The TBA will host the next installment of its IP Webcast Series on March 19 from 11 a.m. to noon CDT. The webcast will focus on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on prior art and its implications for patent law. The course also will look at the future of AI-generated disclosures. For more information and to register visit the TBA website. Intellectual Property Section members save on registration costs. Not a member? Join now!

The Tennessee Supreme Court on March 7 issued an order amending Rule 9, sections 26.4 and 33.1. The court had sought comments on the proposed changes in January and noted that the 45-day comment period expired on March 3. In section 26.4, the court changed the rule governing suspension of lawyers for failure to pay the professional privilege tax to clarify that the suspension “be effective immediately” after the court files a suspension order, and that the suspension “shall” remain in effect until the taxes are paid. In section 33.1, the court made four changes to the process for appealing the judgment of a disciplinary hearing panel or a trial court. The amendments took effect immediately upon adoption of the order. Review a redline version of the changes.

The American Bar Association (ABA) will host its 2025 Law Day Launch Program tomorrow at 2 p.m. CDT. This year’s theme, “The Constitution's Promise: Out of Many, One,” emphasizes the collective responsibility enshrined in the Constitution and urges Americans to take pride in a document that unites us despite our differences. The event will feature a discussion between ABA President Bill Bay and National Law Day Chair Tommy Preston Jr. as they explore the theme and its significance. Law Day programs across the country also will be highlighted. Law Day is celebrated each year on May 1. The program will be held virtually with free registration. Read more about or register for the event.

It's not too late to register for TBA's Day on the Hill and Big Shrimp Legislative Reception, which will be held in Nashville on March 19. Lawyers will meet with legislators in the afternoon, followed by the annual Big Shrimp Reception that night. The events give Tennessee lawyers an opportunity to meet with legislators and talk to them about issues important to the profession, including funding for indigent representation. RSVP here! Those who register to attend will be invited to join a preview call this Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. CDT. Those who register after Wednesday will have access to a recording of the call so they can make the most of the legislative visits. Learn more about the need for increased indigent representation funding or read about how the system works in Tennessee in posts from the TBA's recent Indigent Representation Primer.

Less than a month after the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) filed a First Amendment lawsuit against Germantown, the city has voluntarily dismissed charges against resident Alexis Luttrell for keeping skeletons in her yard beyond the 30-day limit set by Germantown's property maintenance code. Luttrell cited her First Amendment rights to challenge the citation, and FIRE filed a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn the ordinance while representing Luttrell in municipal court. "Holidays come and go, but the First Amendment is here year-round," said FIRE attorney Colin McDonell in a press release. Additionally, the Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen will consider repealing the city's holiday decorations ordinance. Following a comprehensive review with the administration and city attorneys, it was recommended that the ordinance be eliminated, according to the Commercial Appeal. A first reading on repealing the ordinance was on the agenda for today’s board meeting.

A new legal settlement will ensure that all deaf incarcerated individuals in Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) custody have access to videophones, sign language interpreters and other accommodations that allow them to participate in programming and services behind bars, WPLN News reports. The settlement marks the conclusion of a lawsuit filed in 2020 by Disability Rights Tennessee and three deaf incarcerated men, who alleged TDOC was violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act by failing to provide communication access for deaf inmates. Under the terms of the settlement, TDOC said it would provide interpreters for interactions such as intake and orientation, medical appointments, educational programming and disciplinary proceedings. The department also will provide videophones at every facility housing deaf prisoners, as well as at intake facilities, to allow those individuals to communicate via sign language.

Tennessee schools could be allowed to deny enrollment or charge tuition based on citizenship status under a bill advancing in the statehouse. SB836 passed the Senate Education Committee 5-4 last week, setting up a challenge to a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision that established the right to education for students regardless of immigration status. The House bill, HB793, sponsored by Rep. William Lamberth, R-Portland, is scheduled to be heard in the K-12 Subcommittee tomorrow. Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixon, a sponsor of the bill, said he proposed the legislation in response to a now-rescinded resolution from the Rutherford County School Board that a surge in students needing English language courses had placed a financial strain on the district. Leaders in the state House have said that the long-term goal of the proposed law is to reverse the high court's 1982 ruling, according to WPLN News. An amendment added to the bill during Senate committee consideration would require schools to verify a student’s legal status before enrollment. Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, opposed the measure, saying the administrative cost of verifying students’ legal statuses, along with the cost of defending lawsuits against the state, exceeds the cost of educating undocumented children.

The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) on behalf of the Tennessee Supreme Court has proposed the development of a new structure for handling civil appointments for indigents as well as criminal conflicts. Under the plan, the Tennessee Supreme Court would establish the “Indigent Representation Commission.” This commission would provide oversight and management for the indigent representation system, including the proposed "Office of Indigent Conflicts and Civil Counsel." The commission would be governed by Tennessee Supreme Court Rule, like existing supreme court boards and commissions, and would manage indigent representation tasks presently handled largely by the courts. The commission also would work closely with other stakeholders to review and implement policies to improve the system. Learn more about the plan and indigent representation in Tennessee. Watch for more details about the plan in upcoming issues of TBA Today.

The TBA Access to Justice Committee is accepting nominations for the 2025 Public Service Awards. The annual awards recognize outstanding commitment to access to justice in three categories: work performed by an attorney employed by an organization primarily involved in providing legal representation to the indigent, pro bono work performed by a private or corporate attorney, and a strong commitment to pro bono service by a Tennessee law student or recent graduate. Nominations are due by March 31. Awards will be presented during the TBA Annual Convention in June.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (LAS) is seeking feedback to assess and strengthen its Volunteer Lawyers Program (VLP), with the goal of ensuring that there are meaningful and well-supported pro bono opportunities for the private bar. As part of this effort, LAS has created a survey to hear directly from attorneys about their experiences, motivations and challenges to engaging in pro bono and will utilize the results to help identify the most impactful pro bono opportunities for both attorneys and clients. The survey, which takes about 15 minutes, is open until March 14.