The United Nations' top court for disputes between states ordered Russia yesterday to immediately halt its military operations in Ukraine, saying it was “profoundly concerned” by Moscow’s use of force. Two weeks ago, Ukraine asked the International Court of Justice to intervene, arguing Russia violated the 1948 Genocide Convention by falsely accusing Ukraine of committing genocide and using that as a pretext for the ongoing invasion. Countries who refuse to abide by court orders can be referred to the U.N. Security Council, though Russia holds veto power there, the Associated Press reports.

The 41st Annual Tennessee State High School Mock Trial Competition will take place March 25-26 at the Historic Davidson County Courthouse in downtown Nashville — the first in-person competition in two years. The roster of competitors is now set with 14 teams: two teams from Agathos Classical School in Columbia; Clarksville High School; Farragut High School; two teams from Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga; Knoxville Catholic High School, Memphis University School; two teams from Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville; St. Mary's Episcopal School in Memphis; Signal Mountain High School; Unicoi County High School; and Warren County High School. The state competition is sponsored by the TBA Young Lawyers Division and will involve 150 students and 100 attorneys, sitting judges and law student volunteers. Thank you to Belmont College of Law and University of Memphis School of Law for sponsoring this year’s competition. Learn more about the competition.

A bill that would require DNA proof of paternity before an unmarried man signs a child's birth certificate is making its way through the state legislature, News 5 reports. The bill, HB2698, is sponsored by Rep. Antonio Parkinson, D-Memphis. It passed the House Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee yesterday and now heads to the Civil Justice Committee. The Senate version of the bill was scheduled for a floor vote today. Parkinson says the bill is necessary to protect those forced to pay child support after finding out a child they thought was their own was not. The Tennessee Department of Human Services has expressed concern that the proposal could affect compliance with federal regulations.

Circuit Court Clerk Debbie Moss has announced she is seeking reelection to the post, which serves the Wilson County Circuit, Criminal, Juvenile and General Session courts. Moss touts her work providing technological upgrades to the courts, including a newly rebuilt website that now offers more information, the ability to pay fines online and an expansion of e-filing for civil cases. She also says she has hired two new deputy clerks, one who is bilingual and one who is proficient in sign language. Since taking office, Moss has served as a board member and president of the Middle Tennessee Court Clerks Association, and as a committee member on the State Court Clerks Legislative and Education committees. She also currently serves as president of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Wilson County. Read her campaign announcement in the Wilson Post.

The TBA's Disability Law Section will host a one-hour webcast, Disability Law: Past Relevant Work Issues, March 24 at 2:30 p.m. CDT. Moderated by section executive council member Chris George of George & George, the program will focus on classifying past relevant work properly for both DDS and Vocational Experts. Often proper job classification is the dispositive issue in a case if the claimant is above age 50, so getting accurate descriptions of past relevant work is essential. Since this is a roundtable style program, attendees are encouraged to ask questions throughout the hour. Register before 1:30 p.m. CDT on March 24 to receive the Zoom email invitation.

The American Bar Association is hosting a free webinar tomorrow from 1-2 p.m. EDT to introduce interested attorneys to the animal law practice. Speakers include TBA member Daina Bray with Yale Law School's Law, Ethics & Animals Program; Professor Raj Reddy of the Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis & Clark Law School; Jodi Medoff with Mercy For Animals; and Los Angeles-based policy lawyer Fran Arricale. Register here and then tune in to learn more about working in this growing area of the law or taking on a pro bono case.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee will hold its “Heritage of Justice Jubilee” March 24 at the Tipton-Haynes Historic Site in Johnson City. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. EDT. The event will feature an awards ceremony recognizing local attorneys and organizations who provided exemplary pro bono service in 2021, a silent auction, music and BBQ. Tickets are available for $35 online or at the door. Contact Pro Bono Project Managing Attorney Caitlin Torney, 865-251-4951 with any questions.

The federal judiciary this week took action on two issues that have raised red flags for Congress. First, a group of judges and officials tasked with reviewing the judiciary's approach to workplace sexual harassment and other misconduct has recommended several reforms to improve how allegations are addressed. The report comes out as Congress is set to hold hearings on the issue. Read more from the courts. Second, the Judicial Conference yesterday approved automating the release of judges' financial disclosure reports and amending its conflict screening policy. That move comes as Congress is considering whether more stringent requirements are needed. Read a release from the courts. Reuters has more on both stories.

U.S. President Joe Biden today delivered remarks on the Violence Against Women Act as an alarming spike in domestic violence has coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, Reuters reports. Biden signed legislation into law yesterday to extend and expand the provisions of the act. The new law expands protections for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, broadens access to legal services for survivors, and provides more resources and training programs for law enforcement. The new law also will do more for survivors in rural areas and underserved communities, the president said. Get full details here. The Violence Against Women Act was first written by Biden in 1994 when he was a U.S. senator. It expired under then-President Donald Trump in 2019.

A bill to expand the federal E-Verify program in the state progressed in the Tennessee Senate yesterday as part of an effort to crack down on the employment of undocumented workers, Tennessee Lookout reports. The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee approved SB1780 after voting to increase the employee threshold. As introduced, the bill would have applied to businesses with 25 employees. The committee changed that to 35. Current law requires businesses with 50 employees or more to use E-Verify. The committee also voted to protect employers if an unauthorized employee applies for workers compensation due to an injury on the job. The state House approved its version of the bill earlier this month. Immigration advocates oppose the change, saying Tennessee already has one of the strictest E-verify laws in the nation.