Davidson County District Attorney General Glenn Funk's office has been named to handle the prosecution of a shooting case in Soddy Daisy after local district attorney Neal Pinkston recused himself based on the advice of the Board of Professional Responsibility. Pinkston asked the board if he had a conflict given that he has accused his political opponent Coty Wamp of obstruction of justice and witness tampering in the case. The board replied there could be a conflict. Wamp, who is legal counsel in the sheriff's office, has alleged that the wrong man was arrested in the case. Soddy Daisy Judge Marty Lasley has now signed an order appointing Funk's office as the district attorney pro temp, Chattanoogan.com reports. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation also is reportedly getting an outside district attorney involved to investigate Pinkston’s accusations against Wamp, who is challenging Pinkston in the May 3 Republican primary. The Times Free Press has more on that story.

Judge Michael Collins this week announced he will run in the Republican primary to keep his seat on the 15th Judicial District Circuit Court, covering Wilson, Smith, Macon, Jackson and Trousdale counties, the Lebanon Democrat reports. Collins was elected to serve as the district’s General Sessions judge in 2014 before being elected to the Circuit Court in 2020, filling the vacancy created by Judge John Wootten’s retirement. Collins was appointed by former Gov. Bill Haslam to serve on the Recovery Court Advisory Committee to the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and awarded the Community Impact Award from the Drug Prevention Coalition. He also founded the district’s first Misdemeanor Recovery Court and has been recognized for his work in addiction recovery.

Saying that thousands of poll workers will be needed to help elections run smoothly later this year, Secretary of State Tre Hargett has launched the “Be an Election Hero. Become a Poll Worker.” campaign to recruit poll workers, WATE reports. Poll workers greet voters, answer questions, explain how to cast a ballot, count votes, and do anything else that is needed to make sure voting goes smoothly. A new website spells out the requirements to be a poll worker and a link to apply.

The state Senate yesterday approved the final redistricting map to be considered, voting along party lines to clear the map setting new boundaries for state House seats, the Tennessean reports. The Senate had approved the plans for its seats and congressional seats last Thursday. The state House passed the map for its members on Monday. The three redistricting plans now head to Gov. Bill Lee for his signature. Tennessee Democrats say they are preparing a legal challenge to the plans.

Judge Sandra Donaghy has announced she will run for reelection in the 10th Judicial District Criminal Court, covering Bradley, McMinn, Monroe and Polk counties. Donaghy was a judge, prosecutor, public defender and in private practice before being elected to the criminal court in 2014. According to a release from her campaign, since 2014 and through the start of COVID-19 restrictions, Donaghy has decreased her backlog by 9% and, in conjunction with Judge Andrew Freiberg, has resolved more than 15,000 cases. Donaghy also recruited multi-disciplinary teams to start a Veterans Treatment Court and obtained state funding for a criminal justice liaison for a Recovery Oriented Compliance Strategy (ROCS) recovery court. Read the full release from Donaghy’s campaign.

Longtime Democratic Congressman Jim Cooper today announced he will not run for re-election as a Republican redistricting plan that will split Davidson County into three congressional districts moves forward, the Tennessean reports. Cooper’s announcement came less than 24 hours after the state House approved redistricting plans on a 70-26 party-line vote. Cooper, who has represented Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District for 32 years, in a statement said he “explored every possible way” to keep the General Assembly from “dismembering Nashville.” He said he chose to make the announcement now to allow others more time to campaign. The 5th District will now include parts of Davidson, Williamson and Wilson counties, along with rural Lewis, Maury and Marshall counties. “For everything there is a season, a time and place under the sun,” Cooper said. “My time in Congress is ending, but I can’t wait to start the next adventure.”

Memphis attorney Janika White has announced she’ll run in the Democratic primary for Shelby County district attorney general, the Daily Memphian reports. At her campaign kickoff last month, White called for criminal justice reform and critiqued the “tough on crime” approach, saying it leads to “over-incarceration of a group of people with no actual results.” She says the DA’s office should prosecute when crimes are committed, but should also be involved in efforts to prevent crime. White is a partner at the Walter Bailey Law Firm in Memphis. She previously clerked for Chancellor Kenny Armstrong and U.S. District Judge Bernice, who is now on the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. She earned her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law and is a 2018 graduate of the TBA’s Leadership Law program.

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments is now accepting applications for a Tennessee Court of Appeals vacancy in the Middle Division following Judge Richard H. Dinkins’ decision not to stand for retention in the August 2022 election. Dinkins has served on the court since 2008. He previously served on the Davidson County Chancery Court and was in private practice for 26 years. He suffered a stroke in July 2020.

Those interested in being considered for the seat should be licensed attorneys at least 30 years of age, residents of the state for five years and residents of the Middle Grand Division. Applicants must complete the designated application and submit it to the Administrative Office of the Courts by noon CST on Feb. 3.  The council will hold a virtual hearing via video conference with all applicants on Feb. 14 and 15. The hearing will be live streamed for public viewing on the court’s YouTube page. Read the full vacancy notice.

Former House Speaker Glen Casada, R-Franklin, today called members of the Registry of Election Finance “biased” for subpoenaing him about a political action committee allegedly created at the behest of his former chief of staff. Speaking at an event in Williamson County, Casada denied knowing anything about the PAC, Tennessee Journal reports. Rep. Brandon Ogles, R-Franklin, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, was also at the event. He said leaders of that committee are talking about conducting a “deep dive” into the powers of the campaign finance board’s powers, especially its subpoena power. Casada is retiring from the House at the end of this term to run for Williamson County clerk.

A number of judicial candidates in the 10th Judicial District have qualified to run for re-election or have picked up papers to run according to Chattanoogan.com. Circuit Court Part 1 Judge Michael Jenne and Part 2 Judge Michael Sharp have qualified to run, while Part 3 Judge Andrew Freiberg has picked up papers to run. In the criminal court, incumbent Sandra Donaghy will face a challenge from Paul Donald Rush, a McMinn County lawyer who previously served as a prosecutor for 11 years and as a public defender for five years. For the Bradley County General Sessions Court, incumbent Division 1 Judge Barrett Painter and attorney Andrew B. Morgan have picked up papers to run. In Division 2, Benton Municipal Judge David Calfee has picked up papers to run, while lawyers Clay Collins and Rebble Johnson have qualified.