Cherokee High School students in Rogersville observed a session of the Tennessee Supreme Court on Dec. 6 as part of the “Supreme Court Advancing Legal Education for Students” (SCALES) program. Students witnessed a real case being presented to the court and got a firsthand look at the justice system in action, The Rogersville Review reports. After the hearing, students were served lunch and given an opportunity to ask questions of the lawyers who participated in the case. Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sarah K. Campbell, a Cherokee High School graduate, also took time to speak with the students. See a photo from the day.

Department of Children's Services Commissioner Margie Quin appeared before a legislative committee yesterday to explain how her department plans to fix widespread problems at the agency, the Tennessean reports. The department's plans include raising staff pay, capping caseloads, temporarily privatizing some case management and studying counterparts in New Jersey. Quin, who became commissioner on Sept. 1, asked for a $156 million budget increase this coming fiscal year, which would include $15 million for pay increases. The hearing comes one day after the state Comptroller released a scathing audit that found an array of issues within the agency, including staggering turnover rates, high caseloads and failure to adequately investigate dozens of reports of sexual abuse and sexual harassment.

Judge Bernice Donald is set to join Resolute Systems next month when she retires from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the Daily Memphian reports. Milwaukee-based Resolute is one of the largest alternative dispute resolution firms in the nation. Donald will be a full-time mediator, arbitrator, discovery referee and special master, working with clients in high-profile national and international litigation. “I have a passion for the law,” Donald said. “Being able to assist attorneys and their clients with the resolution of complex civil matters is extremely rewarding.”

A man sentenced to 162 years in prison for theft and forgery will soon be released after a judge cut back his sentence to 15 years, the Associated Press reports. Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Paula Skahan asked the district attorney’s office to investigate the sentence of Courtney Anderson, who was given the long prison term in 2000 after having been found to be a repeat offender. The DA found legal ground for reopening the case and Skahan cut Anderson’s sentence down to 15 years on Tuesday. “This was clearly an excessive sentence, the kind of overreaction that sows distrust in our system and doesn’t make us safer,” Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy said in a statement.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti yesterday released a statement saying his office would continue to gather evidence and investigate complaints regarding issues with Ticketmaster’s presale of Taylor Swift tickets. The statement was released after Ticketmaster announced it would be giving some Swift fans a second chance at purchasing tickets. Skrmetti called the effort a “short-term solution for a long-term problem,” adding his Consumer Protection team was still investigating the incident. “We are working hard to deliver lasting change and a fair ticket-buying experience for all consumers,” Skrmetti said in the statement. Read more from the AG’s office.

TBA President Tasha Blakney presented a gavel to the Hon. Kyle A. Hixson today at his Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals investiture ceremony in Knoxville. Gov. Bill Lee administered the oath of office and Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Page and Justice Sharon Lee also participated in the ceremony.

A federal judge has denied a request by two Tennessee Tech professors to overturn disciplinary action levied against them after posting fliers on campus calling a fellow professor a “racist.” The pair alleged in a lawsuit that the school’s provost retaliated against them for the fliers by curtailing their ability to serve as faculty advisors to student organizations, participate in study abroad programs and benefit from pay increases for one year. They also alleged their due process rights were violated. Judge Waverly Crenshaw said the professors failed to prove either portion of their case, the Tennessee Lookout reports.

After more than three decades, Kathy Walsh is no longer the leader of the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, WPLN reports. Walsh built the coalition’s reputation as the leading voice for domestic and sexual violence victims in the state, and as a registered lobbyist, she helped shape legislation in the field. Her exit comes after a federal investigation found the organization unlawfully retaliated against an employee who spoke up about potential misuse of federal grant funding. Three other former employees also expressed concerns about Walsh’s management of staff and unhealthy communication patterns. The board chair declined to say whether Walsh resigned or was fired.

The Chattanooga Hamilton County Family Justice Center is currently seeking community input for its Domestic Violence Needs Assessment. Interested individuals are invited to respond to the survey to help identify what resources are needed, which populations are most in need and how center can improve its support.

The Nashville-based law firm Branstetter, Stranch & Jennings today announced the distribution of a cy pres award of $80,713.38 to the Tennessee Justice Center (TJC). The award comes from the settlement of an antitrust class action against Mutual Pharmaceutical Company Inc. The suit was filed in 2012 on behalf of individuals and entities in 29 states who purchased the muscle relaxer Skelaxin and its generic equivalent metaxalone between 2005 and 2014. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee approved a $9 million settlement with the company and selected TJC to receive the award from funds that were undistributed to class members. Read more about the settlement from the firm.