California lawyer Emily D. Fulham was reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee on July 31. She had been placed on inactive status more than five years ago on May 27, 2020. The Board of Professional Responsibility reported that it found the petition for reinstatement to be satisfactory.

On July 22, the Tennessee Supreme Court lifted a temporary suspension it had imposed on Cumberland County lawyer Melanie Beth Shada on April 25, 2024. The court noted that Shada’s acceptance of a public censure on Oct. 24, 2024, resolved the disciplinary matter. It did not reinstate her license, though, since she remains administratively suspended for failure to pay annual registration fees.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on July 23 suspended 18 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee; nine of whom also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. Six lawyers have been reinstated since the list came out. One other lawyer suspended in 2023 also has been reinstated. See the list of all lawyers suspended and reinstated for fee and IOLTA violations in 2025 or access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.

Washington County lawyer Stephen Thomas Russell Martin was reinstated to the practice of law on July 23. The Tennessee Supreme Court reports that Martin was placed on inactive status more than five years ago, on Dec. 20, 2013, and has satisfied all outstanding requirements for reinstatement.

Texas lawyer Chasity Halford Balfour was reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee on July 30. The Tennessee Supreme Court reports that she was placed on inactive status more than five years ago, on April 1, 2011, but now has satisfied all outstanding requirements for reinstatement.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on July 28 issued a censure to Davidson County attorney Terry Renease Clayton. The court found that Clayton engaged in the unauthorized practice of law between Jan. 22, 2024, and Feb. 22, 2024, while his license was suspended for failure to timely pay his annual registration fees and/or submit certification that all eligible funds are held in an IOLTA account. Clayton entered a conditional guilty plea admitting his conduct violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 5.5 and 8.4(a). He is responsible for board costs and Tennessee Supreme Court fees.

Shelby County lawyer Ashley Satterfield Patterson received a censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on July 29. The court found that when Patterson testified in court on April 22, 2022, concerning a personal matter relating to a parenting plan, she lied under oath. Her actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 3.3 and 8.4.

Knoxville attorney Mark Steven Graham was censured by the Tennessee Supreme Court on July 29 for writing a check from his trust account to pay an office expense. The court also found that five months later, three automated withdrawals were attempted from the trust account, one of which was successful. Graham’s law license was suspended in 2022 and the court denied his petition to dissolve the suspension in 2024. Despite the suspension, Graham failed to deactivate his office website for at least 20 months and his social media incorrectly indicated for at least 34 months that his law license was active. His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15, 7.1, 3.4 and 8.4(g).

DeKalb County lawyer Robert Andrew Free received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on July 24. The court found that he violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.15 and 1.16 while representing a client in immigration court. Free agreed to assist the client in the filing of a U visa but failed to clearly communicate or document that agreement. That left the client with the inaccurate impression that Free was providing the service. The court also found that Free failed to file the appropriate paperwork, failed to communicate with the client throughout the representation, and either lost or misplaced the client’s file. He was never able to provide her with a copy of her file.

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.