The Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) today honored the Tennessee Supreme Court for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic during the first day of the organization’s Equal Justice University (EJU) conference. The conference, held virtually this year, kicked off with a video of TALS Board and EJU Chair DarKenya Waller and TALS Executive Director Ann Pruitt delivering a special memento to Justice Jeff Bivins, who served as chief justice for the majority of the pandemic. Waller and Pruitt praised Bivins for his leadership of the court, and its work to keep state courts open and accessible during the pandemic. They presented Bivins with a personalized COVID can opener, adding that, just like Bivins, “it has all the tools to keep everything open.” Watch the full video on the Tennessee State Courts website.

A federal judge in Nashville yesterday delayed proceedings in a challenge to Gov. Bill Lee’s mask opt out order, instead waiting for the results of a Williamson County and Franklin Special School District school board meeting, the Tennessean reports. That school board meeting took place last night and both districts chose to extend existing mask mandates into January. Chief Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee was set to hear arguments yesterday for both a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against Lee’s order, which allows parents to opt their children out of school mask mandates. Similar suits have been filed in Shelby and Knox counties. "I'm not inclined to issue orders without knowing the effect," Crenshaw said yesterday. He added that extending or ending local mask mandates may change the tenor of the lawsuit. Arguments in the case will be heard on Oct. 5, the same day Lee’s order can expire.

The U.S. Supreme Court has set a date to hear a Mississippi case that could pose a serious challenge to Roe v. Wade, NPR reports. Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization tests whether all state laws that ban pre-viability abortions are unconstitutional. The high court agreed to hear the case earlier this year and yesterday set the date for Dec. 1. The scheduling announcement comes weeks after the court declined to intervene in a new Texas law that bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected and awards private citizens $10,000 for successfully suing anyone receiving, performing or helping facilitate an abortion. According to the Associated Press, the first lawsuits under Texas’ new law have been filed against Dr. Alan Braid, who last week publicly revealed that he had defied the law. He is being sued by two former lawyers from Arkansas and Illinois.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee, in partnership with McNabb Center, YWCA of Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley and the Knoxville Family Justice Center will hold a free legal advice clinic for victims of domestic violence on Oct. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon EDT. The clinic will be held at the Knoxville Family Justice Center, 400 Harriet Tubman St., Knoxville 37915. Masks will be required and social distancing observed. Those interested in volunteering should contact Caitlin Torney at Legal Aid of East Tennessee ctorney@laet.org.

Dyersburg lawyer Noel Hugh “Skip” Riley II died Sept. 15 at 76. After earning a law degree in 1972 from Memphis State University, Riley began practicing law in Dyersburg and served there for almost 50 years. He was an avid fisherman and duck hunter, loved to play racquetball, and was passionate about the Tennessee VOLS. Funeral services were held yesterday at the Curry Funeral Home in Dyersburg. Interment followed in the New Haven Cemetery in Ridgely. Memorial donations may be made to Ridgely First United Methodist Church, 120 S. Church St., Ridgely, TN 38080 or Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, 848 Adams Ave., Memphis, TN 38103.

The American Bar Association (ABA) launched the 2021 Student Debt Week of Action today. The week is dedicated to bringing attention to the need for additional student loan debt relief, including through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Each day, the group will offer insights into this critical issue and resources for lawyers to reach out to elected officials. See the schedule of events or access the State Bar Toolkit.

The Nashville chapter of the American Marketing Association will hold a free event on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) next Monday from 4-6 p.m. in the Vince Gill Room at Belmont University's Curb Events Center. Suzanne Reed, chief marketing officer at LBMC, will discuss why marketers should be involved in DEI programs and conversations. Joining her will be Dr. José González, assistant professor of management and entrepreneurship at Belmont University and co-founder of Conexión Américas; Jacqueline Hayes, principal and chief marketing strategist at Crayons & Markers; and Kyle McCluskey, account supervisor and DEI Committee member at GS&F. Register here.

Longtime Wilson County General Sessions Judge Haywood Barry will retire effective Dec. 31, after nearly five decades in courtrooms and public service, the Tennessean reports. At that time, the Wilson County Commission will elect someone to fill Barry’s seat until the 2022 election. Barry was elected General Sessions Division II judge in 2014. He had previously announced he would not seek re-election at the end of the current term. Prior to joining the bench, Barry served on the Lebanon City Council, was a substitute judge throughout Middle Tennessee and served as Wilson County General Sessions judge in Division I for 24 years. Barry also been an active member in the Tennessee General Session Judges Conference and several legal and judicial organizations.

The Tennessee Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Affairs is warning consumers about flood damaged vehicles that may appear in used car markets following Hurricane Ida. In the past, vehicles from hurricane impacted areas have been sold to unsuspecting consumers without proper disclosure, the office reports. To avoid purchasing a flood-damaged vehicle, consumers should check a car’s history using its VIN number, review the title before signing a contract or paying money, examine the car for signs of flood damage, and get the car inspected by an independent mechanic. Learn more here.

Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III is leading a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general applauding legislative proposals to modernize federal antitrust laws. In a letter sent to congressional leaders today, the attorneys general urged them to continue improving several bills under consideration. The group also recommends the addition of provisions that would further protect consumers from unlawful and irresponsible mergers and business practices, and to facilitate competition and innovation.