TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Julia Wilburn on Apr 13, 2026

Davidson County attorney Zachary Ty Carden on April 13 received a censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court. In the first complaint, Carden represented a criminal defendant in connection with adjustment of jail credits and seeking a furlough. He delayed in taking action for the client and failed to respond to the client’s communications. In the second complaint, Carden represented a client in pursuing a custody matter. He completed limited investigation of the client’s legal claims but did not file a petition or take other legal action, and he failed to respond to his client’s communications, which ultimately resulted in the client discharging Carden. Following his discharge, Carden did not refund an appropriate portion of the client’s fee. In the third complaint, Carden represented a client in pursuing contempt sanctions in a post-divorce matter. He prepared a draft petition but did not complete any other work for the client. Carden also failed to respond to the client’s requests for information about the status of the representation. Carden was found to have violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 and 1.16(d).