While eviction and housing insecurity are not new problems in this country, the pandemic has brought these issues into the national conversation in a way that has little historical precedent. Read this recent TBJ Select article by Jennifer S. Prusak, who is an associate clinical professor of law at Vanderbilt Law School and director of its Housing Law Clinic, about the crisis, sources of federal assistance, and recently introduced legislation in Congress that would provide significant additional protections for low-income tenants. The bills — the Eviction Crisis Act of 2021, the Emergency Eviction Enforcement Act of 2021, and the Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act of 2021— aim to help fill the gap left behind by the expected expiration of the CDC moratorium.

Save the date for a virtual debt relief clinic set for Oct. 2. The clinic is being planned by Legal Aid of East Tennessee and the Legal Aid Society and is sponsored by the TBA Young Lawyers Division, Knoxville Bar Association, Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission and Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services. Bankruptcy attorneys are needed to volunteer. Bankruptcy Judge Suzanne Bauknight will provide an overview of the process the morning of the clinic. Attorneys will then enter Zoom breakout rooms to meet with clients.

Knoxville lawyer Rufus Wilford Beamer Jr. died Friday. He was 78. A 1971 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law, Beamer practiced law for 50 years and enjoyed close relationships with many Knoxville lawyers. He tried cases in the Eastern District of Tennessee, the Tennessee Supreme Court and the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Funeral services will be private. Memorial donations may be made to The Rufus W. Beamer Fund c/o VA Tech Foundation, Inc., Office of University Development (0336), Blacksburg, VA 24061. The fund, established in honor of Beamer’s father, provides scholarships to graduate education students at Virginia Tech.

The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily halted a federal judge’s order that would have forced the government to reinstate a Trump administration policy that kept asylum seekers in Mexico while awaiting their day in court. Justice Samuel Alito issued a temporary stay late Friday night. It will remain in effect until Tuesday night so the court can consider filings in the case, the Associated Press reports. A federal judge in Texas had previously ordered the policy be reinstated Saturday. The Biden administration appealed the decision to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, and then to the high court, after the appellate court upheld the trial court's decision.

Knoxville area legal organizations will hold an in-person veterans’ legal advice clinic on Sept. 8 from noon to 2 p.m. EDT at the Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office, 1101 Liberty St. Those seeking advice should preregister at 865-637-0484. Lawyers who would like to volunteer can sign up online. Masks are optional but should be worn pursuant to CDC guidelines. Volunteers also must accept the terms of the KBA COVID-19 safety acknowledgement and liability waiver. Volunteers may choose to continue volunteering by telephone.

Following deadly flooding in Middle Tennessee this past weekend, the federal government reports it is in discussion with state leaders to help victims in Humphreys County, WKRN reports. At a press conference yesterday, President Joe Biden said the federal government stands “ready to offer ... support.” Gov. Bill Lee said his team is working on a request for an emergency declaration, which would bring federal assistance. After touring damaged areas, U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty said the devastation he saw was "absolutely heartbreaking.” Photo by AP

Landlords who have been challenging the Biden administration's eviction moratorium have again asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block the latest version, WSMV reports. The request was filed Friday evening with Chief Justice John Roberts. The court has since asked the Biden administration to respond to the motion by noon today. This is the second time the Supreme Court has been asked to weigh in on the matter. In June, on a 5-4 vote, it allowed a similar moratorium to continue. At the time, Justice Brett Kavanaugh indicated he would not support an additional extension unless enacted into law by Congress.

Madison County attorney Steve Maroney resigned from that post last week to prepare to take over as 26th Judicial District chancellor, the Jackson Sun reports. He received a standing ovation for his nine years of service. Maroney also will have to vacate two other positions he holds: attorney for the town of Three Way and Bolivar city attorney. The Madison County Commission and board of aldermen for Three Way will select new officers, while Bolivar Mayor Julian McTizic will appoint a replacement. Gov. Bill Lee appointed Maroney to the chancery court on Aug. 13. He replaces retired judge Jimmy Butler. Maroney will serve the rest of Butler’s term but also has said that he will run for his own term in 2022.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. attorney’s office for the Middle District of Tennessee are launching a joint campaign to remind residents of the importance of reporting hate crimes. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 117 hate crimes were committed in Tennessee during 2019, WKRN reports. “There has been a trend, and it’s slightly trending upwards,” says FBI Supervisory Special Agent Richard Baer. The offices will be conducting awareness sessions around the region. To report a hate crime, call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

The early returns on this year’s entering 1L classes confirm earlier predictions of a roaring fall 2021 law school admissions season. Data also shows that median LSAT scores are up, Pepperdine Law Dean Paul Caron writes in his Tax Prof Blog. The statistics were collected by Spivey Consulting Group and examined by Caron, who focuses on 13 schools on the U.S. News’ Top 50 Law Schools list.