than 41 years, as president of the Tennessee Municipal Attorneys Association and as a state representative from 1959-1960. A funeral service will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m. CDT at Fayetteville First Presbyterian Church, 101 Mulberry Ave., Fayetteville 37334. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery, 511 Edison St. W., Fayetteville 37334. The Elk Valley Times has additional reflections from those who knew and worked with Bagley.

In honor of Help4TN month, the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) has released a new podcast episode focused on the Tennessee Justice Bus. Tune in to hear a discussion about the mobile legal law office bringing legal help to rural communities. Participants include Justice Elizabeth "Beth" D. Walker of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Rhonda K. Wood, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Jeff Bivins and Anne-Lousie Wirthlin, director of access to justice and strategic development at the AOC.

Tom Guarente, a Brentwood tech executive, has withdrawn from the Republican primary for the Fifth Congressional District, according to news reports. His decision leaves Metro Councilmember Courtney Johnston as the sole challenger to Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles. Guarente said he met with Johnston and decided to support her candidacy instead "for the greater good." Guarente confirmed his decision to The Tennessee Star last Thursday. While Guarente filed official paperwork for his candidacy in February, he never formally launched a campaign. On the Democratic side, Maryam Abolfazli will now be unopposed in the race to face Ogles. Her last remaining primary opponent has withdrawn from the race, the Associated Press reports.

The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals will hold a Bench Bar Reception on April 30 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. CDT at the Tempo Hotel, 127 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., Nashville 37203. The event will occur during the court’s scheduled sitting in Nashville, April 29-May 3. RSVP here by April 26. The event will include a cash bar.

Montgomery County lawyer Joel David Ragland has been suspended from the practice of law after the Tennessee Supreme Court found that he misappropriated funds for his personal use and posed a threat of substantial harm to the public. Ragland is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases, and must cease representing existing clients by May 12.

The Community Legal Center (CLC), which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, has two events planned this weekend. On Saturday morning, the CLC and the Memphis City Council will co-host a free estate planning legal clinic. The event will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT at the Bert Ferguson Park & Community Center, 8505 Trinity Rd., Cordova 38018. View a flyer for the clinic. Then on Saturday evening, the center will hold its annual fundraising event “Celebrating Everyday People,” set for 7 p.m. at the STAX Recording Museum. Tickets are available here.

A U.S. judicial panel has endorsed a proposed rule that would, for the first time, govern federal mass torts cases. The rule, unanimously approved by the U.S. Judicial Conference's Advisory Committee on Civil Rules, aims to give judges overseeing federal multidistrict litigation (MDLs) guidance on how to conduct early case management when they are tasked with overseeing hundreds or thousands of lawsuits. Data shows that MDLs have grown significantly in recent years and comprised 71.3% of the federal civil caseload at the end of last fiscal year. The rule now goes to the Judicial Conference's Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure Meeting for further approval, Reuters reports.

State Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson, chair of the House Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee, and Sen. Ed Jackson, R-Jackson, chair of the Senate Calendar Committee, are pushing legislation to create a Juvenile Justice Review Commission under the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) and the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth (TCCY) to study the state’s juvenile justice system and make legislative recommendations to the General Assembly. The bill, HB1103/SB0609, is pending in both the House and Senate Finance committees. The Post Local News has more on the proposal.

Some Nashville defense attorneys are challenging the competency of longtime Criminal Court Judge Cheryl Blackburn nearly three years after she suffered a stroke, the Nashville Banner reports. The motions, most of which have been filed under seal, reportedly question Blackburn’s ability to oversee serious criminal cases. One motion has been filed publicly. It came this week in a felony assault case. Blackburn has served on the court since 1996. She previously worked at the Davidson County District Attorney’s Office and the Tennessee Department of Mental Health. She holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology and law degree.