Those interested in running for an elected office with the Tennessee Bar Association or as a delegate to the American Bar Association have until Feb. 15 to qualify for the 2021 ballot. To be considered, candidates must file a nominating petition with the TBA executive director via email or by mail to 221 4th Ave. N., Ste 400, Nashville, TN 37219. Because of limitations presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, scanned signatures may be collected and submitted electronically.

Those interested in a seat in the TBA House of Delegates must file a declaration of candidacy that includes their name, principal place of law practice, district of interest and contact information. Information should be sent to the TBA executive director via email or by mail to the address above. The TBA website has more information on the election process and a list of available positions.

Clarence A. Wilbon, a partner in the Memphis office of Adams and Reese, has been named to the firm’s executive committee. The group is the management body of the firm, which oversees strategic operations as well as attorneys, advisors and professional staff. Wilbon, who also chairs the firm’s Diversity Committee, advises financial services clients, health care and life sciences companies. He was a member of the TBA’s 2008 Leadership Law class and an active member of the Young Lawyers Division in the early days of his career.

The TBA Mock Trial Committee has opened registration for the 2021 Tennessee High School Mock Trial Competition for both teams and volunteers. Because of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, this year’s event will be held virtually on the Empire Mock Trial platform. Also, rather than the traditional 14 district competitions, the qualifying competitions will be based on the state’s three grand divisions. Grand division competitions will be held simultaneously the weekend of Feb. 19-21 with nearly 70 teams vying for a spot at the state competition. Finalists will be announced on March 1. The state competition will take place March 19-21. Learn more about the registration process and get links to the registration forms here.

Tennessee House Minority Leader Karen Camper is asking Gov. Bill Lee to order the legislature to hold its sessions online when the 112th General Assembly convenes, Tennessee Lookout reports. She also called on the governor to give his State of the State address virtually. Camper, one of several lawmakers who has tested positive for COVID-19, noted in her letter to the governor that Tennessee is the “epicenter” for COVID-19 infections, leading the world in cases per capita. The governor did not respond to questions about Camper’s requests. The General Assembly is set to convene Jan. 12 for the new session, but then will recess until Jan. 19 for a special session called by Gov. Lee to deal with education issues caused by the pandemic.

The temporary hold on all on-site visitations at the Bradley County Jail instituted on Dec. 11 has been extended to Jan. 19, Chattanoogan.com reports. In a statement announcing the move, Bradley County Sheriff Steve Lawson said, “After careful evaluation of the current status of COVID-19 numbers in our area, [we] have extended the temporary hold on all on-site visitations.” Remote visitations are accessible through a video chat platform. For more information, visit the Inmate Services page on the sheriff department's website.

Life for lawyers has changed. Distance communication is here to stay (at least for a while). Dangers of using remote technologies are real. New paradigms about lawyer liability and the ethical implications for lawyers who want to make their voices heard on the many pressing issues of the day continue to present challenges. In this three-hour program set for next Tuesday, the “CLE Performer” Stuart Teicher will explore these and other challenges lawyers will continue to face in a post-COVID world.

Chaos erupted in the nation's capital today as supporters of President Donald Trump swarmed the U.S. Capitol building, prompting both the House and Senate chambers to be evacuated and the building put on lockdown, the Tennessean reports. Doors were barricaded, windows broken and a woman was shot and killed. As of late afternoon, 13 people had been arrested. The incident began after protestors left a pro-Trump rally on the National Mall while Congress was considering certification of electoral votes from the states. Tennessee’s representatives in Congress condemned the actions, as did TBA President Michelle Greenway Sellers. In a statement, Sellers said, “The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) condemns today’s senseless violence at the U.S. Capitol during the certification of the Electoral College vote. The TBA is and remains dedicated to safeguarding the rule of law and the underlying principles outlined in the U.S. Constitution. Law and justice are essential components of our democracy, as is the peaceful transition of power from one elected president to the next.  We call upon all state and federal elected leaders to strongly denounce the violence and work together to restore faith in our democratic institutions.”

Gov. Bill Lee this week announced the appointment of Clarence Carter as the new commissioner of the Department of Human Services, the Nashville Post reports. Carter, who succeeds Danielle Barnes, will come to Tennessee from Washington, D.C., where he has been director of the Office of Family Assistance and the acting director of the Office of Community Services at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families. He previously was head of the Arizona Department of Economic Security.

Third-generation trial attorney James Gray Robinson offers 10 New Year’s resolutions for lawyers in a recent issue of the ABA Journal. His recommendations are designed to increase resiliency and lower stress and anxiety. They include: being deliberate about planning time for work, family and well-being; reconnecting with those who are important to you; building relationships with other lawyers; keeping inspirational quotes and funny jokes handy; taking five minute breaks every few hours; and getting help from a local Lawyer’s Assistance Program if experiencing trouble sleeping or feeling depressed or exhausted. After 27 years of practicing law, Robinson took a break in 2004 feeling burned out and emotionally spent. He spent 16 years doing extensive research and innovative training to help those facing burnout. Today he is again a licensed attorney.

Tennessee is set to receive more than $1.1 billion in new federal funding for K-12 education through Congress' latest $900 billion coronavirus relief package, the Tennessean reports. The U.S. Department of Education is urging states and educators to use the funding to fully reopen K-12 schools in-person and to "take immediate action to address the unprecedented learning loss" caused by a lack of in-person school. The move comes as the Tennessee legislature is poised to hold a special session this month on education issues.