The state Senate on Monday passed a bill that could potentially hamper efforts to have the controversial Nathan Bedford Forrest bust removed from the Capitol, the Tennessean reports. In its original form, SB1694 would extend the life of the Capitol Commission, the group responsible for deciding the fate of the bust, which was scheduled to expire this year. However, the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Kerry Roberts, R-Springfield, also amended the legislation to add the House and Senate chief clerks to the commission. With both Republican-controlled chambers having expressed opposition to removing the bust, the two chief clerks could counter votes to have it removed. The amendment was never discussed or filed in a committee, which Roberts said was “strictly an oversight.” The bill now goes before the House.

Tennessee has reached an agreement with Harris Jewelry for its unlawful credit services business and deceptive and misleading representations related to that business. According to the Attorney General's office,  the store promoted and profited from a financing scheme called the “Harris Program," which was marketed to active duty service members as a way to establish or repair their credit. Customers were encouraged to select expensive jewelry to maximize the amount of credit extended, which Harris determined based on their branch of service and time remaining on active duty. Convoluted payment plans made it near impossible to determine the total cost of the transaction and the “retail” prices bore little resemblance to the amount paid at the end of the financing contract. Under the settlement, Harris is required to pay $800,000 in debt relief and refunds to certain consumers and will pay the state $306,000 if it defaults on any part of the judgement. Read the final judgement and complaint.

The TBA’s virtual 2020 Convention, which will take place entirely online the week of June 15, will offer several opportunities for lawyers to gather for roundtable discussions. Sessions include a Law Firm Managing Partners Roundtable on Monday, an In-House Counsel Roundtable and General Practice Roundtable on Tuesday, and a Diversity and Inclusion Roundtable on Wednesday. Check out all the roundtable options here. This year’s convention also is offering virtual law school gatherings. Connect with alumni from your law school and hear updates from the deans and other leaders. All convention programming is free for TBA members but registration is required.

TBA Member Insurance Solutions is partnering with Colonial Life to bring you special voluntary benefits. The benefits can be customized for each person at your firm, and can include life, short-term disability, critical illness and accident insurance. The plans can help to attract and retain talent at little or no cost to the employer. Get more information here. 

The state of Tennessee has filed an appeal to a Nashville judge's decision that would allow any registered voter in the state to cast a ballot by mail amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Tennessean reports. In the filing on Friday, Attorney General Herbert Slatery noted the “immense costs of processing a dramatic influx of absentee-ballot requests,” including finding space to store them and hiring ballot counters. He also pointed to issues with implementation that have taken place in other states that have quickly changed policies. The earlier ruling from Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle required the state to abandon its policy of only issuing absentee ballots in limited circumstances.

Chattanooga city courts will be closed for two weeks starting today after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19, the Times Free Press reports. The employee tested positive last Thursday. All clerk staff, city judges and their employees have been notified and tested and are now quarantining. The courts will be closed until June 18. Cases will be rescheduled and individuals are encouraged to call 311 for details about rescheduled dates and times. Anyone who attended court proceedings or visited the office between May 27 and June 4 is advised to monitor themselves for symptoms.

A joint effort by Republican leadership and Tennessee business groups aimed at reducing legal liability in COVID-19 related cases passed its first legislative hurdle Monday, the Nashville Post reports. The House Civil Justice Subcommittee moved the bill along to the full Judiciary Committee, which is scheduled to take up the measure tomorrow. The goal of the bill is to “eliminate as many frivolous suits as possible,” according to sponsor House Judiciary Chair Michael Curcio, R-Dickson. The bill has the support of Republican leadership, Gov. Bill Lee and business groups. Matt Hardin, president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, testified about the bill before the subcommittee vote, arguing that its protections are too broad and could result in “unintended consequences.”

As the Fall 2020 admissions cycle comes into the home stretch, the Law School Admission Council says the number of law school applicants is down 3.2%, while the number of LSAT scores submitted is down 6.8%. For those who did take the LSAT, scores in the 120-164 band are down 8.8% but up 4.5% in the 165-180 band. Applicants are down in all regions of the country but the greatest decline is in the Midwest. White, Hispanic and African American applications are down with the largest decrease coming from African American students. Bucking the trend, Asian applicants are up 1.4%. See an analysis of the data from the Tax Prof Blog by Paul L. Caron, dean of the Pepperdine School of Law. Because of the economic downturn and delays in test taking due to the pandemic, however, some observers think these numbers will rise in the coming days, Above the Law reports.

TBA partner Clio will hold four online “Meet Ups” this month to explore changes law firms can make to adapt to new realities presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Join legal and industry professionals to learn more about how your firm can leverage technology, embrace automation and improve traditional processes. Each of the following sessions will be held at 1 p.m. CDT: June 11, Communication Tools for Law Firm Efficiency; June 17, Automating Document Management; June 24, Malpractice & Security in a New Digital Age; and June 30, Embracing Technology for Long-Term Success.

“As lawyers, we aspire to uphold the rule of law, ensure equal treatment for all and protect individual rights” but “In recent days, we have seen how far we are from our aspirations,” Vanderbilt University Law School Dean Chris Guthrie said after the recent killings of African Americans. He announced a faculty task force to explore the role that faculty can play in enhancing racial justice and plans to work with the school’s Black Law Students Association chapter and other student groups to do the same. Read the full statement here. The BLSA also released a statement calling on classmates, faculty and the administration to denounce “police brutality, white supremacy, and all forms of racial injustice by taking action.”