The Nashville Bar Foundation announced Bone McAllester Norton attorney Edward M. Yarbrough as the 2020 recipient of the David Rutherford Award. The award is given to a fellow who exemplifies the memory and ideals of David Rutherford, which include professionalism, charitable contributions in the legal field and in the community and the spirit of collegiality among bench and bar. The NBF also inducted the 2020 Class of Fellows into the foundation. See the full list of Fellows here.

The Tennessee Judiciary Museum will be featured on the NBC television show “Roots Less Traveled” tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. CDT. The show features pairs of family members who set out to solve mysteries from their family trees. Part of tomorrow’s episode was shot at the museum, which is operated by the Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society and located in the former library space of the Tennessee Supreme Court Building in Nashville. Take a look at the trailer for tomorrow’s episode.

In a unanimous opinion today in Ken Smith Auto Parts v. Michael F. Thomas, the Tennessee Supreme Court clarified the procedure and jurisdiction for an appeal from a county general sessions court to a state circuit court. The court found that when defendants appeal a general sessions judgment to circuit court, but then fail to appear for the circuit court trial, Tennessee law requires circuit courts to enter a default judgment against the defendant, subject to enforcement in the circuit court, and retain jurisdiction over that case. Read more from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has delayed the execution of Oscar Franklin Smith, citing the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tennessean reports. Smith was set to be put to death on June 4, but his attorneys last week filed a motion to delay the execution, arguing it would possibly expose witnesses, lawyers and others to COVID-19. The defense team also claimed that public safety measures hindered their ability to represent Smith. Smith, 69, was convicted in the 1989 murders of Judith Lynn Smith, 35; Chad Burnett, 16; and Jason Burnett, 13, in Nashville. His new execution date is set for February 2021.

In addition to the currently scheduled bar examination set for July 29 through July 30, the Tennessee Supreme Court today announced the Board of Law Examiners will offer an additional exam on Sept. 30 through Oct. 1. The new October exam will only be offered in Knoxville, while the July exam will be given in Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville. Those who have submitted an application for the July exam will be given the option of moving to the October exam and new applicants can choose between the two sets of dates. “Because of on-going concerns about social distancing during the examination, the addition of another exam in a very large space will give the Board and applicants the flexibility to provide maximum space between test-takers, as well as provide a safety net in the event we remain under 'Safer at Home' orders or the NCBE does not deploy a July Exam,” said President of the Board of Law Examiners Bill Harbison.

University of Tennessee College of Law Professor and Legal Writing Director Lucy Jewel has been elected to the board of directors of the Legal Writing Institute. The 14-member board is responsible for establishing policies and priorities and the planning and operation of the organization’s publications, projects, events, conferences and workshops. Jewel was one of 23 other candidates vying for one of the seven positions available and she will serve a four-year term. The Legal Writing Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving legal communication, building the discipline of legal writing and improving the status of legal writing faculty across the country.

Baker Donelson this week announced firm-wide pro bono efforts focused on addressing legal needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Chattanoogan, the firm will focus on multiple opportunities, including providing remote counsel and legal representation, answering questions on the ABA’s Free Legal Answers website, providing pro bono services to non-profit organizations and more. As part of Baker Donelson’s existing pro bono efforts, each attorney can earn billable hour credit for up to 100 hours per year of pro bono work.

The TBA’s Hot Topics in Real Estate program is now available in just one click! Produced in cooperation with the Tennessee Land Title Association, topics in this online program include legislative updates, split closing issues, FIRPTA, opportunity zones, ethics and more. Not a member of the Real Estate Law Section? Join the section for additional savings and benefits.

Gov. Bill Lee today announced a new Economic Recovery Group — a joint effort between state departments, members of the legislature and leaders from the private sector — to guide a safe reboot of Tennessee’s economy, Chattanoogan.com reports. The group will be led by Tennessee Department of Tourism Development Commissioner Mark Ezell. Sammie Arnold, assistant commissioner of Rural Development at the Department of Economic and Community Development, will serve as chief of staff. In related news, the state’s four largest cities — Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville — also announced their own economic recovery task force today. The Tennessee Major Metros Economic Restart Task Force will be made up of business leaders and health care professionals in each city. Lawyers among the group are Wade Hinton with Unum in Chattanooga and Alan Crone with the Crone Law Firm in Memphis. Read more in the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

New resources and updates are continuously being added to the TBA’s Pandemic Resource Center. This week we have added sections on working remotely and providing pro bono services in a pandemic. Check it out and let us know if you or your firm have resources we should add.