A special episode of Legislative Updates recorded today reviews how the legislature is responding to the COVID-19 virus in Tennessee. The TBA’s Berkley Schwarz and Adams and Reese attorney and TBA lobbyist Brad Lampley walk us through the budget lawmakers are looking to pass before an early adjournment. Catch the full episode on Facebook Live by liking the TBA’s Facebook page.  

The Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (TACDL) has called on state and community leaders to help prepare for and address the “significant health risk” that the COVID-19 virus poses to law enforcement and inmates at state and local prisons, the Chattanoogan reports. In a statement yesterday, TACDL suggested reducing the prion and jail populations to help minimize the spread of the virus. The group proposed six steps to help reduce the number of pre-trial detainees, including liberally granting release to pre-trial detainees with non-violent offenses, releasing those most vulnerable to the virus, pausing the practice of holding arrestees without bond for violations of probation, and more. Additionally, TACDL urged judges to consider alternatives to incarceration when sentencing.

Gov. Bill Lee today said his administration will provide a series of relief opportunities for state residents, the Tennessean reports. Those opportunities include increased cash benefits for low-income families, relaxing requirements to collect unemployment checks and grants for local governments. Lee plans to pull funds from the reserves of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) fund, which currently contains $730 million. Lee’s administration faced criticisms in October for allowing the reserve to reach that number when its funds were meant to assist poor working families. The TANF program will begin issuing payments of up to $1,000 a month for a qualifying family of five that has lost employment as a result of the COVID-19 virus.

Due to property and other damage in the March 3 tornado and concerns over the spread of COVID-19, Davidson County has halted all evictions, the Tennessean reports. The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed it would also indefinitely suspend the service of other civil papers. Some proceedings, including orders of protection, child custody orders, emergency mental health orders and papers dealing with protection of elderly or vulnerable persons will still be delivered as normal. 

The TBA has postponed in-person continuing legal education through May 7. See the list of programs impacted. Other new updates today are from the Jefferson County Circuit Court, Knox County courts, Memphis Bar Association, Memphis Area Legal Services, Nashville Sheriff’s office, U.S. District Courts for the Middle and Western Districts of Tennessee, and the Virginia State Supreme Court. Get details here.

The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department says that those who attended a Chattanooga Bar Association event may have been exposed to COVID-19. The bar association confirmed that Rev. Brad Whitaker of St. Paul's Episcopal Church served as the "clerical officiant" at its Memorial Service on Feb. 28, exactly two weeks prior to him being the first individual in the county to be diagnosed with the virus. CBA Executive Director Lynda Hood told Channel 3 that she alerted all members immediately. The health department has asked that all who attended the service contact them at 423-209-8383.

Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Mary Mancini has informed party leaders that the congressional district conventions scheduled for March 21 will be held via online conferencing rather than in person. The conventions take place within each congressional district to name delegates to the national convention. The Democratic National Committee offered state parties the flexibility to deal with the situation and other states are also taking the national party up on the offer, the Nashville Post reports.

The U.S. Supreme Court announced today that is has postponed oral arguments scheduled for its March session. It was scheduled to hold arguments on March 23-25 and March 30-April 1. However, it will hold its regularly scheduled conference on March 20 and issue its regularly scheduled order list on March 23. The building continues to be open for official business and filing deadlines have not been extended, but the building remains closed to the public until further notice.

In a message sent to Tennessee Bar Association members today, TBA President Sarah Sheppeard provided details on the closure of the association offices at 221 Fourth Ave. N. in Nashville and plans for TBA staff to work remotely. The office will close tomorrow and remain closed through March 31. President Sheppeard’s message also provided updates on recent cancelations of TBA events and programs. Read her letter here. Visit the TBA's Pandemic Resource Center to keep track of other legal community closings.

Gov. Bill Lee, state House Speaker Cameron Sexton and state Senate Speaker Randy McNally announced an “unprecedented” plan Monday to expedite the legislature’s business as the new coronavirus continues to spread. The legislature will pass a budget as quickly as possible, likely by Wednesday, and then recess, the Nashville Post reports. The move comes after Gov. Bill Lee closed the state Capitol to visitors and Sexton and McNally closed legislative offices to everyone but members, media and staff. Those actions were raising concerns from open government groups, the Tennessean reports.