The Tennessee Supreme Court today extended the deadline for comments on a proposal from the Nashville Bar Association that would require all attorneys to complete two hours of continuing education in diversity, inclusion, equity and elimination of bias. Those who would like to comment on the proposal now have until March 3, 2021, to do so. The TBA requested the extension to allow time for its House of Delegates and Board of Governors to consider the issue at meetings in January and February.

The law license of Shelby County lawyer Debra Dawnn Davis Antoine was transferred to disability inactive status today. Antoine may not practice law on inactive status but may petition the court for reinstatement by showing that her disability has been removed.

The federal trial over Tennessee’s so-called “abortion reversal law,” got underway yesterday in Nashville, WPLN reports. Women’s rights groups are challenging the law, which requires doctors to inform women undergoing drug-induced abortions that the procedure can be halted once started. It also would make failure to comply a Class E felony. Medical groups say the claim is not backed up by science. The law was originally set to take effect last month but was blocked by a temporary restraining order in September.

Shelby County’s new General Sessions Court Clerk Joe Brown recently found $12 million sitting in one of his office’s accounts with the Shelby County Trustee. He does know where it came from but believes it is money that should have been paid to businesses and citizens over the years, the Commercial Appeal reports. Brown has alerted County Mayor Lee Harris and the Shelby County Commission. In a letter to officials he says, “There seems to be a disparity in the accountability of money from previous administrations and this is not something that I can assume responsibility for, nor take ownership of.” The funds are in an account for the general sessions civil court. By comparison, the account for the criminal court contains $2 million.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands will hold two phone clinics this week for members of the public with questions about housing and renters’ rights, bankruptcy, medical bills, debt collection, domestic violence, SNAP benefits and unemployment benefits. Clinics will take place tomorrow from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. All times central. LAS is looking for attorneys to help answer questions. To volunteer contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or call 615-780-7131. See all clinics for the month of December.

Two high school mock trial teams from Tennessee participated in the first-ever virtual Empire New York World Championship last month against a field of close to 40 teams from the United States, Canada and China. Montgomery Bell Academy of Nashville won its division in the preliminary rounds and placed second behind Venture Academy of Stockton, California, in the final round. Two MBA students received awards, including first place for Most Outstanding Witness and third place for Outstanding Attorney. The team is coached by Nashville lawyers Wade Cowan and Tracy Hancock and MBA faculty member Michael Stewart. The Chattanooga/Southeast Tennessee Home Education Association of Chattanooga also participated, finishing in 10th place. Chancellor Jeff Atherton coaches that team. The Hamilton County Herald has more on the international competition.

Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III today announced a settlement with Walker Stalkers and its founder James Frazier. The agreement prevents Frazier from engaging in the kind of conduct that led to the failure to provide promised ticket refunds for canceled events. It also obliges him to pay restitution to eligible consumers via a website portal where customers can request reimbursements. Frazier launched Walker Stalkers in 2013 and put on dozens of events in the United States and London designed for fans to meet actors from popular television shows, including “The Walking Dead.” Beginning in 2018, several events were canceled and promised refunds to ticketholders were never made. The attorney general sued the company in February alleging deceptive business practices.

Need a few (or all) of your CLE hours before Dec. 31? Though we are not able to offer our traditional in-person Year End CLE Blast this year, the TBA is ready to serve up safe, convenient and last-minute CLE throughout the month of December. Register today to receive updates throughout the month about programs as they become available. Want to get a head start? Visit cle.tba.org for upcoming programming and a current list of packages available. Stay safe and remember, you can fulfill all of your CLE requirements for 2020 with approved distance learning from the TBA. Thanks to our presenting sponsor Clio for supporting quality continuing education for Tennessee lawyers.

What can lawyers learn from the electoral college process as well as presidential victories and concessions? Join us tomorrow for a one-hour live webcast from Middle Tennessee State University Professor of Political Science John Vile, as he guides us through the history of presidential transitions, and the role lawyers can play when elections are contested. The program begins at 1 p.m. CST.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended 17 attorneys last week for failure to pay the annual registration fee and/or file proof that client funds are being held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the fee suspension order or the IOLTA suspension order. See the list of all lawyers suspended for fee and IOLTA violations in 2020 or access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.