The Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS) has launched a new annual award program to recognize lawyers and judges who use innovation to make the American legal system work better. The organization hopes the award will showcase innovators, risk takers, visionaries and emerging leaders who bring a reform-minded approach to the improvement of the legal system. Nominations are being accepted through Dec. 8. Candidates should be within their first 15 years of practice. Learn more about the Alli Gerkman Legal Visionary Award and how to submit a nomination.

How do you as a lawyer working remotely meet your ethical duties of competence, confidentiality and supervision? And how do you make sure your tech systems are secure? This one-hour program — sponsored by Attorney's Insurance Mutual of the South — looks at model ethics rules applicable to the remote environment and the realities of cybersecurity, including how to recognize phishing emails, how to avoid ransomware attacks and how to protect electronic devices. Birmingham lawyer J.S. Chris Christie with Sirote & Permutt PC digs into the specifics with actual examples of security compromises and provides recommendations for protecting yourself and your firm.

Rep. Mike Carter, R-Ooltewah, today announced that he has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the Tennessean reports. Carter contracted COVID-19 before the legislature’s special session in August and was placed on oxygen in the intensive care unit at Chattanooga’s Erlanger hospital. After experiencing “lingering symptoms,” Carter visited Vanderbilt, where doctors told him they believe many of those symptoms have been the result of the cancer. "My doctors tell me I should be able to do everything I'd been doing before and I intend to continue serving in the legislature," Carter said in his statement. He has begun treatment at Vanderbilt.

The Davidson County Criminal Courts are seeking comments from the public and attorneys on proposed rules to address e-filing. Comments may be submitted electronically to the Criminal Court Clerk’s Office by emailing cccemailfiling@jis.nashville.org with “E-Filing Rules Comments” in the subject line. Written comments may be mailed to the attention of Julius Sloss, Office of the Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk, 408 2nd Ave. N., Ste. 2120, Nashville, 37201. The deadline to submit comments is Dec. 10.    

Tennessee’s Senate Republican Caucus gathered today in Nashville to vote on top leadership roles, the Tennessee Journal reports. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally was renominated to a third term, Sen. Jack Johnson, R- Franklin, will continue on as Majority Leader and Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston, will remain Republican Caucus Chairman. The first session of the 112th General Assembly will open on Jan. 12. TNJ has a full list of those elected to Senate Republican Caucus leadership.

Friends of the late Chief U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee Pamela L. Reeves have created a way for the public to honor her legacy and her passion for developing young lawyers as future leaders. A fund has been established to honor Reeves at the University of Tennessee College of Law Leadership Institute. It will support the Institute’s ongoing mission of helping students identify and develop their leadership skills, professional values and career path. To donate to the fund, make checks payable to the UT College of Law with a note that it is for the Pam Reeves Memorial Fund and mail it to Ellen Cole, UT College of Law, 1505 West Cumberland Avenue, Suite 248, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996. Cole can be reached via email or at 615-974-6704.

According to its facilitators, Nashville-based Homeless Court is starting to draw the attention of local public defenders and district attorneys. The pilot program was launched by Baker Donelson in September and is presided over by Nashville Judge Lynda Jones. Baker Donelson associate Hannah Cole says the court’s goal is two-fold. It is “to remove legal barriers to housing and employment for people who are homeless and then to connect our participants with service providers in town,” she said. The Administrative Office of the Courts takes a closer look at the program and profiles the unique situations of some of its clients. Read more on the AOC’s website.

The Tennessee Bar Association this week is launching a survey of Tennessee lawyers to learn your thoughts on current legal issues and find out how we can better serve attorneys across the state. This year we have also added questions related to diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as attorney well-being. Your participation in this survey will also help the TBA meet its objectives of informing, educating, promoting and supporting the Tennessee legal community. This video from TBA President Michelle Greenway Sellers tells more about why it is important for you to take part. Watch for an email from TBASurvey@tnbar.org with details on how to access the survey.

John Tarpley, shareholder at Lewis Thomason’s Nashville office, is being honored with this year’s ALFA International Nathan Fishbach Attorney of the Year award. ALFA is a global legal network consisting of 150 independent law firms and its Attorney of the Year award is given annually to a person who exemplifies the best attributes of an attorney. According to ALFA’s website, Tarpley was recognized this year for his “service and dedication” that has “led the association through the challenges of 2020 by creating an inclusive framework for the organization and its member firms moving forward.” Tarpley is a past president of the TBA and currently represents the TBA in the American Bar Association House of Delegates. He handles complex litigation in the areas of transportation, tort, product liability and a wide range of insurance-related matters for Lewis Thomason.

A federal judge today delayed the execution of federal death row inmate Lisa Montgomery after her two Tennessee-based public defenders contracted the COVID-19 virus, the Commercial Appeal reports. Assistant federal public defenders, Kelley Henry and Amy Harwell, had asked for an injunction to postpone the execution until they could prepare a thorough clemency appeal. Montgomery was scheduled to die by lethal injection on Dec. 8, the first female to be put to death by the U.S. government in more than six decades. Her execution has been delayed until at least Dec. 31 under an order filed today by U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss. A new date has not yet been set. If Henry and Harwell are still too unwell to finalize the clemency petition by Dec. 24, they are ordered to add other attorneys or ask the court to appoint additional qualified counsel to the case.