As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, one group is particularly vulnerable: people in jail. Many suffer underlying health conditions. Plus, they’re locked into tight quarters, often without regular access to soap or hand sanitizer. That is why the Davidson County sheriff says he is urging Nashville's criminal justice agencies to limit the number of people coming into the jails. That leaves law enforcement officials grappling with how to balance public safety and public health interests, WPLN reports. Sheriff Daron Hall says this is a crisis unlike anything else and that law enforcement agencies need to work together — not just go about “business as usual.” Criminal justice reform advocates and the local public defender have called on officials to develop a “comprehensive plan to safeguard the health of the people being held.”

News from legal organizations and other groups that affect lawyers is posted online at the TBA’s Pandemic Resource Center. Updates for today include news from the Chattanooga Bar Association, Hamilton County Circuit & Chancery Courts, Hamilton County Criminal Court, the Internal Revenue Service, Knoxville Bar Association, Marshall County General Sessions & Juvenile Court, and the National Bar Association. The site also includes resources for the legal community for office management and well-being during a pandemic.

Did you miss the TBA’s free webcast “Tennessee Law in the Time of Pandemic Disease?" The course is now available on-demand for viewing at your convenience. The one-hour CLE program is based on the March 2020 Tennessee Bar Journal cover story and is presented by its author, William Shults. The session explores the latest information on what Tennessee lawyers need to know about the COVID-19 virus, including relevant statutory provisions, applicable regulations and rights under quarantine or isolation. Due to the volume of lawyers who registered for the simulcast, some may have experienced technical difficulties during the live webcast. If so, we sincerely apologize and encourage you to access it in your TBA CLE account and watch it again.

More than 300 law students, paralegals and student paralegals from across the country have joined forces to provide pro bono assistance for COVID-19 related matters. These students stand ready to provide research, drafting and other support on projects including drafting for bail motions, supporting efforts to seek release from immigration custody and research regarding paid leave policies. Students interested in volunteering need to fill out this form. Attorneys interested in receiving student support need to fill out this form. Questions and concerns can be directed to Alyssa Leader, a student helping to coordinate this pro bono effort. 

Updates from the TBA include the postponement of the Dispute Resolution Forum and the Bankruptcy Forum, both originally scheduled in April and May. News from other legal organizations is posted online at the TBA’s Pandemic Resource Center. Updates for today include news from the Hamilton County Circuit Court Clerk's Office, National Legal Aid & Defender Association about its Equal Justice Conference, Tennessee Attorney General’s Office and Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts. The site also includes resources for the legal community for office management and well-being during a pandemic.

The Office of the Attorney General is closed to outside visitors at this time, but has made alternative arrangements for service of process. During this time, the personal service requirement has been waived. Service may be mailed to Office of the Attorney General and Reporter, P.O. Box 20207, Nashville, TN 37202-0207, if it meets the following conditions: the summons and complaint is emailed in PDF format to tnattygen@ag.tn.gov; the subject line of the email clearly states that a complaint has been filed; a cover letter is attached to the email stating the caption of the action, the trial court file number, a list of all attached documents, the date of transmission, and the sender’s name, address, telephone number and email address. Acknowledgement of receipt of the summons and complaint will be returned in PDF format to the email address provided by the sender. For questions call 615-741-3491 or email tnattygen@ag.tn.gov.

Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall said today that some inmates will be released in response to the COVID-19 threat, the Tennessean reports. “It’s critical we reduce the inmate population now,” Hall said in the statement. He also encouraged others in the criminal justice system to do the same. Approximately 15 people will be released immediately. In Memphis, Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner told the Daily Memphian that he lacks the authority to release detainees, but will work to review the files of nonviolent inmates who could then be passed to the courts for release consideration.

The TBA has postponed the Reporters Workshop planned for May 1-2 in Nashville. A new date will be announced once it has been established. The program, sponsored by the TBA and its Communications Section, provides training for journalists, with a focus on access to government information, defamation and privacy concerns in reporting, and other timely topics. Journalists can still apply to take part in the program, which is limited to 15 participants. All applicants will be notified once a new date is set.

Attorneys for death row prisoner Oscar Smith have asked the Tennessee Supreme Court to delay his June 4 execution because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nashville Scene reports. The motion cites extraordinary disruptions to society, the court system and the legal team’s work in asking that the court delay the date for six months. Smith was sentenced to death in Nashville for the 1989 murders of his estranged wife, Judy Smith, and her two sons. The request comes after the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals stayed an execution set for this week in light of the public health crisis.

New updates from the legal community are posted online at the TBA’s Pandemic Resource Center. Updates added today include news from the Davidson County General Sessions Court, Executive Office for Immigration Review, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Law School Admission Council, Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands, National Conference of Bar Examiners, Tennessee Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and West Tennessee Legal Services. The site also includes office management and well-being resources.