The TBA Real Estate Law Section, in conjunction with the Tennessee Land Title Association, will host the 2020 Hot Topics Forum on Nov. 13. The forum, which will be offered exclusively as a live virtual program, will run from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. CST. Attendees will hear presentations on case law updates, legislative updates, HOAs, commercial real estate, force majeure, multi-jurisdictional matters and the unauthorized practice of the law.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee is seeking two full-time staff attorneys to work in Johnson City. One general litigation attorney will work in LAET’s office. The other will work out of the Johnson City Family Justice Center and should have experience in domestic violence litigation. Candidates for both positions must have at least one year of relevant experience, a commitment to equal access to justice, and a demonstrated record of exceptional legal work. Applicants should submit a letter of interest, resume, writing sample and three references to Crystal Lugo, Human Resources Specialist, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, 535 Chestnut St., Ste. 360, Chattanooga, TN 37405 or clugo@laet.org.

For the first time since 1925, Dickson County court will now be held in the City of Dickson, the Tennessean reports. Health requirements related to the COVID-19 pandemic and a backlog of 1,200 cases prompted the venue change and trials will now take place at the War Memorial Building in downtown Dickson. Dickson County court was last held in the City of Dickson in 1925, the same year the state condemned the county’s courthouse on Main Street. Then, in April 1927, the county “quarterly court,” which was the previous name for the county commission, voted to move the Dickson County seat and courthouse to Charlotte. Dickson County Circuit Court Judge David Wolfe got the idea to use the 87-year-old War Memorial Building, noting that the courtrooms in Charlotte didn’t have enough space for jury members to stay six feet apart in the jury box. Wolfe said an improved sound system has been set up for the War Memorial Building space, and a YouTube channel has been created to view trials. Everyone who enters the court is also required to wear masks, including those who testify. 

Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a frontrunner to fill the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy created by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, is a Rhodes College graduate, the Daily Memphian reports. Barrett, who was also a favorite in 2018 to fill a SCOTUS vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, is a member of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. President Donald Trump met with Barrett yesterday and tweeted that he planned to nominate a woman to the post by the end of the week. Others on the short list are Appeals Court Judge Allison Jones Rushing and White House Deputy Counsel Kate Todd, according to reports. If selected, Barrett would be the second Rhodes College graduate to hold a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, following Justice Abe Fortas, who graduated in 1930 from Rhodes when it was called Southwestern.

ABA Free Legal Answers, the online pro bono website modeled as a virtual legal clinic, has experienced significant growth in the past six months due to limitations on in-person support for low-income clients in need of legal assistance. The program is actively launched in 41 states and multiple international jurisdictions; New Jersey and 44 of California’s 58 counties joined earlier this year. The American Bar Association is adding a federal page for the website to provide assistance to military personnel and veterans in need of legal assistance, as well those facing immigration issues. Free Legal Answers was established 10 years ago as a joint project of the TBA, Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) and Baker Donelson. Over 7,000 volunteer attorneys are registered to help, and the program answered its 100,000th question in March. More information is available in a brief promotional video produced by the ABA.

U.S. District Judge Jon McCalla on Monday agreed to several changes to a 41-year old consent decree governing police surveillance, the Daily Memphian reports, but rejected two other requests from the city. McCalla accepted many of the modifications agreed upon beforehand by the city and the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, but he denied the city’s request that it be allowed to work jointly with other law enforcement agencies and its request to share information with private companies. McCalla ruled in 2018 that the city violated the decree when it conducted surveillance on protestors, prompting the city’s request for modifications.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands this week announced it has promoted Brittany Curry to serve as director of development. Curry joined LAS in 2017 as the firm’s hiring manager and Nashville office manager. In her new role, she will be responsible for managing fundraising strategy and fostering a culture of deep-rooted philanthropy and advocacy for the largest nonprofit law firm in Tennessee. Before joining Legal Aid Society, Curry worked as an office coordinator and account manager for TA Staffing. Her other previous work experience includes management, marketing and acting as a client liaison. See the full press release from LAS.

Memphis-area lawyers, judges, law professors and others came together on Monday night to memorialize the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who died Friday, the Daily Memphians reports. Memphis lawyer Jessica L. Indingaro organized the event that celebrated Ginsburg’s wit, courage and her dedication to equal treatment of women under the law. Thirtieth Circuit Court Judge Gina C. Higgins, 4th Division, spoke to roughly 100 attendees from the steps of the Judge D’Army Bailey Courthouse. “We do not accept that your death is the death of an era,” she said. “Instead, it is the birth of … those who will make their voices known.” Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Camille R. McMullen, the first African American woman to serve on a state appellate court and Katharine Schaffzin, dean of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law were also among those who spoke. The Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association, the Memphis Bar Association, AAUW-Memphis and the National Council of Negro Women (Memphis Chapter) sponsored the event.

The Administrative Office of the Courts today released a statement from the family of Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge Richard Dinkins regarding the status of his health. According to the statement, Dinkins suffered a stroke in late July while undergoing a successful heart valve replacement. “While his mind is clear, he has had some difficulty breathing,” the statement says. “The recovery process may take weeks, but we are all very hopeful.” Read the full statement on the AOC’s website.

Details on memorial services have been announced for Memphis attorney and Baker Donelson Senior Counsel Leo M. Bearman Jr., who died yesterday afternoon at 85. According to the Daily Memphian, out of safety concerns, funeral services will be held tomorrow at 10 a.m. for immediate family only. Baker Donelson issued a statement on Bearman’s passing today, noting the high regard held for him within the legal community and detailing several high profile cases in his distinguished legal career that spanned more than 50 years. Bearman discusses his career with law partner Jill M. Steinberg in a 2010 interview found on the Tennessee Bar Foundation’s YouTube page.