MEMBER CENTER
Friday, Aug. 20, 2021
Federal Responses to the Looming Eviction Crisis: 3 Bills to Watch
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of American renters have fallen behind on their rent obligations because of wage and job losses. While eviction and housing insecurity are not new problems in this country, the pandemic has brought these issues into the national conversation in a way that has little historical precedent. In this exclusive TBJ Select article Jennifer S. Prusak, who is an associate clinical professor of law at Vanderbilt Law School and director of its Housing Law Clinic, writes about the crisis, sources of federal assistance, and recently introduced legislation in Congress that would provide significant additional protections for low-income tenants. The bills — the Eviction Crisis Act of 2021, the Emergency Eviction Enforcement Act of 2021, and the Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act of 2021— aim to help fill the gap left behind by the expiration of the CDC moratorium.
"Welcome to summer in Tennessee, when the temps are so warm and the humidity so high, it’s like being wrapped in a damp blanket," Sherie Edwards writes in her first installment of "Wellness Corner," which will be a standing feature this year that goes along with her President's Perspective column. This month, it's all about water!
Pro Bono Case Leads to Major Successes for Mexican Lawyer
In this installment of "History's Verdict," Russell Fowler writes about how, in 1835, a priest who mistreated a group of poor, illiterate Zapotec Indians led to the rise of one of the greatest lawyers and leaders Mexico has seen. Fowler follows the life of Benito Juárez, from his humble beginning to his many accomplishments, who through it all was renowned for helping the poor for free if he felt their cause just. "Juárez never wavered in his devotion to democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, separation of church and state and a free market economy," Fowler writes. "And it all began with a pro bono case."
Next Up: Our Supreme Court Justice on Twitter
If you're on Twitter you likely know one of Tennessee's rock star tweeters, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee. In the upcoming issue of the Tennessee Bar Journal, Lee outlines her strategies to provide information while adhering to proper standards. Other articles cover bail hearings, trust preeminence and the details of a pretty nasty Tennessee judge who helped traffic thousands of children. Columns include torts, family law, trusts and estates, and employment law. Watch for it Sept. 1.
Tennessee Bar Journal
View Current Issue