The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) is asking contractors for proposals to determine what it would take to implement a statewide e-filing system, the Nashville Post reports. The AOC is looking for someone to study the current state of court filing systems in Tennessee and to “provide comprehensive recommendations to move Tennessee courts to a unified e-filing system.” The contractor would have three months to conduct walk-throughs and interviews with 10-15 court clerks and speak with stakeholders, including lawyers. They’d also be asked to evaluate two and four e-filing providers and to create a “roadmap” to setting up a system. According to the request for proposal, “there are 11 courts in Tennessee that are utilizing e-filing systems and 20 additional courts that have been approved for implementation of an e-filing system. There are over 300 courts in the state.” The request for proposals will close early next month. 

Cade Cothren, former chief of staff for ex-House Speaker Glen Casada, is challenging a subpoena to testify before the Registry of Election Finance regarding a political action committee he secretly ran, the Tennessee Lookout reports. The Registry subpoenaed Cothren in January after a former girlfriend testified she formed the Faith Family Freedom Fund Political Action Committee at Cothren’s request so he could run it secretly. Cothren’s attorney, Cynthia Sherwood of Nashville, claims the court should not hold him in contempt for invoking his right against self-incrimination in response to subpoenas. Ahead of a September hearing in front of Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle, Sherwood is arguing that overlapping cases against Cothren should circumvent the state subpoena. The court filing acknowledges the Registry’s authority to refer cases for criminal prosecution but says “the authority to subpoena Mr. Cothren should yield to Mr. Cothren’s constitutional right against compelled testimony.”

The ABA Center for Innovation has released its inaugural “Innovation Trends Report,” a collection of essays and commentaries that focuses on internal ABA innovation, advances in law and technology and regulatory innovation. The report features eight authors who highlight some of the most innovative and forward-thinking efforts nationally in the delivery of legal services. It includes a report from legal tech company Rocket Lawyer, detailing their experience with Utah’s “regulatory sandbox” – a program created to test whether alternative business models for legal services improves access to justice. Read the full report here.

Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert has announced her office will be closed to the public for two weeks to “catch up on critically outstanding services,” the Daily Memphian reports. The clerk’s office will be closed the weeks of Aug. 22-26 and Sept. 19-23. The office has faced criticisms recently for a backlog of thousands of license plates and vehicle tags. Shelby County commissioners voted last week to call for state oversight, specifically by the state comptroller’s office, of all functions of the office, including the backlog of license plates and car tags renewed by mail and online. Halbert says her office is not to blame for the backlog. She notified commissioners earlier this month that the office would likely close to make up for work not done while addressing the license plate backlog.

TBA CLE’s Disability Law Forum 2022 will cover a variety of topics applicable to disability law practitioners, including a panel discussion on in-person hearings, a session dedicated to appealing ALJ decisions and more! Join the program on Sept. 30 from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. CDT via Zoom Meeting. Learn more and get registered here.

The Tennessee Department of Correction yesterday announced it has received a $200,000 grant that will help temporarily house indigent people who are leaving prison, the Associated Press reports. In partnership with the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, the grant will pay for up to 60 days of housing for those who qualify for the program. TDOC Commissioner Lisa Helton says the program will give those leaving prison “time to focus on securing employment and saving for permanent housing when they first leave incarceration.” She also says affordable housing “helps to reduce the likelihood of re-offending.”

The law license of Sumner County lawyer John T. Harding was transferred to disability inactive status on Friday. Harding may not practice law while on inactive status and must comply with Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 28. He may return to the practice of law after reinstatement by showing that his disability has been removed in accordance with Rule 9, Section 27.7.

The Knox County Chancery Court and Chancellor John F. Weaver will hold an informal reception honoring the retirement of Judicial Assistant Pamela Jennings on Aug. 30 from 2-4 p.m. EDT in the Chancery Part I courtroom. Light refreshments will be served. For any questions or additional information, please contact Lisa Sharp at (865) 215-2448 or Jennifer White at (865) 215-2560.

The Knox County Juvenile Court is changing its local rule this fall to require specific training for lawyers interested in taking delinquency appointments. A training will be held in Knoxville at the end of the month. For more information, email Chris Kleiser at the Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office.

Fountain City lawyer Michael L. DeBusk died on Aug. 11 at the age of 75. He served as an attorney for almost 40 years, first earning his law license in 1973. Visitation and a celebration of life were held today. . A graveside service will be held on Aug. 26 at 12:30 p.m. at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, 2200 E. Gov. John Sevier Hwy., Knoxville 37920. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the American Diabetes Association. Online condolences can be left for the family on the Mynatt Funeral Home website.