BPR 2026 Annual Report.pdf (2026)
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45th Annual Discipline Report
Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Board of Professional Responsibility
Board of Professional Responsibility
Organization and Composition
The Tennessee Supreme Court regulates and supervises the practice of law in Tennessee pursuant
to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9. The Court appoints twelve members to the Board of Professional
Responsibility (the Board) to effectuate Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9 and the Courtâs disciplinary enforcement.
The Board consists of nine (9) attorneys and three (3) public (non-attorney) members who serve
three-year terms and geographically represent the entire state. In 2025-2026, Board members volunteered
1198.6 hours and received no compensation for their service. Members of the Board include:
R. Culver Schmid (Chair)
Ginger Wilson Buchanan (Vice-Chair)
Richard Briggs (Lay Member)
Jimmy Dunn
Jef Feibelman
Charles K. Grant
Christopher Jay Ingrum
Dr. Carol Johnson-Dean (Lay Member)
Jim Maddux (Lay Member)
Barbara Medley
Kirk Moore
Jonathan Steen
The Court appoints a Chief Disciplinary Counsel who reports to the Board. The Board also employs
attorneys as Disciplinary Counsel and support staff to assist with attorney registration; consumer
assistance; investigation and litigation. A staff directory is attached as Exhibit A.
District Committee Members
The Tennessee Supreme Court appoints attorneys to serve as district committee members from each
disciplinary district in the state. In 2025-2026, 206 attorneys assisted the Court and the Board as district
committee members reviewing Disciplinary Counselâs recommendations on investigative files and sitting
on hearing panels conducting formal disciplinary charges. Of the 206 members, 171 reported volunteering
2,277.5 hours in 2025-2026 for which they received no compensation for their services. A roster of current
district committee members is attached as Exhibit B.
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45th Annual Discipline Report
Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Tennessee Attorney Information
The Board of Professional Responsibility provides an easy-to-use online registration system that
allows lawyers to fulfill their annual registration requirements. Public registration information is displayed
on the Boardâs website to allow the judiciary, lawyers and the public to access licensing, registration and
contact information about lawyers.
Active Attorneys by Disciplinary District: 25,457*
Disciplinary District 1: 1,082 Active TN attorneys
Disciplinary District 2: 2,779 Active TN attorneys
Disciplinary District 3: 1,654 Active TN attorneys
Disciplinary District 4: 1,469 Active TN attorneys
Disciplinary District 5: 6,630 Active TN attorneys
Disciplinary District 6: 2,800 Active TN attorneys
Disciplinary District 7: 504 Active TN attorneys
Disciplinary District 8: 282 Active TN attorneys
Disciplinary District 9: 3,402 Active TN attorneys
*4,744 Out of State Active TN attorneys
Active Attorney Statistics:
⪠Years Licensed: <5 yrs: 18% â Age: 21-29 yrs: 5%
6-15 yrs: 27% 30-39 yrs: 20%
16-25 yrs: 24% 40-49 yrs: 25%
26-35 yrs: 15% 50-59 yrs: 22%
36-45 yrs: 10% 60-69 yrs: 16%
46+ yrs: 6% 70+ yrs: 12%
⪠Gender: Male: 60% â In-state Attorneys: 80%
Female: 39% â Out-of-state Attorneys: 18%
Unreported: 1% â Undisclosed: 2%
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45th Annual Discipline Report
Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Inactive Attorneys
Pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 10.3, inactive attorneys include
attorneys serving as justice, judge or magistrate of a court of the United States of America or who
serve in any federal office in which the attorney is prohibited by federal law from engaging in the
practice of law; retired attorneys; attorneys on temporary duty with the armed forces; faculty
members of Tennessee law schools who do not practice law; and attorneys not engaged in the
practice of law in Tennessee. In 2025-2026, 6,672 attorneys on inactive status were registered with
the Board of Professional Responsibility.
