The Biden administration has asked Congress to provide $600 million for the Legal Services Corporate (LSC) in fiscal year 2022 — the largest budget request ever put forward. According to officials, the request responds to a surge in demand for civil legal services caused by COVID-19’s impact on low-income communities as well as the continuing lack of resources to provide assistance to all Americans eligible for services. The agency also recently announced a new strategic plan outlining goals and initiatives for the next four years. 

Hamilton County District Attorney General Neal Pinkston has joined an investigation into allegations of illegal activities involving The Baptiste Group at a group home in Chattanooga, Chattanoogan.com reports. The Baptiste Group has been in the news as a location being used to house migrant children that have been transported to Tennessee from the Southwest border. As this is an active investigation, Pinkston made no other comments except to say his office “will vigorously prosecute any state crimes that are uncovered by the investigation.

The Davidson County Election Commission voted along party lines today to appeal a Nashville chancellor’s order canceling a planned July referendum election related to the city’s taxing authority, the Nashville Post reports. The commission cancelled the planned July 27 election given the time frame for an appeal and set a conditional date in September for a new election if it prevails. Lawyers for the commission said they would look into asking the Tennessee Supreme Court to take up the case instead of going to the appeals court in an effort to expedite the matter. Earlier this week, Davidson County Chancellor Russell Perkins canceled the referendum saying the petition calling for the election was invalid.

Gov. Bill Lee today signed a new bill into law that will allow victims of violent crimes to seek orders of protection that last their lifetime, WVLT reports. Current laws require victims to go in front of a judge every year to renew orders of protection. The new law also stipulates that if a protection order is not followed, the suspect will have one additional year in prison for each violation. The law will take effect on July 1.

The Biden administration yesterday extended the national COVID-19 residential eviction moratorium until July 31, the AP reports. Officials said the move was intended to be the final extension. The administration also issued guidance for states and local governments to streamline distribution of emergency rental assistance funding and the Justice Department asked state courts to pursue eviction alternatives. There are at least six lawsuits challenging the authority of the ban. So far, three judges have sided with the ban and three have ruled against. All cases are currently in the appeal process.

Bryan Wayne Ivey of Crossville pleaded guilty this week to a minor protesting charge related to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, the Tennessean reports. He admitted to knowingly entering restricted areas of the Capitol and agreed to pay $500 in restitution. Additional fines or prison time may be imposed at a Sept. 28 sentencing hearing. The charge carries up to six months in prison, a fine of up to $5,000 and/or probation for up to one year. Ivey was arrested on March 4 on four charges. The other charges were dropped as part of a plea agreement. At least 15 people with Tennessee ties have been charged in connection to the riot. In related news, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced this week that she will launch a select committee to probe the events of that day. Last month, the U.S. Senate fell a few votes short to move forward on legislation to establish an independent commission to investigate the attack. The Hill reports on that story.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands will hold a virtual phone clinic and in-person legal advice clinic next week for those with questions about housing and renters’ rights, bankruptcy, medical bills, debt collection, domestic violence, SNAP benefits and unemployment benefits. The phone clinic will take place Monday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. CDT. The in-person clinic will take place Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at Operation Stand Down Nashville, 1125 12th Ave. S. To help answer questions, contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or call 615-780-7131.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended 10 attorneys Wednesday for failure to pay the annual registration fee. Six of them also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the June 23 fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. See the list of all lawyers suspended for fee and IOLTA violations in 2021 or access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.

This month’s episode of BarBuzz was recorded live from The Peabody in Memphis during the TBA’s Annual Convention last week. TBA Board of Governors member Trey Thacher of Burch, Porter & Johnson in Memphis co-hosts the episode, which covers important legal news from the last month and gives a rundown of events and award recipients from the convention. BarBuzz is part of the TBA Podcast Network and can be found on the TBA’s website or wherever you listen to podcasts.

The Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court today announced that it is suspending Rudy Giuliani’s law license, The Hill reports. The court concluded in its 33-page decision that Giuliani made “demonstrably false and misleading statements” to courts, lawmakers and the public while representing former President Donald Trump and his campaign in an effort to overturn the 2020 election results. His license will remain suspended while disciplinary action continues to be considered which, the court added, will “likely result in substantial permanent sanctions.”