Legislation to significantly expand the federal judiciary cleared the U.S. House today, Bloomberg Law reports. It now moves to the desk of President Joe Biden, who has pledged to veto the measure. In a statement, the White House said the bill "would create new judgeships in states where senators have sought to hold open existing judicial vacancies," suggesting that caseload is not the primary concern behind the bill. Earlier this year, the Senate passed the proposal to add 66 judgeships in 25 federal district courts in 13 states. The bill is designed to alleviate pressure from overburdened benches over the next decade. Hundreds of judges have taken the rare step of publicly advocating for the bill, arguing that federal caseloads have increased more than 30% since Congress last passed legislation to comprehensively expand the judiciary.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue will host a free webinar on Dec. 17 on the consumer use tax. All Tennessee residents, as well as businesses operating in the state, must pay use tax when goods are purchased from outside the state of Tennessee and brought or shipped into the state and the seller did not collect sales tax on the purchase. Learn more or register here. The webinar is one in a series of educational sessions held by the department each month.

Two Tennessee lawmakers will head the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL), an organization representing more than 700 state lawmakers nationwide. State Rep. Harold Love, D-Nashville, was elected president during the organization's convention in Washington, D.C. State Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, was named president-elect. “It is an incredible honor to be president of an organization that my father, Harold Love Sr., was proud to be a part of during his time as a legislator,” Rep. Love said in a statement. Read more in a release from the NBCSL.

Tomorrow is your last chance to lock in savings with the TBA's group health insurance. The TBA BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee plan is guaranteed issue and has no health questions and no pre-existing condition exclusions. And new this year, plans include the added benefit of a $15,000 life insurance policy for each insured. Don’t delay, get a quote today!

In case you missed your favorite forum, we have good news! There are several ethics hours built into these packages. Check out the Family Law, Estate Planning, Litigation, Health Law and Corporate Counsel 1-Click packages or build your own by practice area or a la carte with more than 200 courses available on demand. Section members get discounts on programs produced by TBA’s 33 sections. Not a section member? Join here.

Do you find yourself wishing you had other lawyers willing to discuss tricky issues? Maybe you are new to a particular area of practice and want to seek advice from more seasoned colleagues. A TBA benefit for section members may just be the resource you need. Each of TBA’s 33 sections offers a unique discussion forum just for members. Section Talk is a great way to connect with colleagues, become a more engaged and effective practitioner, and share wisdom with others seeking guidance. Sign up today and get talking! Follow these step-by-step instructions to get started.

The Nashville Arts & Business Council, in partnership with United Way of Greater Nashville and the Nashville Financial Empowerment Center, will host a pro bono tax clinic for artists, musicians and creatives on Jan. 15, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST. The event will offer individuals the opportunity to meet with a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteer to learn how to file their taxes in the way that is most beneficial for them and/or to meet with a financial counselor for help repair credit and manage debt. Prospective clients should register by Jan. 10, 2025. The event will take place at the Nashville Financial Empowerment Center, 217 South 10th St., Nashville 37206.

A number of legal organizations will hold free legal clinics this week. On Tuesday, the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (LAS) will hold a walk-in clinic at the Gallatin Civic Center from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. CST. On Wednesday, LAS will hold a clinic for veterans from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST at Operation Stand Down in Nashville, while Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) will hold a clinic at the John T. O’Connor Senior Center from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST and a clinic for veterans from noon to 2 p.m. EST in Knoxville. On Thursday, LAS will hold a walk-in clinic from 3 to 4:30 p.m. CST at Greenhouse Ministries in Murfreesboro. On Saturday, LAS will hold its McHugh Clinic in Nashville from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CST while the Memphis Bar Association will hold its Second Saturday Clinic from 10 a.m. to. noon CST at the Benjamin Hooks Central Library.

Davidson County lawyer Patricia Rae George was reinstated to the practice of law on Dec. 2. She had been placed on inactive status more than five years ago, on May 27, 2003. George filed a reinstatement petition. The Board of Professional Responsibility found it to be satisfactory.

Virginia lawyer Jonathan Morris Barnett was reinstated to the practice of law In Tennessee on Dec. 5. He had been placed on inactive status more than five years ago, on March 27, 2014. Barnett filed a reinstatement petition. The Board of Professional Responsibility found it to be satisfactory.