• Non-disciplinary/Administrative Suspensions:
Pursuant to Supreme Court Rules, the Supreme Court suspends attorneys who fail to pay
their annual fee (Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9 § 10.6); fail to complete annual continuing legal education
requirements (Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 21 § 7); fail to comply with Interest on Lawyers Trust Account
requirements (Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 43 § 15); fail to pay the Tennessee professional privilege tax
(Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9 § 26); or default on student loans (Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9 § 37). No attorney
suspended pursuant to these Rules may resume practice until reinstated by Order of the Supreme
Court. Attorneys were administratively suspended during fiscal year 2025-2026 as follows:
Non-payment of Annual Fee: 172
Continuing Legal Education non-compliance: 73
Interest on Lawyerâs Trust Accounts non-compliance: 128
Professional Privilege Tax non-compliance: 72
Default on a Student Loan: 0
Total: 445
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45th Annual Discipline Report
Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Assistance, Investigation and Prosecution
⪠Trust Account Overdraft Notifications
Pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 35.1(b), financial institutions report to the
Board whenever any properly payable instrument is presented against an attorney trust account containing
insufficient funds. After receiving notification of an overdraft, Board Staff request financial information
and explanation from the attorney.
Notifications Pending from Previous Fiscal Year: 13
Notifications Received: 67
Referred to Investigations: 10
Resolved Without Investigation: 67
Pending at End of Fiscal Year: 3
• Consumer Assistance Program (CAP)
Requests for assistance are referred to the Boardâs Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) for
assistance or opened and assigned to Disciplinary Counsel for investigation if needed. CAP answers
questions, provides information, informally mediates disputes, and refers matters to Disciplinary Counsel
for investigation.
A. Requests for Assistance Received/Pending from Previous Fiscal Year
Pending Requests from Previous Fiscal Year: 2
Complaints transferred to CAP 726
Requests Received 1,917
B. Requests for Assistance Dispositions
Resolved in CAP: 1,913
Transferred to Investigations: 108
Pending at end of Fiscal Year: 2
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45th Annual Discipline Report
Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
• Complaints and Investigation
Disciplinary Counsel investigate complaints against attorneys alleging unethical conduct. After
investigation, Disciplinary Counsel recommend dismissal of the complaint if there is insufficient proof of
a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct. If the investigated complaint reflects a violation of the
Rules of Professional Conduct, Disciplinary Counsel recommend diversion, private informal admonition,
private reprimand, public censure, or the filing of formal disciplinary charges. A district committee
member reviews and approves or disapproves Disciplinary Counselâs recommendation for dismissal,
diversion, and private informal admonition. The Board of Professional Responsibility reviews and
approves or disapproves Disciplinary Counselâs recommendation for private reprimand, public censure,
and the filing of formal disciplinary charges.
A. Complaints Received/Pending from Previous Fiscal Year
Pending Complaints from Previous Fiscal Year: 38
Complaints Received 2,287
B. Complaints Dispositions
Administratively Dismissed: 736
Opened for Investigation: 822
Transferred to CAP: 726
Pending at end of Fiscal Year: 41
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45th Annual Discipline Report
Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
C. Nature of Complaints
Nature of Complaints / Investigation Violations
Personal Behavior Other
Criminal Activity 3% Trust Violation
Improper 0%
1% 3%
Communications
4% Conflict of Interest
8%
Fees
4%
Relationship with Client
or Court
25% Neglect and Failure to
Communicate
42%
Misrepresentation or
Fraud
10%
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45th Annual Discipline Report
Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
D. Investigative Caseload:
Pending Investigations from Previous Fiscal Year: 1,481
Investigations Opened: 922
E. Investigative Dispositions:
Dismissed after Investigation 600
Diversion 42
Private Informal Admonition 25
Private Reprimand 30
Public Censure 56
Transferred to Litigation 108
Other1: 108
Pending at End of Fiscal Year: 1,434
Investigations Placed on Retirement: 19
1
Abated by death; complaint withdrawn; duplicate file, opened in error, or Respondent permanently disbarred.
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45th Annual Discipline Report
Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
• Formal Disciplinary Proceedings:
After the Board of Professional Responsibility authorizes Disciplinary Counsel to file formal
disciplinary charges (i.e., a petition for discipline) against an attorney, the matter is assigned to three district
committee members who constitute a hearing panel. The Hearing Panel sets the disciplinary proceeding
for a hearing which is open to the public unless a protective order has been entered. The Tennessee Rules
of Evidence and Rules of Civil Procedure apply unless Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9 provides
otherwise.
The Board of Professional Responsibility must prove an attorneyâs ethical misconduct by a
preponderance of the evidence. Hearing Panels may recommend dismissal, public censure, suspension or
disbarment.
