Gov. Bill Lee signed an executive order today to declare Tennessee under a state of emergency to facilitate the treatment and containment of COVID-19, the Tennessee Journal reports. The governor said that today’s action will allow the state to “utilize additional emergency funds as needed and relax provisions of certain laws to provide the flexibility needed to respond to this disease.” In other news, both state and federal courts have announced new procedures aimed at reducing the spread of the COVID-19 virus and a number of organizations have announced that events have been postponed or canceled. The TBA has created a Pandemic Resource Center to keep the legal community updated.

Citing concerns about the new coronavirus, officials with the Hamilton County General Sessions Court have announced that all non-essential court cases will be put on hold for now, the Hamilton County Herald reports. The court stated: "For the next several weeks, we will hear only cases that affect incarcerated individuals or as are otherwise necessary. Defendants who are on bond, including traffic cases, alleged victims and witnesses will be notified of the new court date …" The court also said it is implementing “enhanced health safety measures” such as disinfecting procedures and social distance practices. East Ridge Municipal Court said it would soon follow suit on these same measures.

The U.S. Supreme Court has announced that it is closing to the public beginning today at 4:30 p.m. until further notice, Bloomberg News reports. All public lectures and visitor programs also are temporarily suspended. However, the building will remain open for official business and case filing deadlines have not been extended. The court, which is scheduled to hear arguments next on March 23, said it was taking the step, “out of concern for the health and safety of the public and Supreme Court employees.”

The cover story of this month's Tennessee Bar Journal — "Tennessee Law in the Time of Pandemic Disease" by William O. Shults and Michael Caskey — is so timely that as the issue was being printed, the World Health Organization (WHO) was still coming up with the proper name to call the coronavirus. After the printing, the WHO determined that the name of the virus would be SARS_CoV-2, and the disease caused by the virus would be called COVID-19. The online version of the Journal is correct and up-to-date with this distinction.

The University of Memphis School of Law announced today that it is cancelling its law review symposium, originally scheduled for March 13. The school reports that travel restrictions related to the coronavirus prevented a number of speakers from making the trip. Despite the event being cancelled, the Law Review will still publish the fourth and final book of Volume 50 on the topic of “Closing the Gap: Solutions to Educational Inequality.”

The Citizen Tribune in Morristown features this month’s Tennessee Bar Journal cover story as a timely look at the legal issues of dealing with a pandemic. The piece, written by retired Newport attorney William O. Shults, examines the use of mandatory isolation and quarantines and how such measures affect personal liberty and constitutional rights. In case you missed it, read “Tennessee Law in the Time of Pandemic Disease” here.

"It is fair for citizens to question why they should abide by mandatory isolation and quarantine orders in light of this country's historic emphasis on personal freedoms," William O. Shults and Michael Caskey write in the new Tennessee Bar Journal. "However, clear explanations, both in advance of an outbreak and at the time of such an event, of why these steps are critical to preservation of life ... could serve to allay fears concerning loss of constitutional rights." As the coronavirus spreads, you'll want to know more. Read the very timely article, "Tennessee Law in the Time of Pandemic Disease: Balancing the Needs of Society with Personal Liberties."