A GOP-led panel of House and Senate lawmakers issued suggestions Tuesday that would give the legislature the power to limit or overturn emergency orders from the governor during future health crises, the Associated Press reports. Those recommendations would treat health-related emergency orders differently than others, with caps on how long a governor’s health state of emergency can stand before lawmakers would get a vote on it; power for lawmakers to override a state of emergency or executive order; requirements for notice and fiscal impact estimates of an emergency order; and more. Gov. Bill Lee, however, would be exempt from these rules, since they would only apply to the next administration.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today indefinitely postponed the execution of death row inmate Byron Black because of “multiple issues caused by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic,” the Associated Press reports. Black was originally scheduled for execution on Oct. 8, and the court had previously ordered a postponement until April 8. Three other Tennessee inmates have also had their executions put on hold because of the virus.

Tennessee lawyers may continue fulfilling their CLE requirements through approved distance learning courses through 2021, per an order issued today from the Tennessee Supreme Court. The order extends the temporary suspension of Rule 21, sections 3.01(c) and 4.02(c), and also allows for CLE hours from 2020 to carry over into the new year. It was issued in response to the ongoing state of emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and is effective immediately and through Dec. 31, 2021. Read the full order.

Vice President Mike Pence will be in Memphis Thursday to discuss the federal government’s COVID-19 vaccine development and distribution program, Operation Warp Speed, the Commercial Appeal reports. The White House did not say why Pence would visit Memphis in particular, but said he will participate in a roundtable discussion of the state’s plan to “operationalize vaccinations once approved.”

The Tennessee Department of Correction is suspending visits at four state prisons due to the COVID-19 virus, the Tennessean reports. Until further notice, visits are no longer allowed at the following prisons: Morgan County Correction Complex in Wartburg, Bledsoe County Correctional Complex in Pikeville, Turney Center Industrial Complex in Only and Mark Luttrell Transition Center in Memphis. TDOC reported 72 active COVID-19 cases as of Monday, but was awaiting 287 test results. Twenty seven people incarcerated in state facilities have died after being diagnosed with the coronavirus.

The U.S. Supreme Court said last week it will continue to hear arguments by telephone through at least January because of the pandemic, the Associated Press reports. In a statement, the court said it would “continue to closely monitor public health guidance in determining plans for the February argument session.” The justices last met in person to hear arguments in February of this year, but closed the courthouse to the public in March and postponed arguments in March and April. Arguments in May and October were held by telephone.

Judge Lloyd Raymond Grimes, a general sessions and juvenile court judge in Montgomery County, died Thursday after being hospitalized with the COVID-19 virus for several days. He was 73. Grimes earned his law degree from the University of Memphis School of Law in 1980, and practiced in Clarksville before becoming a judge in 1998. He also served as a judge for the Montgomery County Drug Court beginning with its inception in 2005. Grimes served as president of the Tennessee Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges in 2010, and received the McCain-Abernathy Memorial Award from the council in 2011. He also served as a Montgomery County Commissioner for several years. A celebration of life will be held tomorrow at 3 p.m. CST at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Montgomery County Recovery Court, 2 Millennium Plaza, Clarksville, TN 37040.

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, chair of the Senate Health, Labor, Education and Pensions Committee, says Tennessee is in line to receive enough COVID-19 vaccines to inoculate 40,000 people in December, The Tennessee Journal reports. A second round of doses for 50,000 people could then be available in January. Alexander reported the news after consulting with the head of the federal government’s coronavirus vaccine efforts.

The Nashville Conflict Resolution Center is working with clients to battle a looming eviction crisis, Tennessee Lookout reports. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ordered a ban on evictions nationwide through Dec. 31, but cases are already starting to fill up the courts. Daily, representatives from the center are at the Davidson County Courthouse to help those facing eviction with financial assistance, legal documents and mediation with landlords. But even for those who receive a reprieve on rent, they still accrue debt, fines and late fees. Starting Jan. 1, 2021, they will be facing “huge debt” the group says.

The Hamilton County Health Department is reporting that people may have been exposed to COVID-19 at the Hamilton County General Sessions Court last week, News Channel 9 reports. In a statement, the department said the potential exposure happened in Judge Gerald Webb's courtroom, which the infected individual visited last Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. “Anyone who visited this courtroom on this day and time should monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested as soon as possible if symptoms appear,” said Health Department Administrator Becky Barnes. This is the second time this month that the Health Department has announced possible exposure at General Sessions Court. For more information, call the Health Department’s hotline at 423-209-8383 or visit its website.