A. Formal Disciplinary Caseload
Pending Cases from Previous Fiscal Year: 162
Cases Opened: 116
Public Hearings Conducted: 24
Temporary Suspensions Filed: 18
B. Formal Disciplinary Proceedings Disposition:
Dismissed: 14
Public Censures: 9
Suspensions: 16
Permanent Disbarments: 12
Transfer to Disability Inactive: 11
Reinstatements: 9
Non-Serious Crimes: 7
Serious Crimes 1
Probation Revoked: 1
Reciprocal Discipline 1
2
Other : 5
2
Abated by death; voluntary non-suited; withdrawn.
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45th Annual Discipline Report
Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Resolution of Formal Disciplinary
Proceedings
16
14
12
11
9
7
5
Dismissals Public Censures Suspensions Permanent Transfers to Reinstatements Other
Disbarments Disability Inactive
Pending at End of Fiscal Year: 177
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45th Annual Discipline Report
Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
• Education and Information:
The Board issues Formal Ethics Opinions and staff respond to informal ethics questions by phone
and internet. Disciplinary Counsel present continuing legal education seminars and workshops, publish
Board Notes, a bi-annual newsletter, and update the Boardâs website with rule changes, disciplinary
decisions and news for attorneys, judges and the public.
A. Ethics Opinions:
i. Informal Opinions
Ethics Counsel and Disciplinary Counsel responded to a total of 2,093 phone and
internet inquiries from attorneys seeking ethical guidance.3
B. Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Presentations:
Between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, Disciplinary Counsel presented thirty-six (36)
CLE seminars, attended by approximately 1,800 attorneys.
C. Board Notes:
In 2025 – 2026, the Board emailed both Fall and Spring issues of Board Notes, the Boardâs
semi-annual newsletter to all attorneys and judges and published it on the Boardâs website.
D. Workshops:
a. The Board of Professional Responsibility hosted its annual Ethics Workshop on November 21,
2025, with 812 attorneys attending both virtually and in person. This yearâs Ethics Workshop
is scheduled for November 13, 2026.
3
Tennessee attorneys may submit ethics inquiries to the Board by calling 615-361-7500, ext. 212, or via the Boardâs website at
www.tbpr.org.
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45th Annual Discipline Report
Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
b. The Board of Professional Responsibility has offered two Trust Account Workshops on
December 3, 2025, and June 3, 2026, with a total of 468 attorneys attending both virtually and
in person. The next trust account workshop will be held Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
E. Tennesseeâs Proactive Management-Based Regulation (Voluntary Self-Assessment):
Tennesseeâs Proactive Management-Based Regulation (PMBR) program is an interactive
law office management self-assessment course offered at no cost to attorneys. The ten self-
assessments are designed to mitigate risk, elevate competence, and enhance the quality of legal
services delivered to clients. The goal of the program is to prevent problems within a law firm
before they arise, enabling attorneys to spend more time on cases. Attorneys receive 3 Dual CLE
Credits after completion of the course. The ten self-assessments are as follows:
1. Developing Competent Practices
2. Communicating in an Effective, Timely, Professional Manner
3. Ensuring That Confidentiality Requirements Are Met
4. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
5. Retaining and Managing Secure Files
6. Managing the Law Firm/Legal Entity and Staff
7. Charging Appropriate Fees and Making Appropriate Disbursements
8. Ensuring the Use of Reliable Trust Account Practices
9. Access To Justice and Client Development
10. Promoting Wellness
Since the implementation of the course in August 2019, 1,751 Tennessee attorneys have
completed the ten self-assessments, with 136 completing the course in 2025 – 2026.
Access the Tennessee PMBR program by following this link: http://tbpr.prolearn.io.
F. Succession Planning
The Board of Professional Responsibility has developed and made available on the Boardâs
website a one-hour succession planning continuing legal education (CLE) presentation. This CLE is
available to all attorneys at no cost and addresses how an attorney protects their own interests as well
as interests of their clients and the profession by proactively planning for the transition, closing, or
selling of a law practice.
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45th Annual Discipline Report
Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Since the implementation of the course in approximately August, 2025, 55 attorneys have
completed the succession planning CLE. Access the Succession Planning CLE by visiting
tbpr.prolearn.io.
