TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Feb 12, 2021

The Tennessee Supreme Court today issued an order taking action on several pandemic-related issues. First, the court will lift the current suspension of in-person court proceedings in termination of parental rights cases on March 1. Second, the court will lift the current suspension of all other in-person court proceedings in all state and local courts on March 15. Third, the court will maintain the current suspension of jury trials through March 31, though exceptions may be made by the chief justice. The order also directs all courts to follow the approved pandemic plan for their district, encourages remote proceedings to be used when possible, and limits who can be in the courtroom once in-person proceedings resume. In making these changes, the court cited the recent and continuing decline in the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the state. Read more from the court.