The Tennessee Department of Revenue will hold its next free webinar on state tax issues on Nov. 30 at 9 a.m. CST. The December session will focus on tax registration and reporting for special events in Tennessee. Participants will learn how to register as a special event promoter or vendor and will have the opportunity to ask questions of department staff.

Putnam County attorney Albert Fitzpatrick Officer III was reinstated to the active practice of law yesterday. He had been suspended on March 11 for six years, with six months to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. The Tennessee Supreme Court conditioned his reinstatement on engagement of a practice monitor who will meet with him monthly during the probationary period to assess his case load, timeliness of tasks, adequacy of communication with clients, and accounting procedures. The court also directed Officer to continue his current TLAP monitoring agreement and follow all recommendations of the agency during the probation period.

Pervis Payne’s death penalty sentence was officially vacated by the Shelby County Criminal Court this morning, WREG reports. District Attorney Amy Weirich announced last week that her office would drop pursuit of the death penalty against Payne and withdraw a request for a hearing on the issue of his intellectual disability. The office instead will call for imposition of two life sentences. Defense attorney Kelley Henry, who hugged an emotional Payne in court, says she will continue to fight for a full exoneration. Short of that, she will seek to have the two sentences run concurrently, instead of consecutively. A resentencing hearing is set for Dec. 13. Local Memphis.com has video of today’s court proceeding.

Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Tony Parker will retire and take over as president of the Knoxville nonprofit 4th Purpose Foundation in January, the Nashville Post reports. The foundation, which focuses on reentry and rehabilitation work for inmates, was started by Josh Smith, who served time in prison on drug charges but was pardoned by President Donald Trump. Parker spent nearly 40 years in the state prison system, starting as a correctional officer and ending as commissioner under governors Bill Haslam and Bill Lee.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) recently awarded its 2021 Technology Initiative Grants (TIG) to 29 legal services organizations, including the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands. The funded projects are designed to provide greater access to high-quality legal assistance for low-income Americans and enhance the operations of legal aid organizations. LAS will use its $134,529 grant to produce multi-language, online legal information videos for low-income residents of Tennessee. The project will incorporate technology that works across mobile devices, tablets and desktop computers. LAS also says it will partner with organizations across the state to ensure the videos reach a wide audience.

The U.S. government today asked the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals to immediately lift a stay on its COVID-19 workplace vaccine rule, The Hill reports. The administration’s vaccine and testing mandate was put on hold earlier this month by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Today's 55-page filing argues that delaying implementation of the rule will “endanger many thousands of people and would likely cost many lives per day.” The administration, through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), issued a six-month vaccinate-or-test requirement in early November, sparking legal challenges from states, employers and religious groups. All challenges have been consolidated with the 6th Circuit.

The TBA will be closing at noon CST tomorrow and will remain closed all day on Thursday and Friday in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. The virtual office will reopen Monday at 8 a.m. CST.

The TBA is offering a rare discount on select CLE packages as part of its Cyber Monday promotion. TBA members save up to 40%! Program topics include ethics updates, attorney wellness, law practice management, legislative updates, diversity and inclusion and more. Sale ends Nov. 30. Learn more and view package options.

The National Bar Association (NBA) and the National Haitian American Elected Officials Network (NHAEON) have filed a joint amicus brief in support of Haitian migrants. The groups have filed the brief against U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayokras to “to prevent DHS from illegally deporting and continually denying due process to the thousands of Haitian migrant children, woman, and men who have journeyed to the United States to seek refuge from the perilous conditions in Haiti.” The brief addresses the issue of the potential irreparable harm suffered if the migrants are continually expelled under Title 42 without an asylum hearing. The NBA has partnered with the Haitian Bridge Alliance to provide pro bono legal services to those affected by the Haitian migrant crisis and is still in need of volunteers. Those interested can contact Johanna Leblanc to get involved.

The National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel (NCCRC) is seeking a legal research specialist to help maintain and expand its repository of legal research resources regarding the 50-state status of the right to counsel in a variety of civil areas, including questions around scope of the right, timing, the rights of various parties and appellate issues. The remote-work position is funded through December 2023 with the possibility of extension. To apply, please submit a cover letter explaining your interest, resume, two legal writing samples and three references to John Pollock with “NCCRC Legal Research Specialist Position” in the subject line. Read more about the position here.