Exhibit A
Board of Professional Responsibility Department Directory
Accounts Payable (615) 361-6395
Accounts Receivable (615) 915-5124
Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) (615) 695-0927
Executive Secretary (615) 361-7501
Investigations (615) 361-7502
Litigation (615) 695-0926
Registration (615) 366-0514
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45th Annual Discipline Report
Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
District Committee Member Roster Exhibit B
District First Name Last Name City
District 1
Dan E. Armstrong Greeneville
Emily Burnett Greeneville
Jeffrey A. Cobble Greeneville
Colby A. Collins Morristown
Erwin (Lynn) Dougherty Bristol
Andrew E. Farmer Sevierville
Jeffery S. Greene Newport
Jaclyn D. Hardin Sevierville
William B. Marsh Maryville
Joseph O. McAfee Greeneville
Bryce McKenzie Sevierville
Nikki C. Pierce Greeneville
William O. Shults Newport
Barry Staubus Blountville
Rolfe Straussfogel Sevierville
Denise S. Terry Morristown
Tonya Thornton Newport
District 2
Robyn J. Askew Knoxville
David Ayliffe Knoxville
Edward U. Babb Knoxville
Brett Bell Knoxville
Bradley Burnette Clinton
Nicholas W. Diegel Knoxville
Steve Erdely Knoxville
Matthew A. Grossman Knoxville
Andrew M. Hale Knoxville
Rachel Hurt Knoxville
Thomas Jarvis Knoxville
Michael S Kelley Knoxville
Michael J. King Knoxville
Gregory C. Logue Knoxville
Elijah Lovingfoss Knoxville
Mary Elizabeth Maddox Knoxville
Chris McCarty Knoxville
Stephen F. McStravick Knoxville
Robert Meyer Knoxville
Ben Mullins Knoxville
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45th Annual Discipline Report
Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
District 2 First Name Last Name City
James F. Parker Knoxville
P. Edward Pratt Knoxville
Wayne A. Ritchie, II Knoxville
E. Shayne Sexton Jacksboro
W. Edward Shipe Knoxville
Marshall W. Stair Knoxville
Russell E. Stair Knoxville
Garrett P. Swartwood Knoxville
Lynn Tarpy Knoxville
Shannon van Tol Knoxville
Alexander O. Waters Knoxville
Carlos A. Yunsan Knoxville
District 3
Ariel Anthony Chattanooga
Sam D. Elliott Chattanooga
Rachel Fisher-Queen Cleveland
Melissa Kirby Chatanooga
Doris Matthews Madisonville
Laurie Harrod McNulty Cleveland
Timothy L. Mickel Chattanooga
Jennifer A. Mitchell Dunlap
M. Andrew Pippenger Nashville
Lance W. Pope Chattanooga
Leah B. Sauceman Athens
H. Chris Trew Athens
Carmen (Ms.) Ware Chattanooga
Ronald D. Wells Chattanooga
Elizabeth L Williams Chattanooga
District 4
W. Andrew Bobo Shelbyville
Philip Duane Burnett Crossville
Richard Cawley Shelbyville
Edward Evan Cope Murfreesboro
Blake J. Fitzpatrick Cookeville
Michael R. Giaimo Cookeville
Theodore W. Goodman Murfreesboro
Terry Dee Gregory Tullahoma
Mary Beth Hagan Murfreesboro
Moody Wesley Hall, IV Lewisburg
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45th Annual Discipline Report
Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
District 4 First Name Last Name City
Trisha L. Henegar Shelbyville
Johnny D. Hill Fayetteville
Joey Johnson Winchester
David J. McKenzie Lewisburg
Rachel M. Moses Cookeville
Heather Parker Murfreesboro
Daniel Rader, IV Cookeville
Loren Sanderson Murfreesboro
Amber Sandoval Fayetteville
Ginger Bobo Shofner Shelbyville
Donna S. Simpson Cookeville
Cecilia W. Spivy Lewisburg
Megan K. Trott Shelbyville
Willie F. Wallace, III Huntsville AL
District 5
Kevin Alonso Nashville
Elaina Al-Nimri Nashville
Taylor J. Askew Nashville
Kevin E. Baltz Nashville
Adam Barber Nashville
Robert E. Boston Nashville
