Sen. Lee Harris, D-Memphis, speaks to colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee on his bill to raise the pay of attorneys doing court-appointed work.

Athens attorney Bridget Willhite and TBA Executive Director Allan Ramsaur appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the need to raise the pay of attorneys doing court-appointed work.

Athens attorney Bridget Willhite before the House Civil Justice Subcommittee.

Rep. Mike Stewart, D-Nashville, presents his bill to raise the pay of attorneys doing court-appointed work to the House Civil Justice Subcommittee.

Effort to Raise Rate for Court Appointed Attorneys Presents in Legislative Committees

TBA House of Delegates member Bridget Willhite today told legislators about the immense burden court appointed work can be on a law office, especially in a more rural community like hers.

Appearing today before the House Civil Justice Subcommittee and Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committe, the Athens lawyer spoke in favor of SB1009 and its companion in the House, HB1025,

Both committees were engaged on the subject, with one legislator asking, "Is this conscripted labor?" The bill advancing a rate change to a minimum of $100 per hour was tabled pending the outcome of the task force on indigent representation advanced in SB649/HB141.

Task Forces on E-filing, Indigent Representation Advance in General Assembly

A bill establishing task forces to implement e-filing in Tennessee trial courts and to review changes to the appointment of counsel for indigent parties advanced out of the Senate Judiciary and House Civil Justice Subcommittees this week.

SB649/HB141 requires that both task forces be formed by July 15, and will be required to report their findings and recommendations by Dec. 5, 2015.

The task force on implementing e-filing will have nine members. The chief justice of the supreme court and the speakers of the senate and the house will each appoint three members to include: 3 attorneys; 2 persons who are not licensed attorneys or current circuit court clerks or clerk and masters; 2 state trial court judges; and 2 state circuit court clerks or clerk and masters.

The e-filing task force will report its findings by Dec. 5, 2015, with the hopes of instituting e-filing in Tennessee's trial courts by July 1, 2016.

The task force on indigent representation will also have nine members. The chief justice of the supreme court and the speakers of the senate and the house will each appoint three members, including: 3 attorneys; 3 persons who are not attorneys; and 3 three trial court judges. The task force will be named and established by July 1, 2015, and must report findings and recommendations by Dec. 5, 2015.