The TBA Young Lawyers Division and Knoxville Bar Association, in partnership with the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, the University of Tennessee College of Law and the Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, will host a virtual Debt Relief Legal Advice Clinic for pre-screened individuals on Nov. 7. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Suzanne H. Bauknight will begin the clinic with an overview about debt issues, the bankruptcy system and reasons for and against seeking bankruptcy protection. After the overview, clients will be paired with volunteer attorneys in virtual break-out rooms to confidentially discuss debt relief options. The clinic is open to residents of Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier and Union counties. Those seeking advice must register and qualify in advance by emailing their name and phone number to yldclinics@tnbar.org no later than Oct. 23. Law students will follow up with prospective clients to determine eligibility. For more information, contact YLD board member Alix Rogers.

Kingsport lawyer Thomas David Dossett died Oct. 4 at 87. A 1955 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law, Dossett joined the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General Corps and later became chief of military justice for the 24th Infantry Division. After completing his military service, Dossett returned to Kingsport and with Bill Todd formed the firm of Todd & Dossett. He practiced with the firm for more than 60 years. Dossett also served on many regional and statewide boards over the years, including the East Tennessee Historical Society and the Netherland Inn Association. A private service for family was held. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 100 W. Church Circle, Kingsport, TN 37660 or The Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee, 1020 Jericho Dr., Kingsport, TN 37663.

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee today began four days of hearings on the nomination of U.S. Supreme Court Justice nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Today’s session focused on opening statements from committee members, introduction of the nominee and opening comments from Judge Barrett. The Washington Post has her statement. Committee Chair Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, also announced today that Barrett has received a "well qualified" rating from a majority of the American Bar Association Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, while a minority of the committee rated her as “qualified.” The ABA Journal has more on that development. Hearings continue tomorrow and Wednesday with questions from committee members. On Thursday, interest groups in support of and opposed to Barrett’s nomination will testify.

Tennessee judges had an opportunity to learn more about the state’s human trafficking problem during a recent online training session organized by the Administrative Office of the Courts. During the session, which was planned in partnership with End Slavery Tennessee, Epic Girl and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, judges heard experts discuss the scope of the problem, initiatives to identify youths most at danger, and efforts to crack down on the crime. Studies show that 72% of counties have reported sex trafficking of minors, with the highest concentrations in counties with higher levels of child poverty, and 85% have reported trafficking cases in general. Read more about how the issue is impacting the state.

U.S. Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett graduated from Rhodes College in Memphis in 1994. The child of a French teacher and lawyer, Barrett knew she would choose one of those careers but it was her time at the college that “put her on the path that would later qualify her for a lifetime appointment to the highest court,” the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports. Though she first leaned towards teaching, it was a pro-con list created her senior year that finally cemented her decision to pursue a career in the law. And though Rhodes has recognized her achievements over the years, more than 1,500 alumni have signed a letter expressing concerns about her nomination, The Hill reports.

Lawyers’ personal relationships with opposing counsels may create a conflict under the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, according to a new ethics opinion from the ABA’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility. Model Rule 1.7(a)(2) prohibits lawyers from representing a client if there is a significant risk that the lawyer’s representation will be materially limited by a personal interest of the lawyer. Personal interest is defined as when a lawyer is “closely related by blood or marriage” to opposing counsels. Formal Opinion 494, released Wednesday, expands the definition to include intimate relationships, friendships and acquaintances. Read more here.

The death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has renewed interest in her life and career, and an article in the ABA Journal reports that two films based on her life will be re-released to theaters. Focus Features will re-release “On the Basis of Sex,” which begins in 1956 with Ginsburg starting her first year as a student at Harvard Law School and then proceeds to capture the difficulties and discrimination faced by women attempting to enter the legal profession at that time. Magnolia Pictures will re-release the documentary “RBG,” which chronicles the life of Ginsburg as a justice, weaving together interviews with her children and former clerks to tell her story. Both films originally were released in 2018.

The Tennessee Board of Law Examiners reports that applications to sit for the February 2021 Uniform Bar Examination will be accepted starting Monday. The initial deadline is Dec. 1. The final deadline is Dec. 21. For more information about deadlines and application requirements, visit the board’s website.

COVID-19 outbreaks have been shuttering municipal buildings across the state, WPLN reports. Lebanon's city hall closed after employees tested positive for the virus. Clarksville’s police department closed public access to its lobbies through Oct. 24 after several positive tests among staff. The small town of Monterey, in Putnam County, closed its city hall after two positive tests among employees. At the end of September, Davidson County’s Juvenile Justice Center reverted to only emergency hearings after multiple court employees fell ill, including Judge Sheila Calloway. In Millersville, which straddles Sumner and Robertson counties, ill employees prompted a city hall closure in August.

Tennessee Senior Judge Don Ash of Murfreesboro has been appointed to hear a case involving allegations that 10th Judicial District Attorney General Steve Crump was blackmailed into obtaining a murder conviction against Miranda Cheatham, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the death of her husband. He is the third judge to consider the case: 10th Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Andrew Mark Freiberg and 12th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Justin Angel recused themselves. Crump has denied the allegations. Cheatham’s lawyer is seeking a new trial based on the claim. WRCB-TV has more.