Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle will decide next week on whether to issue a temporary injunction that would allow all voters to cast ballots by mail in the August primary to decrease their risk of contracting COVID-19, the Associated Press reports. State officials have said they “cannot feasibly implement” a quick shift to let all voters cast absentee ballots in the 2020 elections. Next week’s hearing will include discussion on two similar state court lawsuits, one from the Memphis-based voting rights group #UpTheVote901 and another from the American Civil Liberties Union. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and the Campaign Legal Center have also filed similar federal suits.

The state House’s Departments & Agencies Subcommittee today approved two bills that restrict Gov. Bill Lee’s authority to opt Tennessee into the federal refugee resettlement program, the Daily Memphian reports. The subcommittee passed HB1929, brought by Rep. Ron Gant, R-Rossville, which prohibits the governor from obligating the state to participate in the program without authorization of a joint resolution by the General Assembly. It also approved HB1578 from Rep. Bruce Griffey, R-Paris, requiring the state and local governments to refuse to consent to receive refugees for resettlement. Both bills will next be heard in the House State Committee, but the Senate isn’t expected to consider its version of the bills in this truncated COVID-19 session.

The U.S. House on Thursday passed legislation that grants flexibility to small businesses using loans from the Paycheck Protection Program, The Hill reports. The bipartisan bill from Reps. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., and Chip Roy, R-Texas, would give small businesses up to 24 weeks, up from the current eight weeks, to use the loans and extend the deadline for rehiring workers from June 30 to the end of this year. It would also allow the businesses to spend more of the money on non-payroll costs. The bill passed easily on a 417-1 vote, but lawmakers say more changes to the program are needed following complaints from small businesses that cannot qualify for the loans under the current terms.  

The Intellectual Property Law Forum originally scheduled for April 17 will now be a virtual CLE event, held over two days, July 15 - 16. The TBA's IP Section Executive Council has put together a fantastic program to discuss IP with vices front and center. The first day of the program will provide accounts of bad actors running afoul of trade secret law, provide insight into the life of hackers and finishes with ways to avoid trouble with online information. The sessions run from 1 to 4 p.m. CDT. Attendees can earn two general and one dual CLE hours. The program continues on day two exploring the various forms of available IP protection for the cannabis industry and ends with insights into how to best distinguish and protect your home brew from others. Those sessions run from 1 to 3 p.m. CDT. Attendees can earn two general CLE hours. In an effort to provide flexibility, folks can register to attend day one, day two or the full, two-day program.  Find out more about the sessions, speakers and registration options available by clicking here.

The Tennessee House of Representatives has decided to allow the public into its hearing rooms as it resumes business this week, but restrictions will be in place to safeguard against the COVID-19 virus, WPLN reports. House GOP spokesperson Doug Kufner said House committee rooms will only sit about 20 visitors and are available on a first come, first served basis. Visitors are required to have their temperatures checked and wear masks and only three people are allowed on the elevators at one time. Lawmakers’ desks and the dais and podium area in the House chamber have been separated by plastic Lexan barriers. The Senate has decided not to allow public into its committee rooms or chamber and is limiting the number of staff on the Senate floor.

Chattanooga attorney Ariel Anthony has been chosen by the National Black Lawyers (NBL) for inclusions into its Top 40 Under 40 Black Lawyers in Tennessee. Anthony is an attorney at Husch Blackwell where she practices in the firm’s Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution and Private Wealth groups. Top 40 Under 40 candidates must be nominated by current NBL members and are evaluated on factors that include an outstanding reputation among peers, the judiciary and the public, notable achievements, settlements and verdicts as a lawyer, leadership and membership in other lawyer organizations and more. Anthony is a board member of the TBA’s Young Lawyers Division, serving as co-chair of the Diversity Committee.

Gov. Bill Lee this week appointed Murfreesboro attorney Bonita Jo Atwood to the 16th Judicial District Circuit Court, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Royce Taylor. Atwood has been a managing partner at Atwood and Moore since 1995, practicing in a wide range of civil litigation. She earned her law degree from the Nashville School of Law and previously practiced with the Law Offices of Henry, Kious & Hall. Atwood is also a charter member of the Middle Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women. The 16th Judicial District covers Rutherford and Cannon counties. Read more from the Tennessee State Courts website.

The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear five cases on Thursday. A livestream video conference will allow the justices to hear three of those cases and the last two will be submitted on briefs. Cases will begin at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. CDT and will be livestreamed to the TNCourts YouTube page. Read the details of all five cases on the Tennessee State Courts website.  

Two bills that would have paved the way for student-athletes to be compensated for use of their names, images and likenesses failed to pass the General Assembly yesterday, the Daily Memphian reports. Legislation from Rep. Joe Towns, D-Memphis, that would have prevented universities from being penalized if student-athletes received gifts or benefits from boosters, failed on a voice vote after an hour-long debate. A similar bill from Rep. Antonio Parkinson, D-Memphis, which would have allowed those athletes to be paid for their names, images and likenesses, failed after a 4-4 vote. One opponent of the legislation, Rep. Kevin Vaughan, R-Collierville, said he supports pay for student-athletes, but worries state universities could be punished for paying their athletes since the NCAA has not put new rules into effect. Neither bill is scheduled to be considered by the Senate.

Judge David Wilson Norton of Hixson died May 21 at 73. Norton earned his law degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law before serving as assistant Hamilton County attorney from 1983- 2012, city judge of Soddy Daisy from 1984-2012 and later as a Hamilton County General Sessions Court judge. He also served as one of three commissioners for the Hixson Utility District and as chairman of the Utility Management Review Board for the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury. His family requests memorial donations be made to Adult & Teen Challenge Midsouth. Services will be announced at a later date, but condolences and memories can be shared online.