The Tennessee Supreme Court today extended the deadline to file comments on a proposed change to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 8, RPC 1.15 to April 3. The TBA last week asked the court to extend the deadline, which was set to expire today. The court had issued an order on Dec. 3, 2019, asking for comments on proposed changes to what efforts must be made after a lawyer learns of unidentified funds in an IOLTA account. The change is being sought by the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility and the Tennessee Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection.

Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Nashville, is formally asking state Attorney General Herbert Slatery to issue a legal opinion on whether state lawmakers can "impair or eliminate the contractual terms" among homeowners "without violating the protections afforded by the Tennessee and U.S. Constitutions." His question references a bill proposed by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Mike Bell, which seeks to wade into a battle between homeowner associations and absentee corporate landlords over short-term rentals. After Bell’s bill stalled last year, he began working on changes but opposition remains, the Times Free Press reports.

U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper of Nashville announced Friday that he has invited Michele Johnson, executive director of the Tennessee Justice Center, to attend the 2020 State of the Union address as his guest. Cooper said he invited Johnson because she “has devoted her career to helping underserved Tennesseans access the health care that they deserve.” With the state’s decision not to expand Medicaid and to seek a special waiver to block grant federal aid, Cooper says he wanted to highlight the importance of health care at the annual event tomorrow night in Washington, D.C.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee says his second address to the Tennessee legislature, set for tonight, will focus on the economy, education and criminal justice reform, Chattanoogan.com reports. According to Nashville Public Radio, the education piece will focus on the Basic Education Program, the formula the state uses to fund public schools. The formula has been at the center of controversy with many public school advocates saying it is outdated and underestimates teacher salaries. Lee will also be making in-person presentations to the western and eastern parts of the state in the coming weeks. The address tonight begins at 6 p.m. central and can be watched on Facebook Live.

Monday is the deadline to register online or submit a voter registration application to a local county election commission office if you want to vote in the state’s March 3 presidential primary. Early voting will begin Feb. 12 and run Mondays through Saturdays through Feb. 25. The Secretary of State's Office also announced that the ballot is set and can be viewed online. Learn more from WBIR.

Drones are consuming Tennessee’s airspace at a dramatically increasing rate — and you won't be surprised to learn that brings up a lot of questions about who can do what, and in who's space? In the February Tennessee Bar Journal, James L. Cresswell Jr. addresses these timely issues. Also, Russell Fowler takes us back to 1869 when Julius J. DuBose, a Klan leader, crime boss and ruthless judge seemed unstoppable. His power ran unchecked until Memphis lawyer Luke Edward Wright, along with Tennessee's Constitution, was able to rein him in. In her column, TBA President Sarah Y. Sheppeard writes about the work of the Criminal Justice Task Force, established by Gov. Bill Lee last year. She points out that the system is broken, and the group's recommendations deserve support. Also, in this issue, learn more about how to help eliminate the state's Professional Privilege Tax.

Four lawyers were reinstated to the practice of law in January. Sullivan County lawyer Steven Carl Frazier was reinstated to the practice of law on Jan. 31. He had been suspended on Jan. 17 for failure to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility. Ohio lawyer John Edward Gilliland was reinstated on Jan. 17 retroactive to Dec. 27, 2019. He had been placed on military exempt status in June 2010. Georgia lawyer Wesley Calvin Jackson was reinstated to the practice of law on Jan. 31 retroactive to Jan. 17. Jackson was placed on inactive status in May 2014. Finally, Shelby County lawyer Lauren Siegel Spicer was reinstated on Jan. 15 retroactive to Dec. 20, 2019. She was placed on inactive status in October 2012.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands and Mercy Health Clinic will hold a legal clinic on Thursday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 908 Murfreesboro Rd., Franklin 37064. To volunteer or for more information call 800-238-1443.

The Vanderbilt University Law School chapter of the American Constitution Society is sponsoring a conversation with voting rights expert Joshua Douglas Thursday at noon in the Flynn Auditorium. Douglas teaches elections rights and voting law at the University of Kentucky College of Law. His recent book, “Vote for US: How to Take Back Our Elections and Change the Future of Voting,” looks at the efforts being taken to make our voting system more accessible, reliable and effective. The event is free and open to the public, and lunch will be provided.

Are you or someone you know interested in demonstrating a new tech product or service at the TBA’s upcoming Law Tech Program? The event will take place Feb. 21 at the Nashville School of Law. Over the course of the day, attendees will have the opportunity to visit with exhibitors during three 30-minute breaks. To learn more about this opportunity, contact TBA Sponsorship Coordinator Stacey Shrader Joslin, 615-277-3211.