Two Democratic senators from Maryland last week tried to get the U.S. Senate to confirm Waverly Crenshaw as a U.S. District Court judge in Tennessee's Middle District. Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn rejected the bid. Crenshaw was nominated by President Barack Obama in 2015 and was unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee eight months ago. Read more from The Tennessean.

Gov. Bill Haslam said his plan to outsource management and operation of all state-owned buildings and real estate will save the state $35.8 million a year. The Times Free Press reports that the figure includes state property and protection for all existing state jobs. Haslam also told the state legislature and the public that $10.6 million of the amount is projected for University of Tennessee's statewide campuses, with current employees protected. The plan has drawn criticism from lawmakers and UT employees.

Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, said he will not run for the Eighth District Congressional seat, The Commercial Appeal reports. The seat is being left open by the retirement of Rep. Stephen Fincher, R-Tenn. "I have my own re-election to run and have pulled my petition to run for re-election to the state Senate," Norris said. He is seeking a fifth four-year term. At least eight Republicans have announced they will run for Fincher’s seat, including state Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, and former U.S. Attorney David Kustoff.

Knox County Law Director Richard "Bud" Armstong will remain in his role for a second term after gathering more votes last night than his opponent, attorney Nathan Rowell. Armstrong’s victory comes after a publicized race in which Rowell asked voters to look upon his trial experience and not see him as a politician. “It’s been a very strenuous race because of the support my opponent was receiving, but as I said before ... I am the people's lawyer and the people elected me," Armstrong said. Read more from the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Jill Bartee Ayers defeated Robert Bateman yesterday to win the Republican nomination in the Circuit Court Part IV race, a new judicial seat created last year by the General Assembly for Robertson and Montgomery counties. Gov. Bill Haslam appointed Ayers to the seat in October. She will run unopposed in the Aug. 4 general election. Read more from The Leaf-Chronicle.

Ted Crozier Jr. last night won the GOP nomination for 19th Judicial District Circuit Court judge Part III, The Leaf-Chronicle reports. He won nearly half of the more than 15,000 votes cast, a wide margin over his challengers Roger Nell and Herb Patrick. Crozier will face challenger Merriel Bullock-Neal, an independent, Aug 4. The 19th Judicial District includes Robertson and Montgomery counties.

Judge Tom Greenholtz will remain on the bench in Hamilton County Criminal Court, according to unofficial election commission tallies. Greenholtz, who was appointed to the position by Gov. Bill Haslam in September, was roughly 7,000 votes ahead of challengers Mike Little and Boyd Patterson. The Times Free Press reports that since no Democrat qualified in the primary, Greenholtz is not required to run in the August election.

Several Chattanooga City Council members want Hamilton County District Attorney Neal Pinkston to appear before them to defend his role in the city’s Violence Reduction Initiative, which is aimed at reducing gang violence. The VRI plan includes convincing gang members that prosecutors will use “every legal means at their disposal to target them,” the Times Free Press reports. Pinkston said he supports the VRI, but does not believe he can ethically treat gang members differently than other alleged criminals.

East Tennessee State University students and faculty had a hand in the failure of a Washington County anti same-sex marriage resolution before the County Commission, Johnson City Press reports. The resolution failed this morning after a nearly seven-hour debate with hundreds of residents and students in attendance. County Commissioner Forrest Boreing said he will not attempt to reintroduce a similar measure.

The death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia could complicate the confirmation of two Tennessee attorneys nominated to federal judgeships, according to Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law. Nashville attorney Waverly Crenshaw Jr. and U.S. Attorney Edward Stanton III have both won the approval of the Senate Judiciary Committee, but have yet to be scheduled for a full Senate vote. “…I think (his death) will be another excuse that could be used by the Republicans," Tobias said, according to the The Knoxville News Sentinel. The Senate confirmed just 11 nominees in 2015; the pace is the slowest in 60 years.