BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2018)
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BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE
SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE
10 CADILLAC DRIVE, SUITE 220
BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE 37027
TELEPHONE: (615) 361-7500
(800) 486-5714
FAX: (615) 367-2480
E-MAIL: ethics@tbpr.org
Website: www.tbpr.org
RELEASE OF INFORMATION
RE: HOMER L. CODY, BPR #10755
CONTACT: WILLIAM C. MOODY
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
April 20, 2018
SHELBY COUNTY LAWYER HELD IN CRIMINAL CONTEMPT
On April 19, 2018, the Supreme Court adopted the recommendation of a Special Master and held Homer
L. Cody of Memphis, Tennessee in criminal contempt and sentenced him to serve thirty days in jail. The Court
previously had entered an Order of Enforcement on July 27, 2015 suspending Mr. Codyâs license to practice
law for one-hundred eighty days; a second Order of Enforcement on July 7, 2016 suspending Mr. Codyâs
license for one year; and a third Order of Enforcement on August 11, 2017 suspending Mr. Codyâs license for
two years, in connection with three judgments of Hearing Panels issued on Petitions for Discipline filed by the
Board of Professional Responsibility.
The Board received a complaint that after the effective date of the first two suspensions, Mr. Cody
continued to practice law by filing two pleadings in a case in the Shelby County Chancery Court, and that after
the effective date of the third suspension, Mr. Cody continued to practice law by filing a third pleading in the
same case. Following an investigation, the Board filed a Petition for Contempt on August 11, 2017. The
Supreme Court appointed a Special Master who held a hearing on December 4, 2017. In the report and
recommendation filed on February 1, 2018, the Special Master found Mr. Cody guilty beyond a reasonable
doubt of three counts of criminal contempt pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. 29-9-102, and sentenced him to ten
days in jail plus a $50.00 fine for each.
On February 8, 2018, the Supreme Court ordered Mr. Cody to show cause why the recommendation
should not be adopted. By the April 19, 2018 Order, the Court has adopted the recommendation finding that,
while on suspension, Mr. Cody willfully and intentionally engaged in three separate acts of criminal contempt
by filing the pleadings in the Chancery Court for Shelby County.
The Court sentenced Mr. Cody to a period of incarceration of thirty days and ordered him to pay a fine
of $150.00. Mr. Cody was ordered to surrender to the Shelby County Sheriffâs Department by May 4, 2018.
Cody 2758-9.doc