The TBA today canceled the 2020 Leadership Conference that was scheduled to take place in Nashville on April 3-4. After monitoring recent developments related to COVID-19 from local, state and federal agencies, TBA leaders concluded that the safety of members and guests required cancellation of the conference. The Board of Governors and House of Delegates meetings will take place remotely via Zoom at their scheduled times. All other committee or section meetings will take place remotely and logistics will be confirmed by the appropriate TBA staff coordinator responsible for those meetings. The decision is disappointing; however, the TBA will provide additional information and training relevant to the conference electronically. Please follow TBA’s coverage of updates related to COVID-19 and its effect on our legal system through TBA’s Coronavirus Information Center. The most recent updates about specific TBA events are available here. 

Legal organizations across the state continue to evaluate whether to move forward with operations as well as with events scheduled to take place in the coming weeks. The TBA’s Pandemic Resource Center has updates today about the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims, Davidson County courts, federal district courts, Lawyers' Association for Women Marion Griffin Chapter, Legal Aid clinics, Shelby County criminal courts, the Tennessee state capitol, U.S. Patent & Trademark Office and the U.S. Supreme Court. Updates about TBA events are available here.

Tennessee lawyers who still need CLE hours for 2019 may earn all or any portion of those hours through approved distance learning courses completed through March 31 following the issuance of a Supreme Court order today that temporary suspends Rule 21, sections 3.01(c) and 4.02(c). The order was issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and follows the Supreme Court's declaration of a state of emergency for the Judicial Branch. Read the order.

Nashville Public Defender Martesha Johnson is calling on criminal justice officials to take steps to "minimize the exposure of the vulnerable individuals housed in Nashville’s jails and prisons" to COVID-19. Her office is asking courts to immediately release individuals who are high risk or vulnerable according to the Centers for Disease Control on their own recognizance unless there is clear evidence they present an unreasonable risk to community safety. She is also calling for all non-essential cases to be postponed, the Nashville Scene reports. Meanwhile, all Tennessee prisons have suspended visitation and have begun screening staff for symptoms, the Tennessee Department of Corrections announced yesterday.

The American Bar Association today announced the creation of a nationwide task force of volunteer lawyers and judges to identify legal needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, make recommendations to address those needs, and help mobilize volunteer lawyers and legal professionals for people who need help. The Task Force on Legal Needs Arising Out of the 2020 Pandemic will include up to 20 representatives from top U.S. legal organizations and be chaired by James J. Sandman, former president of the Legal Services Corporation. “As the pandemic spreads, thousands of Americans will need help – not just with medical issues but also with legal issues including lost jobs, evictions, insurance claims, family emergencies and obtaining government benefits they need to survive,” ABA President Judy Perry Martinez said in announcing the move.

Legal organizations across the state continue to evaluate whether to go forward with events scheduled to take place in the coming weeks. The TBA’s Pandemic Resource Center has updates today about the Tennessee Bar Foundation's Fellows Dinner and the Knoxville Bar Association’s Law Practice Expo, which have been canceled, and the Nashville Public Library’s event with U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Martha Craig Daughtrey, which has been postponed. The Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office also announced today that it will close the third floor walk-up counter at its Nashville office beginning Monday until further notice. For those who have documents to be filed, a drop box will be available. Updates about TBA events are available here.

The Tennessee Supreme Court declared a state of emergency for the Judicial Branch and suspended all in-person judicial proceedings through March 31 in an order issued today to guide courts operating during the COVID-19 outbreak. All Tennessee courts will remain open during this period. “Each day across the State of Tennessee, thousands of people attend court proceedings in-person when they come to the courthouse as jurors, witnesses, litigants, or in another capacity,” Chief Justice Jeff Bivins said in issuing the order. “Public spaces in courthouses tend to be small, tightly packed bench seats that provide the type of situations public health officials have encouraged people to avoid during the COVID-19 outbreak. However, judges, court clerks, and others provide essential constitutional functions that must be carried on.” TBA President Sarah Sheppeard called the order "a prudent and creative plan to protect the health of Tennessee’s citizens, litigants, court personnel, lawyers and judges, while keeping the judicial system operating. In today’s uncertain times, precautions such as these are necessary for the sake of all who are involved in the judicial system, as well as those with whom they come in contact." The TBA’s Pandemic Resource Center has more.

The 2020 State High School Mock Trial Tournament that was scheduled to take place on March 20-21 in Nashville has been canceled. After monitoring recent developments related to COVID-19 from local, state and federal agencies, Tennessee Bar Association officials concluded that the safety of students, coaches, judges, family and friends required the cancellation. The decision followed the declaration of a state of emergency by Gov. Bill Lee, and decisions by the National High School Mock Trial Championship Board of Directors and nine other state sponsors to cancel their competitions. “We know that this decision is disappointing to so many students and families,” TBA Executive Director Joycelyn Stevenson said, “and we congratulate each of them for making it to the state competition this year. We look forward to continuing this great competition next year.”

The TBA/Humana Association Health Plan is waiving out-of-pocket costs associated with testing for COVID-19 (where allowed within state and federal law) for patients who meet CDC guidelines at approved laboratory locations. For the next 30 days, Humana is allowing early refills on prescription medicines so members can prepare for extended supply needs. Members enrolled in the TBA Health Insurance program can call Humana’s toll-free customer support line, which can be found on the back of member ID cards. Get details on TBA’s health insurance program and upcoming enrollment here.

The TBA will offer a free webcast next Friday, March 20, from noon to 1 p.m. central time. The webcast, “Tennessee Law in the Time of Pandemic,” is based on the March 2020 Tennessee Bar Journal cover story, and will be presented by the article author William Shults. The session will explore 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. The course will offer one hour of CLE credit.