TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Jul 24, 2025

Maury County lawyer William Clark Barnes Jr. received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on July 24. The court found that he violated Rules of Professional Conduct 3.3, 3.4 and 8.4 while representing a juvenile at a detention hearing in juvenile court. As part of the hearing, the parties were looking for viable options to place the juvenile as an alternative to detention. Barnes eventually was able to secure placement for the juvenile with a family member and informed the magistrate there was an agreement between the parties for placement of the juvenile. However, Barnes had not discussed the placement with the opposing attorney. He then signed the opposing attorney’s name to the judge’s order without authorization.