If you haven't yet completed your TBA survey of Tennessee lawyers, please do so now as the completion deadline is next week. We need to have strong responses from attorneys of different ages, genders, ethnicities, practice areas and geographical locations, so make sure your opinions are known. Also, if you have started the survey, but have not yet finished it, you can access it again and pick up where you left off. This video from TBA President Michelle Greenway Sellers tells more about why it is important for you to take part. You should have received an invitation email from TBASurvey@tnbar.org with details on how to access the survey. If you did not receive the email, let us know or wait for a reminder email coming out soon.

The list of candidates who successfully passed the fall 2020 Tennessee bar exam is now available. See the full list. Of the 677 people who completed the October assessment, 507 passed, for an overall pass rate of 74.89%. The first time pass rate was 82.36%.

Tennessee Public Defenders Conference Executive Director Patrick Frogge is appealing to Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeff Bivins, asking the high court to take action to prevent further spread of the COVID-19 virus, specifically in general sessions courts, Knox News reports. In a letter dated Nov. 24, Frogge wrote that attorneys who represent the poor and their clients are being endangered by judges who are continuing to hold in-person hearings despite the state's ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The state Supreme Court last month suspended all jury trials, but did not suspend all in-person hearings, meaning general sessions court judges were not required to change day-to-day operations. Frogge noted that, unlike judges and prosecutors, public defenders  must meet with clients inside local jails, where outbreaks of COVID-19 are now becoming common place, making them particularly vulnerable to the virus. Frogge is asking the Supreme Court to step in, but did not specify what actions he’d like them to take.

The commissioner and deputy commissioner of Tennessee’s Veterans Services have resigned following investigations into allegations of misconduct, the Tennessean reports. Gov. Bill Lee’s office yesterday confirmed that former commissioner Courtney Rogers and deputy commissioner Tilman Goins resigned the week of Thanksgiving after separate investigations were launched by the Department of Human Resources. Rogers is accused of subjecting employees to abusive behavior and using racial and homophobic stereotypes and slurs. Goins is accused of engaging in an inappropriate romantic relationship with a subordinate at the department. Goins’ attorney, Jesse Harbison, said her client has been wrongfully terminated. Rogers and Goins are former Republican state House members who entered office in 2012 and declined to seek reelection in 2018. They are among several ex-legislators hired by Lee after taking office.

Gov. Bill Lee is considering calling a special session to prioritize legislation related to schools' pandemic challenges, the Tennessean reports. Lee’s office hasn’t confirmed whether he will call the special session, but it would likely be held within the regular session, similar to a February 2015 special session called by former Gov. Bill Haslam for a failed Medicaid expansion proposal. Multiple legislative officials confirmed discussions were being held to take that same approach to try and pass education-related bills early in the year to allow school districts time to plan accordingly. If the special session isn’t called, taking up those bills in regular session could delay passage until spring. Measures could include holding teachers and students harmless for standardized testing scores, ensuring schools receive adequate funding next year and providing resources to bring children back up to speed after months away from the classroom.

President Donald Trump’s administration announced yesterday that it has complied with an order from a federal judge and fully restored the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, WBIR reports. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis in the Eastern District of New York on Friday ordered the administration to fully restore the program and for the Department of Homeland Security to post public notice that it was accepting applications again. The announcement was made hours before the deadline and DHS posted on its website that it is accepting new applications, petitions for two-year renewals and requests for permission to temporarily leave the U.S. President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to reinstate DACA when he takes office in January but permanent legal status and a path to citizenship would require congressional approval. 

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is now accepting applications for a Chancery Court Judge vacancy in the 30th Judicial District, which covers Shelby County. The vacancy was created by the retirement of Judge Walter L. Evans. Applications are due by noon CST on Dec. 22 and can be found on the Administrative Office of the Courts website. The commission will hold a virtual hearing on Feb. 2, 2021, at 9 a.m. CST, which will be livestreamed on the AOC’s YouTube page. If you would like to address the commission to express objection or support of a candidate, contact Ceesha Lofton by email or at 615-741-2687.

All matters in Soddy Daisy City Court are canceled for today and Dec. 15 due to public safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 virus, the Chattanoogan reports. Matters involving incarcerated individuals will continue via video conferencing and all other cases will be rescheduled for 2021. This includes all traffic-related cases and all criminal matters for persons on citation or bond. For more information about new court dates for any case, call the Soddy Daisy Court Clerk at 423-332-5323.

The Community Legal Center’s online auction is now live! Bid on last-minute gifts, stocking stuffers or something special for yourself, all while supporting the Memphis-based CLC. New items will be added daily, so make sure to keep checking back. All proceeds go to support the CLC’s mission to resolve legal problems, impact the community and change peoples’ lives by providing them access to justice.

The TBA’s annual Ethics Road Homeshow 2020 is happening tomorrow! We can’t take the show “on the road” this year so we are bringing the popular ethics tradition with Memphis lawyer Brian Faughnan directly to you. The live virtual program will focus on “Ethics Lessons from the Pandemic,” simultaneously looking at the years 1918 and 1968 and the challenges faced by attorneys during those difficult times. Join us from 1 to 4:15 p.m. CST and get those last-minute ethics hours. Remember: all 2020 CLE hours can be taken online and TBA members get discounted pricing on all CLE programs.