The state expects to open an online COVID-19 vaccine appointment portal to bring more order and certainty to the large task of vaccinating people statewide, the Daily Memphian reports. The website is expected to be live next week. All vaccines administered by county health departments will be scheduled through the portal.

Rep. David Byrd is unable to talk and continues to receive physical therapy after being on a ventilator for nearly a month, a family member posted on Facebook this week. The Republican state lawmaker from Waynesboro was hospitalized in December and went on a ventilator that month. He has stopped giving public updates on social media, but WPLN News obtained an update written by his sister: “His body [is] so weak…he can’t do anything without assistance,” she wrote. “As I’ve said before … David has a long and tough road ahead of him. He isn’t even aware that several of his friends, family and constituents are going through the same thing he is.”

Federal agents descended on multiple Tennessee Republican House members' homes and state offices this morning, executing search warrants and collecting evidence. The Tennessean reports that at least 10 FBI agents entered the Cordell Hull legislative office building just before 8 a.m. CST, fanning out to multiple offices carrying empty boxes with them. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee confirmed that agents also visited the homes of former House Speaker Glen Casada, R-Franklin; Rep. Robin Smith, R-Hixson; Rep. Todd Warner, R-Chapel Hill; and former Casada aide Cade Cothren. Agents also searched the office of Rep. Kent Calfee, R-Kingston, though House Speaker Cameron Sexton said he understood that Calfee "is not part of the investigation." In addition, key staff for these members have been placed on administrative leave in connection with the case. They are: Calfee's legislative assistant Nadine Korby, Casada's longtime assistant Carol Simpson, and Sexton’s interim chief of staff Holt Whitt and two other staff members from his office. Agents reportedly also visited Whitt’s home.

U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann is currently in quarantine after learning last night that he had come into contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19, Chattanoogan.com reports. Fleischmann tweeted this morning that he is currently non-symptomatic, following CDC guidelines and remaining in contact with the capitol physician.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today issued a public censure for Shelby County lawyer Jahari Mabry Dowdy. The court found that Dowdy violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15, 5.1 and 5.3 when she paid a portion of her client’s rent arrears before receiving funds to cover the check, failed to take proper remedial action after becoming aware of the error, and eventually comingled personal funds with trust account funds to cover the check. In addition to imposing the censure, the court directed Dowdy to attend a trust account workshop on March 24.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today permanently disbarred Knox County lawyer James Lester Kennedy from the practice of law. The court took the action after finding that Kennedy distributed attorneys’ fees and personal expenses in a probate matter to himself and others who were not authorized to receive the funds. The court also found that Kennedy failed to demonstrate good faith, diligence, prudence and caution as well as loyalty and fidelity to the estate as required. His actions violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 3.4 and 8.4 (c) and (d).

The Tennessee Supreme Court today suspended McNairy County lawyer Bobby Gene Gray from the practice of law for three years, with eight months to be served on active suspension and the remainder to be served on probation. Gray admitted taking controlled substances from an evidence room while he served as an assistant district attorney. He pleaded guilty to official misconduct, theft of less than $1,000 and simple possession of a controlled substance, and received judicial diversion. The court said these actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 8.4 (b) and (c).

President-elect Joe Biden today introduced Merrick Garland, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and a former U.S. Supreme Court nominee, as his pick for the nation’s top law enforcement post, the Associated Press reports. At an event in Delaware, Garland reflected on yesterday’s events in Washington, D.C., saying “the rule of law is not just some lawyers’ turn of phrase, it is the very foundation of our democracy.” Biden also introduced three others for senior Justice Department leadership posts, including Obama administration homeland security adviser Lisa Monaco as deputy attorney general; former Justice Department civil rights chief Vanita Gupta as associate attorney general; and Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, as assistant attorney general for civil rights.

The Memphis Bar Association and the Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association will host a virtual program on “Race and the U. S. Economy After Ratification of the U.S. Constitution” next Thursday from noon to 1:30 p.m. CST. The event will feature Spencer Overton, a professor at George Washington School of Law and president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. He will discuss the extent to which the nation's economy was dependent on enslaved persons and the role enslaved persons played in the emergence of the U. S. as a global economic superpower. University of Memphis School of Law professor Daniel Kiel will moderate the program.

The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services is seeking an associate counsel in Clarksville. The position requires consultation with and advisement of department staff in a number of legal areas, drafting legal documents, preparing for hearings, reviewing and responding to subpoenas, and providing periodic trainings for staff. Some travel is required for court appearances and meetings. Salary will be based on qualifications and years of experience. Those interested in the position should send their resume to Stephen.Marsh@tn.gov.