On June 26, the Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Samuel Ervin White from the practice of law for five years, with two years to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. The court also ordered White to pay restitution to clients and engage a practice monitor. Complaints against White alleged that he failed to reasonably communicate with his clients, act in a diligent manner, expedite client litigation, timely respond to discovery requests and withdraw from representation following suspension. He also was accused of charging non-refundable fees, comingling client assets and misappropriating client funds. He agreed to a conditional guilty plea acknowledging his conduct violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.16, 3.2, 3.4(c), 4.1 and 8.4(a)(d).

Mississippi lawyer Justin Wade Sweat was reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee on June 11. He had been on inactive status since May 14, 2018. The Board of Professional Responsibility reported that his petition for reinstatement was satisfactory. The Tennessee Supreme Court issued the order on June 13.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Rutherford County lawyer Jared Michael Streich from the practice of law on June 13 for six years, with five years to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. The discipline is conditioned on Streich paying restitution to two former clients and, if reinstated, the appointment of a practice monitor. The court took the action after determining that Streich failed to reasonably communicate with his clients, act in a diligent manner, expedite litigation, act competently, comply with requirements for a suspended attorney and return client property. The court also found that he charged an unreasonable fee and provided false information to the Board of Professional Responsibility. These actions violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.15, 1.16, 3.2, 3.4 and 8.4.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on June 9 issued an order granting permission for the Board of Professional Responsibility to file a response to Brian Kirk Kelsey’s filing seeking immediate reinstatement. It also allowed Kelsey to file a response to the board’s response if he chooses to do so. The court suspended Kelsey from the practice of law in 2022 after he pleaded guilty to an illegal campaign finance scheme. President Donald Trump pardoned Kelsey in March.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on June 3 directed Davidson County attorney Carrie Archie Russell to complete outstanding requirements with the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education (CLE) after she filed a petition for reinstatement. The court ruled that if the outstanding obligations are not satisfied by July 17, it will dismiss the petition for reinstatement.

The Tennessee Supreme Court permanently disbarred Hamilton County lawyer Alan Christopher Norton from the practice of law on June 4. The court reports that Norton consented to disbarment because he could not successfully defend himself against the disciplinary charges. The court found that Norton forged a chancellor’s signature on three court orders, forged the name of a Tennessee attorney on a fake motion, and forged a deposition transcript he provided to his client. These actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.4, 8.4(b) and 8.4(c). The court had suspended him temporarily on Dec. 16, 2024, finding that he posed a threat of substantial harm to the public.

Effective May 27, the Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Shelby County lawyer Archie Sanders III from the practice of law for one year, with two months to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation subject to conditions. The court found that while handling a probate matter, Sanders unreasonably delayed filing the petition to probate, unreasonably delayed seeking partition of certain real property in the estate, failed to communicate reasonably with his clients and failed to properly conclude representation of the clients. In a separate matter involving litigation with an insurance company, the court found Sanders failed to communicate reasonably with his clients, diligently perform the necessary work and reasonably expedite the litigation. Sanders executed a conditional guilty plea acknowledging his conduct violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.16, 3.2 and 8.4(d). During the probation period, he must engage a practice monitor to assess his caseload, case management, timeliness of performing tasks and adequacy of communication with clients. The monitor is to provide a monthly written report to the Board of Professional Responsibility.

A number of lawyers have been reinstated after being suspended for administrative violations. Seven lawyers have been reinstated after completing required continuing legal education hours (four were suspended in 2024, one in 2023, one in 2022 and one in 2020). In addition, 18 lawyers have been reinstated after paying their annual registration fee to the Board of Professional Responsibility (15 were suspended in 2025, one in 2024, one in 2022 and one in 2020). And 14 lawyers have been reinstated after paying their annual fee to the Board of Professional Responsibility (nine were suspended in 2025, two in 2024, one in 2023, one in 2019 and one in 2009. The TBA has records of all administrative suspensions and reinstatements going back to 2005. See all lists here.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on May 21 suspended 17 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee; 11 of them also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. 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.

North Carolina lawyer Brian Keith Leonard was reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee on May 20. He had been placed on inactive status more than five years ago, on Feb. 11, 2019. The Board of Professional Responsibility reported that it found the petition for reinstatement to be satisfactory.