Courses from the Environmental Law 2021 Forum are now available as a 1-Click package. The programs present timely information on legal issues including a PFAS update, a session on climate change law, a panel that covers the scope of the recent Middle Claiborne Aquifer litigation, and a discussion of the EPA's Environmental Justice and Title VI Initiatives. Attorneys can purchase individual sessions or the entire package.

The Jackson, Nashville and Knoxville Supreme Court Buildings were closed today due to inclement weather. Closures also included the Appellate Court Clerk's Offices, though e-filing remained available. Oral arguments for the Court of Criminal Appeals and the Court of Appeals were canceled and will be rescheduled. The Administrative Office of the Courts was working virtually, and the Tennessee Court of Workers' Compensation Claims said it would proceed with all scheduled telephone settlement approvals today and tomorrow. Other courts closed early today, including the Sumner County Juvenile Court; Campbell County General Sessions Court, courthouse and annexes; and Knox County Criminal and General Sessions courts. Gov. Bill Lee also closed state office buildings across the state. Tomorrow, all state trial courts and the Juvenile Justice Center in Davidson County will be closed for in-person proceedings though some will proceed with remote technologies.

Public education funding is set to take center stage when state lawmakers convene Tuesday for the second year of the 112th General Assembly, Tennessee Lookout reports. Last year, Gov. Bill Lee held the first of three special sessions to begin discussing how to reform the way funding is calculated. In October, the Tennessee education commissioner conducted a listening tour across the state. Those who support reform argue that the current funding formula offers no incentive for school districts to excel. Those opposed say the move is a slippery slope to school vouchers. Others question why the legislature is taking up such a complex issue in an election year.

Shelby County lawyer Christopher Lynn Taylor was censured today by the Tennessee Supreme Court. The court found that Taylor failed to respond to a motion for summary judgment and failed to timely inform his client of the pending motion and his failure to respond. Taylor entered a conditional guilty plea admitting his conduct violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 3.2 and 8.4(d). The court conditioned the censure on the payment of fees to the Board of Professional Responsibility.

Shelby County lawyer Darryl Wayne Humphrey was censured today by the Tennessee Supreme Court. The court found that after suspension from the practice of law, Humphrey filed motions to withdraw from pending cases in which he falsely stated the reasons for his suspension. He also failed to set motions to withdraw for hearing and failed to accurately inform his clients of the reasons for his suspension. These actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.16, 3.3 and 8.4.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland today defended the Justice Department’s (DOJ) approach to prosecuting those involved in the Jan. 6, 2020, attack on the U.S. Capitol, and signaled the potential for new charges, The Hill reports. “The actions we have taken thus far will not be our last,” he said. “The Justice Department remains committed to holding all January 6 perpetrators at any level, accountable under law, whether they were present that day, or were otherwise criminally responsible for the assault on our democracy.” Garland’s remarks come on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the attack and amid calls from some congressional leaders that the department should target elected leaders who may have helped fuel the attack. DOJ reports it has charged more than 725 defendants to date.

Ann Pruitt will leave her role as executive director of Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) at the end of March after nearly nine years of service. "Ann has been the driving force in statewide collaboration since beginning her tenure at TALS," Board Chair DarKenya Waller said. Under Pruitt's leadership, TALS developed and expanded innovations to support low-income and elderly Tennesseans, including Tennessee Free Legal Answers, HELP4TN.org, the Legal Wellness Checkup and chatbots to help those in crisis understand their civil legal options and connect them with resources. In addition to leading TALS, Pruitt served on the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission from 2013 to 2020, is a co-founder of the TBA Corporate Counsel Section and is a long-time member of the TBA Access to Justice Committee, which she currently chairs. 

The Tennessee Bar Foundation has awarded $750,000 from the Interest On Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program to 23 law-related organizations across the state. The grant amount for 2022 exceeds that of 2021 by $250,000, the foundation reports. The projects provide a wide array of services, including individual legal representation, dispute mediation, assistance for survivors of domestic violence, immigration counseling and housing advocacy. The complete list of organizations and awards is available here.

Deborah Enix-Ross, president-elect of the American Bar Association, is accepting nominations from those who are interested in filling positions on ABA standing and special committees, commissions and other entities. An ABA presidential appointment requires membership in the association and a desire to contribute to the group’s work. The online application portal is now live. Nominations must be received by Feb. 18 for consideration. For more information or to discuss the process please contact Appointments Committee Chair Michelle Behnke, 608-233-9024 or Vice-Chair Stephen Younger, 646-927-5565. For questions regarding the online application, contact Katy Englehart with the ABA.

The TBA and its Attorney Well Being Committee are launching a new self-guided challenge to help members establish new habits in 2022. The “Choose Your Path to Well Being” initiative offers three challenge areas: movement, which encourages more activity in daily life; nutrition, which encourages healthier food options and elimination of unhealthy foods; and mental health, which encourages more self-care. Participants can choose one, two or all three paths, set their own goals, and self-report on their results at the end of the challenge. To help members stay on track, the TBA has created a web resource with suggestions for activities to build strength in each of the paths. Participants also will receive emails to encourage their progress. And those who sign up to participate will be entered in a drawing that will be awarded during the Better Right Now program at the TBA Annual Convention in June. The deadline to sign up is Jan. 15. The wellness challenge is one of TBA President Sherie Edwards’ initiatives for 2022.