BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2025)
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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
Website: www.tbpr.org
RELEASE OF INFORMATION
RE: JOSHUA HOWARD POLK, BPR #021647
CONTACT: TIFFANY D. TANT-SHAFER
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
July 9, 2025
WAYNE COUNTY LAWYER CENSURED
On July 9, 2025, Joshua Howard Polk, an attorney licensed to practice law in Tennessee, received a
Public Censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Mr. Polk was retained to defend clients in a water rights case out of Wayne County Chancery Court. In
early 2022, a third party joined the litigation and upon consulting with his clients, Mr. Polk determined that a
conflict of interest was created by the joinder. The information that Mr. Polk previously learned from his
former co-counsel could have materially impacted his continued representation of his current clients and there
was a risk that the information Mr. Polk gained would materially limit his ability to continue in the case. This
created a concurrent conflict of interest and a mandated withdrawal by Mr. Polk. While it was reasonable for
Mr. Polk to want to help his clients identify subsequent counsel, he waited fourteen (14) months to withdraw
resulting in unnecessary delay in the litigation, halting any progress on the case, and postponing a hearing on
the opposing partyâs Motion for Summary Judgment that had been pending for several months.
By these acts, Mr. Polk has violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3 (diligence), 1.7(a)(2) (conflict of
interest), 1.16(a) (declining or terminating representation), 3.2 (expediting litigation), and 8.4(d) (misconduct)
and is hereby Publicly Censured for these violations.
A Public Censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it does not affect the attorneyâs ability to
practice law.
Polk 75033-6-rel.doc