The Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) today honored the Tennessee Supreme Court for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic during the first day of the organization’s Equal Justice University (EJU) conference. The conference, held virtually this year, kicked off with a video of TALS Board and EJU Chair DarKenya Waller and TALS Executive Director Ann Pruitt delivering a special memento to Justice Jeff Bivins, who served as chief justice for the majority of the pandemic. Waller and Pruitt praised Bivins for his leadership of the court, and its work to keep state courts open and accessible during the pandemic. They presented Bivins with a personalized COVID can opener, adding that, just like Bivins, “it has all the tools to keep everything open.” Watch the full video on the Tennessee State Courts website.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today issued an order reappointing the following individuals to the Advisory Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure: Andrèe Blumstein, Eugene Bulso, Bo Burk, Michael Carter, Mark Fulks, Aaron Hall and Timothy Mickel. The court noted that the terms for these members were set to expire on Dec. 31. The new terms will run through June 30, 2022.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has extended its waiver of in-person CLE requirements through 2022. The high court again extended the temporary suspension of Rule 21, sections 3.01(c) and 4.02(c), due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The order is effective through December 31, 2022. Read the full order.  

The Tennessee Supreme Court today denied a petition from California lawyer William M. Fischer, who was asking for a waiver from the requirement that anyone seeking admission in Tennessee without examination be a graduate of an ABA accredited law school. Fischer graduated from the Irvine University School of Law in 1979 and has practiced law since 1981. Although he acknowledged that he did not graduate from an accredited law school, Fischer argued that he is in good standing in California and employed as senior counsel by Travelers Insurance Company. In denying the petition, the court noted that Fischer is “an experienced attorney” but does not meet the requirements for admission without an examination.

The Tennessee Supreme Court issued an order today amending its interim Rule 54 for special three-judge panels. The amendments to Sections 2, 3 and 4 are effective immediately.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today amended Rule 8, RPCs 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5, after considering a TBA petition filed in October asking for the changes, as well as comments from the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility, the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association and two individual lawyers. The TBA also submitted a comment that, in large measure, replied to the suggestions and objections raised in other comments. The amendments are set out in the appendices to this order. In a separate order also filed today, the Supreme Court declined to grant the TBA’s petition to amend Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 8, RPC 7.6. The court instead published proposed amendments to RPC 7.6 and to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 44 and is asking for comments by Nov. 30. 

In the September/October TBJ out today, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee shares her secrets and best practices for being present on Twitter — which can be a fine line for judges and lawyers using the platform. But Lee is a master at doing it right. You'll enjoy seeing some of her Tweets and how she uses them to inform (and entertain) the Twittersphere. In contrast, the story by Russell Fowler of how in the 1940s Memphis Judge Camille Kelley helped a major child trafficking operation is so horrifying you will not be able to look away. Read this issue for these stories and more, including the latest on trusts, bail hearings post-Torres, employment law, torts and same-sex divorce.

The investiture and swearing-in ceremony for incoming Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Page has been postponed until the fall. Page was elected to the position last week by his colleagues on the high court. He was set to be sworn in by Justice Connie Clark at a small ceremony tomorrow, the same day his term as chief justice begins, but will instead take the oath privately. Page is the first chief justice from rural West Tennessee in 27 years. Former Chief Justice Lyle Reid of Brownsville served in the role from 1990 until 1994. Page succeeds Justice Jeff Bivins, who has served in that role since 2016. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more.

The Tennessee Supreme Court recently amended Supreme Court Rule 9, Sections 31.3(f) and 34.3(a) dealing with lawyer disciplinary proceedings. The changes, which went into effect with the filing of the order on Aug. 24, more explicitly describe parts of the process, but do not change current practices.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has issued an order seeking comments on proposed amendments to the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure and Rules of Civil Procedure. The amendments were recommended by the Advisory Commission on the Rules of Practice & Procedure at its June 11 meeting. Comments should be submitted by Nov. 23 to the attention of Appellate Clerk James Hivner, 100 Supreme Court Building, 401 7th Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37219.