A number of Memphis Law faculty members recently were honored with awards related to their teaching, scholarship and service during the past school year. The winner of the Farris Bobango PLC Faculty Scholarship Award, which recognizes outstanding scholarship, is Professor Lynda Black. The recipient of the Patricia and Dan Murrell Ethics and Professionalism Teaching Award, which recognizes creative and innovative methods for teaching ethics and professionalism, is Regina Hillman. The MLK50 Faculty Service Award goes to Professor Alena Allen. This award recognizes a faculty member who demonstrates outstanding service to the university, law school or legal community. The 2021 Adjunct of the Year Award was awarded to Marjorie S. Baker. And finally, the Professor of the Year Award was presented to Professor Ralph Brashier — the 11th time he has received the honor.

A senior judge appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court will decide whether or not Hendersonville’s ordinance regulating short-term rentals is constitutional after three Sumner County judges recused themselves from the case, the Hendersonville Standard reports. The court has appointed Senior Judge Robert E. Lee Davies of Williamson County to consider the city’s request that the zoning ordinance be ruled valid and enforceable, and one local renter be permanently enjoined from violating the rule.

Davidson County civil courts will soon accept documents through e-filing. Join Joseph Day with the Davidson County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office and Rena Sanders with the Davidson County General Sessions Court for a webcast on Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. CDT to learn how to use the system. Topics include setting up a user account, filing new cases and subsequent pleadings and reviewing case status. E-filing system will go live on May 24 so get prepared now! TBA members receive three prepaid credits and discounts on CLE programs. Not a member yet? Join now and take advantage of these benefits.

The Tennessee House recently approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would clarify that the state Constitution’s ban on slavery does not prohibit prisoners from working. The Senate passed the measure in March. Both chambers passed it last year. The proposed amendment will now be on the statewide ballot in November 2022, Mainstreet Nashville reports. During House debate, Rep. Joe Towns, D-Memphis, said the language came directly from the Tennessee Department of Correction and was intended to eliminate any confusion about whether work from prisoners could fall under the Constitution’s ban on slavery.

Law schools would be required to train students in bias, racism and cross-cultural competency under a proposal being considered by the American Bar Association arm that oversees legal education, Law.com reports. The proposed change would require schools to provide training once at the beginning of the law school career and again before graduation. A memo from the Standards Committee released today contains a number of other recommendations, including that anti-discrimination policies be amended to include gender identity and military status; that clearer guidance be provided to schools on what constitutes a commitment to diversity and inclusion; a new requirement that schools provide students opportunities to develop a professional identity; and new requirements that schools provide students with information on well-being resources, financial aid and student loan debt.

Tennessee lawmakers have passed legislation preventing juvenile detention centers from keeping children in solitary confinement for long stretches, NewsChannel 5 reports. Specifically, the legislation prohibits seclusion for "punishment" or "administrative convenience" for more than six hours in a 24-hour period. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, led the charge to change the law and credited NewsChannel 5's investigative report “Broken” for bringing the issue to light. The reporting in 2019 focused on the Maury County Juvenile Detention Center, where staff said children were confined in their cells for up to 24 hours at a time for no apparent reason.

Tennessee lawmakers did not make medical marijuana legal in the state this year but did pass legislation that could pave the way for that in the future, Local Memphis reports. On the final day of the legislative session, members reached an agreement to form a special commission to study and prepare recommendations on how best to "establish an effective, patient-focused medical cannabis program.” The bill also would decriminalize the possession of cannabis oil containing 0.9% or less of THC for patients with nine debilitating medical conditions. Patients would have to secure a letter from their doctor every six months and purchase the oil out of state since it is not sold in Tennessee. The bill now goes to the governor.

The American Bar Association continues its celebration of Law Day 2021 with a free virtual program Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. EDT. “Advancing the Rule of Law Now: Access and Accountability, A Call to Action” highlights this year’s Law Day theme. Panel members will discuss a number of topics including access to justice issues and the accountability of elected officials and law enforcement officers. Learn more about the program and register here.

Longtime Memphis lawyer Arnold M. Weiss died April 30. He was 86. Weiss earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University in 1958 and first practiced general and criminal defense law. He eventually found his calling in the field of bankruptcies and foreclosures. Weiss and his wife lived an exciting life. As a ballroom dancer, Joan met many celebrities, which led to the couple joining the world-famous Friars Club in New York City. They also were longtime members of the Mar-a-Lago Club and owned homes in Palm Beach and New York in addition to Memphis. Weiss was a patron of the local arts and an ardent supporter of St. Jude, often hosting fundraisers for the children’s hospital. His law office, on the National Historic Register, was scouted as a possible location for NBC-TV's "Bluff City Law" show. And although another location was selected, furnishing and furniture from his office were used in the show. A private service will be held at Temple Israel. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude or to the rabbi's discretionary fund at Temple Israel.

Former “near-celebrity” legal blogger David Lat announced this week he is returning to writing as a full-time livelihood. Lat, who founded “Underneath Their Robes” in 2004 and “Above the Law” in 2006, left blogging two years ago to work as a legal recruiter. This go-round, he will be publishing a newsletter on Substack, an online platform designed to make it easy to publish and monetize newsletters. Lat launched “Original Jurisdiction” last December and has been offering it for free. Starting this week, subscribers will pay $5 a month to continue receiving the publication. One other lawyer using the service — Glenn Greenwald, the former litigator turned Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author of four New York Times bestselling books — is one of the site’s top-paid publishers. There are about 20 lawyers on the site, according to Bob Ambrogi. Read more in his LawSites article.