TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Jan 13, 2023

Williamson County lawyer Joanie Lucie Abernathy received a public censure today from the Tennessee Supreme Court. The court reports that while representing a client in a contentious divorce, Abernathy filed a number of motions to recuse the trial judge. The third such motion was filed with the Court of Appeals and included “arguments that had not been raised in the trial court.” The appeals court denied the motion and held that the motion was frivolous. Abernathy’s actions were deemed to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 3.1, 3.4 and 8.4(d).