The 25th Annual Labor & Employment Law Forum is going virtual over two days in May. The program will take place on May 6 and 7 from 8:30 to 11:45 a.m. CDT each day. Full two-day registration as well as individual day registrations are available. Sessions will include case law updates, labor and employment issues in the COVID-19 era, what to expect from the Biden administration and an ethics update. The full two-day program will provide six hours of CLE credit (1 dual, 5 general).

A mural displayed at the Lawrence County Courthouse in Lawrenceburg represents one of the most significant early civil rights victories in a southern courtroom. The ‘Justice Served’ mural was painted by Bernice Davidson and unveiled in the courthouse in 2017. It features key figures from the criminal case that unfolded after 100 Black citizens were arrested during the Columbia race riot of 1946. Twenty five of those arrested would be charged, most with attempted murder. The trial would showcase the talents of several attorneys who would later go on to become household names during the Civil Rights Movement, like Nashville lawyer Z. Alexander Looby and Thurgood Marshall, before he became the first African American U.S. Supreme Court justice. An all-white jury found 23 of the 25 defendants not guilty on the attempted murder charges, a verdict that sent shockwaves through the courtroom and the country. Read more on the mural and the Columbia race riot from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

The Supreme Court Buildings in Jackson and Nashville will remain closed tomorrow due to inclement weather. These closures include the Appellate Court Clerk's Office in both buildings. E-Filing will remain available. In addition, questions may be directed to the Knoxville Appellate Court Clerk's Office at (865) 594-6700.  Oral arguments for the Court of Appeals Western Section and Court of Criminal Appeals Eastern Section scheduled to be held virtually will proceed as planned. The Administrative Office of the Courts will be open and working virtually, unless an update affecting all state employees in Middle Tennessee is announced at a later time.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today ordered that the July bar exam be held as a computer-based test due to continued concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. The order explains that many of the test takers are in their 20s and not likely to be vaccinated by the July exam date. Restrictions on holding large, indoor gatherings that will still be in place also contributed to the decision. The National Conference of Bar Examiners is preparing a remotely administered Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) that will be utilized. Applicants who pass the online bar exam will be eligible for admission in Tennessee and any of the 35 other states that accept a UBE score. Registration for the July bar exam will open on March 1. The February bar exam was already set to be taken remotely. Read more from the Administrative Office of the Courts.  

State House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and Senate Speaker Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, are requesting an opinion from Attorney General Herbert Slatery on efforts to remove the Nathan Bedford Forrest bust from the state Capitol, the Tennessean reports. The speakers are asking Slatery to weigh in on whether proper procedure was followed in the most recent attempt to remove the statue. They say a step was missed after the State Capitol Commission voted in favor of a petition asking for the move, arguing that code requires the State Building Commission to concur with any action from the commission. According to the Tennessee Journal, the Tennessee Historical Commission is scheduled to meet on Thursday in what is supposed to be the final step in the removal process.

The Tennessee General Assembly announced today that it will be closed for the remainder of the week due to heavy winter weather, the Tennessee Journal reports. The House also announced it will extend its bill filing deadline until close of business on Feb. 24. The original deadline was set for tomorrow. The Senate’s filing deadline was Feb. 11. Legislators and staff members are advised to work from home as Nashville’s Cordell Hull building will be closed.

The Dean’s Lecture Series on Race and Discrimination will take place virtually on Feb. 25, beginning at noon CST. The series annually convenes scholars and thought leaders to provide the Vanderbilt community with foundational knowledge on race, civil rights, discrimination on the basis of gender and sexual orientation and critical historical milestones and their importance. Daniel J. Sharfstein, Vanderbilt’s Dick and Martha Lansden Professor of Law and co-director of the George Barrett Social Justice Program, will deliver this year’s lecture. Sharfstein’s scholarship focuses on the legal history of race and citizenship in the United States. The event is free and open to the public. Register now through Vanderbilt’s website.

Nashville School of Law (NSL) will close its campus tomorrow due to inclement weather. Additionally, all classes will be held remotely, and all staff will be working remotely. Anyone needing to contact a staff member should email or leave a voicemail on their office phone, which will be forwarded to them. Read more on NSL’s website.

The Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services will host its 44th Equal Justice University conference Sept. 21-23. The conference will be held virtually again this year and will feature timely and impactful legal, professional and ethics topics and networking opportunities. Along with community boards, virtual meet ups and networking tables, the conference will also provide attendees access to the Access to Justice Awards presentations. More information will be forthcoming. Browse pictures from last year’s virtual event.

TBA CLE will present the virtual 2021 Communications Law Spring Forum on April 16 from 9 a.m. until noon CDT. Attendees will hear presentations on anti-SLAPP, liable defamation, the Public Records Act, a U.S. and Tennessee Supreme Court update and more. Remember, members of the Communication Law Section will receive discounted pricing on this CLE. Not a member? Sign up today.