willis-101606-8-rel.pdf (2026)
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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: MATTHEW WAYNE WILLIS, BPR #024803
CONTACT: MAUREEN F. HUGHES
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
March 30, 2026
DYER COUNTY LAWYER CENSURED
On March 30, 2026, Matthew Wayne Willis, an attorney licensed to practice law in Tennessee, received
a Public Censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Mr. Willis was representing a client before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals. Mr. Willis
personally used Artificial Intelligence (AI) to aid him in the preparation of a reply brief he filed with the Armed
Services Board of Contract Appeals. The Court found that after reviewing the reply brief, over seventy percent
of the citations were fictitious, and Mr. Willis took no action to check the accuracy of these citations. Mr. Willis
stated that he believed a paralegal in his office performed a full citation check including verifying references to
the technical record, transcript, and legal authorities. Mr. Willis failed to verify that his paralegal checked the
citations before filing the reply brief.
Mr. Willis failed to act with diligence and his conduct was prejudicial to the administration of justice.
Additionally, Mr. Willis failed to exercise managerial authority over his paralegal.
By these acts, Mr. Willis has violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3 (diligence), 5.3 (responsibilities
regarding nonlawyer assistants), and 8.4 (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.
Willis 101606-8 rel.doc
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