Jeff H. Gibson Nashville
Jesse Harbison Nashville
William Jay Harbison Nashville
Keeda Haynes Nashville
William J. Haynes Nashville
Tricia Herzfeld Nashville
Howard B. Jackson Knoxville
John D. Kitch Nashville
April Knox Gallatin
Raymond Leathers Nashville
Cynthia Lee Nashville
Shundra Crumpton Manning Nashville
Russell B. Morgan Nashville
Anthony (Tony) Orlandi Nashville
Tillman Payne, III Nashville
Julie Bhattacharya Peak Brentwood
Brant Phillips Nashville
Daniel H. Puryear Nashville
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45th Annual Discipline Report
Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
District 5 First Name Last Name City
Benjamin Raybin Nashville
Kristina A. Reliford Nashville
Rita Roberts-Turner Nashville
W. Stuart Scott Nashville
Siew-Ling (Sue) Shea Nashville
M. Clark Spoden Nashville
Nelson Suarez Nashville
Darius Walker Nashville
Timothy Wills Franklin
Luther Wright, Jr. Nashville
District 6
Evan P. Baddour Pulaski
Leonard Belmares Dickson
Jessica N. Borne Franklin
Melanie Totty Cagle Centerville
David Christensen Columbia
C. Diane Crosier Franklin
Marci McClellan Curry Franklin
Ashonti Davis Franklin
Thomas B. Dean Gallatin
Mary Katharine Evins Brentwood
Michael J. Ford Franklin
Cameron R. Hoffmeyer Lawrenceburg
Courtney King College Grove
Trudy Milliken Gallatin
David R. O'Neil Brentwood
Charles Ray Parks, Jr. Dover
John R. Phillips Gallatin
John Roach Springfield
Raymond Runyon Clarksville
Michael L. Russell Brentwood
Margaret F. Sagi Ashland City
Jacob Thorington Franklin
Rodger D. Waynick Dickson
Beverly White Saint Joseph
District 7
Sara E. Barnett Jackson
Lena Beal Lexington
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45th Annual Discipline Report
Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
District 7 First Name Last Name City
Elaina Bordelon Jackson
Shaun Brown Jackson
Lisa Houston Jackson
Lisa Miller Selmer
(William) Josh Morrow Jackson
Hillary Parham Jackson
Ashley Parker Selmer
Ryan K. Porter Jackson
Kate Rhodes Paris
John Colin Graham Rosser Somerville
Craig Sanders Jackson
Michelle Greenway Sellers Jackson
Gordon ("Chip") Sherrod Henderson
Terica Smith Jackson
Neil Thompson Huntingdon
George Robert Whitfield Paris
Deven Nicole Wilson Decaturville
District 8
Bruce Stephens Conley Union City
Dean Dedmon Dyersburg
Rachele D. Gibson Trenton
Frank Holbrook Union City
Stephen L. Hughes Milan
Will Taylor Hughes Alamo
Jeff Lay Dyersburg
Julie W. Palmer Dyersburg
David A. Stowers Covington
Matthew Willis Dyersburg
District 9
Jeremy G. Alpert Memphis
Bryce W. Ashby Memphis
Taurus M. Bailey Memphis
Lucie K. Brackin Memphis
William R. Bradley, Jr. Memphis
Christopher S. Campbell Memphis
S. Keenan Carter Memphis
Kevin E. Childress Memphis
Brian Coleman Memphis
David M. Cook Memphis
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45th Annual Discipline Report
Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
District 9 First Name Last Name City
Angie Davis Memphis
Amber D. Floyd Memphis
Malcolm B. Futhey, III Memphis
Peter Gee Memphis
Nicole Grida Memphis
Greg Grisham Memphis
Jonathan C. Hancock Memphis
Rebecca Hinds Memphis
Eric Hudson Memphis
Tressa V. Johnson Memphis
John R. McCann Memphis
Debra Owen Cordova
Will Perry Memphis
Brent Siler Memphis
Jennifer Sink Memphis
Robert L.J. Spence, Jr. Memphis
Lauran Glassman Stimac Memphis
LaQuita Stokes Memphis
Frank ("Trey") Thacher Memphis
Mary-Morgan Whitfield Memphis
Emmett L. Whitwell Memphis
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