Abortion restrictions signed into law in Tennessee in 2020 will remain blocked after a ruling Friday from a three-judge panel of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Tennessean reports. The law, among other provisions, blocks the procedure as early as six weeks or if the doctor knows the patient is seeking an abortion for certain reasons. Less than an hour after Gov. Lee signed the law in July 2020, U.S. District Judge William L. Campbell issued a preliminary injunction. The 6th Circuit has now agreed with him saying a regulation that creates a substantial obstacle to an abortion is invalid. Senior Judge Martha Craig Daughtrey penned the majority opinion. A representative for the Attorney General's Office said it plans to seek further review of the case.

Dr. Anming Hu, the former University of Tennessee professor caught up in an FBI investigation into spying, was acquitted last week by U.S. District Judge Tom Varlan, Knoxnews reports. Hu had faced charges that he hid a dual professorship with a Chinese university. The Justice Department attempted to prosecute Hu twice after indicting him on wire fraud and making false statements. A jury deadlocked on those charges this past summer. In dismissing the case, Varlan said no reasonable jury would infer that holding a professorship at a Chinese university barred Hu from working on federally funded research.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Friday appointed A. Blake Neill to serve as circuit court judge for the 25th Judicial District. Neill immediately fills a vacancy created by retirement of Joe H. Walker III on July 1. Neill was formerly a partner at Matthews, Rhea and Neill. He is a graduate of Union University, Samford University Divinity School and University of Memphis School of Law. The 25th Judicial District covers Fayette, Hardeman, Lauderdale, McNairy and Tipton counties. Read more from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Tennessee Rep. Glen Casada, R-Franklin, and 72 other state House Republicans are calling for a special session in response to President Joe Biden's newly-announced vaccine policy, the Nashville Post reports. The new policy, to be administered by OSHA, requires companies with 100 or more employees to mandate vaccines or test employees for COVID-19 on a weekly basis. Casada said the group wants the session to weigh the options for challenging the plan. In related news, Tennessee’s top officials, including Attorney General Herbert Slatery, are reviewing the requirement, Mainstreet Nashville reports. 

The Knoxville Bar Association’s Diversity in the Profession Committee will present "Difficult Conversation" on Oct. 15 from noon to 1 p.m. EDT. The free event will feature Dr. Avice Reid, who will discuss racial disparities, circumstances that create them, how those served by the legal profession have changed, and how to create an environment of trust, accountability and empathy. Reid is immediate past chair of Leadership Knoxville. She formerly served as senior manager of information technology at the Tennessee Valley Authority and senior director of community relations for the city of Knoxville.

The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office is observing National Voter Registration Month in September by leading voter-registration efforts in schools and businesses, the Johnson City Press reports. The office also has launched the Anne Dallas Dudley award for high schools that register at least 85% of their eligible students to vote. Any Tennessee business or organization can join “Your Vote Matters” by registering at GoVoteTN.gov.

The Memphis Bar Association’s Access to Justice Committee is accepting nominations for its 2021 Pro Bono Awards. Nominations in the following categories are due by Sept. 24: judge, law firm, legal department, attorney, public interest attorney/professional and law student. Applications should include the individual’s name and contact information as well as a brief statement supporting the nomination. Winners will be announced at the Pro Bono Awards Ceremony at the end of October.

A federal judge has alerted the U.S. Marshals Service to at least one threat made to a Collierville family who is suing Gov. Bill Lee over his mask opt-out order for schools. U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl Lipman also asked attorneys for the parents in the case to notify her of any other threats received, the Commercial Appeal reports. According to a police report, the family has received multiple online messages since they brought a suit to federal court, but one Facebook post was particularly “alarming” police said.

Make plans now to attend the TBA’s annual Health Law Primer and Forum being offered virtually this year. The Primer, which will run from noon to 4:30 p.m. CDT on Oct. 20, will provide an introduction to health law practice, including an overview of Tennessee law, fraud and abuse fundamentals, licensing and contracting. Then on Oct. 21-22, the annual Health Law Forum will provide a deeper dive into transactions, fraud and abuse, physician discipline, claims coding, HIPAA, recent state court cases, and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. That program provides 15 hours of CLE credit.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will conduct two clinics this week for those with questions about housing and renters’ rights, bankruptcy, medical bills, debt collection, domestic violence, SNAP benefits and unemployment benefits. Tomorrow, the group will hold a phone clinic at 2 p.m. CDT. The first 15 callers will be accepted. Then on Wednesday, the group will hold a clinic for veterans from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at Operation Stand Down, 1125 12th Ave. S. Nashville 37203. To volunteer, contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or call 615-780-7131. See the list of all September clinics.