Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich said her office is working to release some incarcerated at the county jail and has dismissed “hundreds” of cases of those recently charged in an effort to reduce the jail’s population and stem the spread of COVID-19. Weirich also said her office is working with defense attorneys to fast-track cases awaiting guilty pleas, the Memphis Flyer reports. A process that usually takes months has been reduced to days, she said. Finally, Weirich also said she is sending hundreds of letters to out-of-custody defendants telling them their case is being dismissed and they do not need to come back to court. “If you get a letter like this, it is not a joke,” she stated.

President Donald Trump announced yesterday that the federal government is extending its guidance on social distancing through April in a continued effort to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Washington Post reports. Other government representatives advised that the death rate from the virus is expected to peak in two weeks. The decision to extend the guidance reportedly came after health officials predicted that more than two million deaths would occur if the nation did not continue strict measures to respond to the virus.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee yesterday issued a statewide order closing non-essential businesses and asking Tennesseans to stay home for two weeks in an effort to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The order is similar to restrictions already put in place by mayors in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and governors in at least 30 other states, the Tennessean reports. It does not go as far as a few states that have mandated “shelter in place” policies. The order will take effect at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday and last through April 14. During this time, only essential businesses are to continue operating and residents are to stay home “as much as possible.” Essential services are defined to include legal services and judges, judicial branch employees, court personnel, jurors and grand jurors, as determined by the Judicial Branch.

“The TBA applauds Gov. Lee for recognizing the vital role attorneys play at this time of uncertainty and our ability to help Tennesseans,“ TBA President Sarah Sheppeard said. As the TBA stated in its previously published policy position, “Legal services are simply one of those continuing vital services that we need even as we continue to social distance and continue to combat the spread of COVID-19.”

The order also prohibits employers from requiring or allowing an employee who has tested positive for the virus to report to work until the employee has satisfied conditions for discontinuing home isolation under CDC guidelines. Finally, the governor issued a separate order specifically ordering the closure of salons, spas, concert venues, theaters and other indoor recreational facilities.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today issued an order soliciting comments on a proposed amendment to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 10B, Section 1. The amendment would change the language regarding timeliness of a filed motion for recusal or disqualification, replacing “timely filed” with “filed promptly after a party learns or reasonably should have learned of the facts establishing the basis for recusal.” The amendment also adds the following language: “The motion shall be filed no later than 10 days before trial, absent a showing of good cause which must be supported by an affidavit.” The deadline to comment is April 29.

Abbie Hudgens, the administrator of the state Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, reports that the following judges are being considered for reappointment in June: Brian Addington, Gray; Pamela Johnson, Knoxville; Lisa Lowe, Knoxville; Allen Phillips, Jackson; Deana Seymour, Chief Judge Kenneth Switzer, Nashville; and Thomas Wyatt, Chattanooga. She is asking lawyers to share any input they have regarding the reappointment of any or all of these jurists to assist in her decision-making. Please send comments to Abbie.Hudgens@tn.gov by April 30.

An investiture ceremony and reception for U.S. Magistrate Judge Cynthia Wyrick now will take place on Oct. 2 at 1:30 p.m. EDT at the James H. Quillen U.S. Courthouse, 220 West Depot Street, Greeneville. The ceremony originally had been scheduled to take place on April 17 but was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Wyrick, a former TBA president, was named federal magistrate judge in September and serves the court’s Northeastern Division. View the invitation or RSVP online.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands will hold its April legal clinics over the phone due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Local attorneys will offer advice on questions about housing and renters’ rights, bankruptcy, medical bills, debt collection, domestic violence, SNAP benefits and unemployment benefits. Those needing assistance may call 800-238-1443 on one of these dates to speak to an attorney. Please contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or 615-780-7131 for more information. Phone clinics planned for this week will take place Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. CDT each day.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today acted to help ease economic pressures on Tennessee attorneys appointed to provide counsel for indigent defendants. Specifically, the order increases the maximum dollar amount of claims that are exempt from judicial review in the ACAP system for court-appointed counsel. Court officials also outlined other steps attorneys could take to speed payments.

“We appreciate the AOC’s responsiveness to concerns of court appointed counsel and the recent steps to helping those hardworking lawyers receive proper compensation on an expedited basis,” TBA President Sarah Sheppeard said. A number of Tennessee lawyers have signed or sent letters requesting emergency action on interim billing so that attorneys who normally are paid at the end of a matter could have some financial relief during this current public health crisis. The TBA and AOC have been in talks daily about how to help attorneys during this time, and Sheppeard said, "We will continue to advocate for even more efficiencies and will determine the need for additional recommendations and filings in light of the Court’s order today."

“We understand that the Tennessee Supreme Court has been working diligently during this difficult time to issue Orders relevant to the current public health crisis and the continuation of the administration of justice in this state,” Sheppeard said. “The relaxation of in-person CLE requirements, directives to slow the spread of COVID-19 in jails and prisons, permitting declarations under penalty of perjury in lieu of a notary in court filings — in addition to several other orders — will go a long way to assist lawyers and their clients in staying safe while also upholding necessary obligations under the law.”

“I thank Chief Justice Bivins, the Tennessee Supreme Court and the AOC for their continued attention to this work and for adopting so many of the actions requested by our members as they navigate the next few months.”

The Nashville Arts & Business Council has announced the addition of Kara Sheridan as the legal consultant and program coordinator for Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts. She will oversee the pro bono program and manage recruitment and coordination of other volunteer efforts for the organization. A recent graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law, Sheridan also continues to practice law at an immigration firm in Franklin. The group also announced it is anticipating an increased demand for volunteer lawyers who can provide legal counsel to the creative community in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Areas of focus include contracts, entertainment, media, labor and employment, insurance and emergency aid resources. Those interested in volunteering can sign up here. Call 615-460-8274 or email vlpa@abcnashville.org for more information.

The TBA Administrative Law Section’s Executive Council has extended the application deadline for its law student writing competition by three weeks due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on law schools and students. The deadline is now April 24. Any student enrolled in a Tennessee law school during the 2019-2020 school year may enter. Submissions should be emailed to TBA Coordinator Chelsea Bennett. View information and rules for the writing competition. The section would like to thank Burr & Forman and Butler Snow for sponsoring the competition.