A Washington, D.C., federal judge yesterday blocked the Biden administration from expelling migrant families with children apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border under a public health order, WSMV reports. Judge Emmet Sullivan acknowledged that the ruling will force the government to make difficult decisions, but determined there are enough measures that can be taken to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. According to CNN, the government has used Title 42 authority to expel 958,000 migrants since its implementation during the Trump administration.

There is a renewed push for a special session to ban mask and vaccine mandates in Tennessee after President Joe Biden announced new vaccine requirements, WATE reports. Previous calls for a special session fell silent after Gov. Bill Lee issued an executive order allowing parents to opt their children out of school mask mandates. Some Republican lawmakers say it is time to respond to the new federal COVID guidelines and examine Gov. Lee’s emergency powers. 

U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman today renewed a preliminary injunction against Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order requiring school districts to offer an opt-out of any mask mandates, the Commercial Appeal reports. The previous restraining order from Lipman was set to expire today. Her new decision allows the Shelby County Health Department to continue issuing mask requirements for schools while the governor’s order is challenged in court. That suit was brought by three families whose children have disabilities and special health needs that make them more susceptible to contracting severe cases of COVID-19. A similar case is also pending in East Tennessee.

Services have now been announced for Nashville lawyer Jim Cheek III, a top corporate and securities lawyers and a Bass Berry & Sims mainstay for more than five decades. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. CDT on Oct. 9 at Christ Church Cathedral in Nashville. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Cheek Business Law Scholars Program at Vanderbilt University Law School, Montgomery Bell Academy or Cheekwood. The firm is also collecting condolences and tributes for the Cheek family via tributes@bassberry.com. Read more about his career from the law school.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) will begin holding weekly phone clinics to help those with questions about eviction actions. The clinics will run from 2-5 p.m. EDT on Tuesdays. Volunteer lawyers will provide advice only on topics such as repairs, security deposits and tenant rights. By providing advice to these clients, volunteer lawyer will free up LAET staff to provide direct representation for those facing immediate eviction. All volunteers will be covered under LAET’s malpractice insurance. Those who are interested in providing direct legal representation for tenants in detainer court should contact the office to be added to a list of available advocates. To volunteer for either the clinics or direct representation please contact Caitlin Torney, 865-251-4951.

The 2021 Dispute Resolution Forum will take place Nov. 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CDT. This live virtual event will feature sessions on conducting successful virtual mediations and arbitrations, making sure digital platforms are secure, and avoiding bias in the arbitration field. Speakers include Adrienne Anderson with Anderson Busby in Knoxville, Larry Bridgesmith with Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Michael Russell (Nashville) and Winter Wheeler with Miles Mediation & Arbitration, and Mark Travis with Travis ADR Services in Cookeville.

Tomorrow is Constitution Day! Among the activities being planned is a free webinar from the the American Bar Association beginning at 12:30 p.m. EDT. The session, which will focus on freedom of the press, will look at the challenges and threats faced by the American media, the arrest and harassment of reporters covering social justice demonstrations, reforms to libel law, and the denial of access to public records, hearings and trials due to the pandemic. Register here. The ABA also has resources for promoting Constitution Day.

The Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday suspended attorney Thomas A. Tansil Jr. from the practice of law until further notice. The court took the action after Tansil entered a plea of "nolo contendere" to three felonies involving theft of property, tampering with government records and computer offenses. The court also referred the matter to the Board of Professional Responsibility for a determination of the extent of the final discipline. Tansil was indicted by a Carroll County grand jury in 2020.

After serving as a disciplinary counsel with the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility for the past 12 years, Kevin Balkwill has opened a new law firm. Ethics Law PLLC will focus on attorney ethics, regulation and licensing. The firm is located at 2000 Mallory Lane, Ste. 130-308, Franklin 37067. Balkwill can be reached at 615-205-5540 or kbalkwill@gmail.com. He also has started a new blog, Ethics Blawg, to share his thoughts and musings on attorney ethics.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today issued an order reappointing the following individuals to the Advisory Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure: Andrèe Blumstein, Eugene Bulso, Bo Burk, Michael Carter, Mark Fulks, Aaron Hall and Timothy Mickel. The court noted that the terms for these members were set to expire on Dec. 31. The new terms will run through June 30, 2022.