Swinger1124 rel.PDF (2002)
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BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
of the
SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE
LANCE B. BRACY WILLIAM W. HUNT, III
CHIEF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL 1101 KERMIT DRIVE, SUITE 730 CHARLES A. HIGH
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37217 SANDY GARRETT
LAURA L. CHASTAIN
DEPUTY CHIEF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL TELEPHONE: (615) 361-7500 JESSE D. JOSEPH
(800) 486-5714 JAMES A. VICK
BEVERLY P. SHARPE FAX: (615) 367- 2480 THERESA M. COSTONIS
CONSUMER COUNSEL/DIRECTOR E-MAIL: ethics@tbpr.org DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL
RELEASE OF INFORMATION
RE: EDWARD L. SWINGER, BPR #14162
CONTACT: CHARLES A.HIGH
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
May 23, 2002
NASHVILLE LAWYER SUSPENDED FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW
Edward L. Swinger, a Nashville lawyer, was suspended from the practice of law by order of
the Tennessee Supreme Court on May 17, 2002. Mr. Swingerâs suspension was for eleven
months, twenty-nine days, retroactive to October 27, 1999. Swinger has been continually
suspended since 1999, therefore, the effect of the judgment is to automatically reinstate him
to the practice of law.
A hearing panel of the Board of Professional Responsibility recommended the discipline
imposed after a hearing. The Board approved the decision of the hearing panel and the
Supreme Court adopted the judgment of the hearing panel as the judgment of the Court.
The cause of the suspension was the entry of a guilty plea to a serious crime by Swinger.
The plea was a âbest interestâ plea pursuant to a law that places the defendant on probation
and upon successful completion of probation allows the party to be discharged and the matter
to be expunged (records destroyed.) Swinger completed the probation period successfully,
was discharged by the criminal court and he intends to have the matter expunged from the
public records.
The hearing panel found that Swinger engaged in conduct that adversely reflected on his
fitness to practice law. The panel also found that he violated Ethical Canon 9 which states:
âA lawyer should avoid even the appearance of professional impropriety.â
The disciplinary rules are mandatory for all attorneys. They state a minimum level of conduct
and any violation reflects negatively on the standing and integrity of the bar.
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Swinger1124 rel.doc