The Community Legal Center (CLC) and Memphis Area Legal Services Inc. (MALS) are joining forces to host a hybrid virtual/drive-through wills clinic this month. On Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. CST, attorneys will meet with qualified applicants via Zoom to gather information for the will. Applicants will then attend a drive-through event on Nov. 20 from noon until 2 p.m. CST to sign the wills and have them witnessed and notarized. The clinic is limited to advice only and there is no expectation that CLC, MALS or other volunteer attorneys will follow up with clients. Register for the event here.

State Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges that he violated campaign finance laws, the Daily Memphian reports. Kelsey appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey S. Frensley and surrendered his passport before being released on conditions. He is charged with one count each of conspiracy, directing “soft money” to a federal candidate, directing soft money from a state officeholder, making excessive campaign contributions and accepting excessive campaign contributions. Prosecutors allege the charges stem from Kelsey’s 2016 Congressional run. In a statement last week, Kelsey called the investigation a “political witch hunt.” He is represented by attorney Ty Howard.

The 16th Judicial District Circuit and Chancery court judges have announced they will each be running for reelection in 2022. Judges J. Mark Rogers, Jimmy Turner, Barry Tidwell, B. Jo Atwood, Darrell Scarlett and Chancellor Howard Wilson currently serve in the 16th Judicial District, which covers Rutherford and Cannon counties. “As judges, they are dedicated to the administration of justice and committed to upholding our laws and constitution,” a press release from the campaign says. Read the press release for more information on each judge.

Wyatt Nowlin Taylor, a former judge in Bedford County, died on Oct. 25. He was 89. Taylor served in the U.S. Army for three years, then earned his law degree from the Nashville School of Law and went into private practice in Shelbyville in 1964. Throughout his legal career, Taylor served as city attorney and was a judge in the Bedford County General Sessions and Juvenile courts for 18 years. Visitation and funeral services were held over the weekend for Taylor in Shelbyville. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to New Destiny Dog Rescue, P.O. Box 42, Wartrace, TN 37183.

Join the TBA Administrative Law Section for its annual forum on Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. CDT. Worth two general and one dual CLE hours, the program will begin with a session covering Supreme Court changes to the Rules of Professional Conduct and the Rules for Disciplinary Enforcement. It will also feature a session on recent updates related to the Tennessee Public Records and Open Meetings Act and a panel discussion that explores the UAPA and environmental contested cases. Learn more and register for the program here.

The University of Tennessee College of Law has announced five finalists in its search for dean. Candidates are: Melanie B. Jacobs, Michigan State University College of Law; Zachary A. Kramer, Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law; Lonnie. T. Brown Jr., University of Georgia School of Law; Nicola A. Boothe, Boston University School of Law; and W. Jonathan Cardi, Wake Forest University School of Law. Each finalist will give a community presentation on campus beginning next week. Visit the College of Law’s website for a presentation schedule and to read more about the candidates.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has two cases set for Wednesday’s docket via video conference. It will live stream the oral arguments on its YouTube page. The first case will begin at 9 a.m. while the second case will begin at 10:30 a.m. CDT. The cases are Tommie Phillips v. State and State v. Douglas E. Linville. Read more about the cases.

Twenty-four members, or about half, of the Nashville Metro Council are calling on Mayor John Cooper to review recent actions of the state legislature and prepare for possible legal action, Mainstreet Nashville reports. The members said legislation passed this weekend that limits the role of localities in responding to COVID-19 was “unprecedented and dangerous." If the bill is signed into law, several Metro policies could be reversed, including a mask requirement for public school children and in libraries and community centers.

U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty has promoted Michael Sullivan to his state director, succeeding Jim Henry who is retiring, the Nashville Post reports. Sullivan was campaign manager for Hagerty’s 2020 election effort. Previously, he was executive director of the Tennessee Republican Party and has worked on GOP campaigns in several states. He had been deputy state director under Henry, who previously served as deputy governor under Gov. Bill Haslam, minority leader in the state House, chair of the Tennessee Republican Party, and commissioner of the state Department of Children’s Services.

The Tennessee Supreme Court last week denied a petition asking the court to create a new Rule 31B that would govern voluntary arbitration in domestic relations cases. The petition was drafted by the TBA Family Law Executive Council and filed on Sept 23. The court did not include any explanation in the order and simply stated, “After careful consideration, the Court respectfully denies the Petition.”