On Nov. 15, 2024, Shelby County lawyer Javier Michael Bailey filed a petition to reinstate his Tennessee law license after being disbarred on April 26, 2012. A Board of Professional Responsibility hearing panel conducted a review and the majority recommended placing several conditions on reinstatement, including that Bailey retake and pass the bar exam, have a practice monitor for five years, limit the number of cases accepted, complete additional continuing legal education courses, and make every effort to pay in full the restitution and costs he was ordered to pay in 2012. One member of the panel objected to reinstatement. On Jan. 30, the Tennessee Supreme Court determined that reinstatement would be detrimental to the integrity and standing of the bar and subversive to the public interest, and therefore dismissed the petition.

On Nov. 20, 2025, Georgia lawyer Meredith Gardial filed a petition to reinstate her Tennessee law license. The Board of Professional Responsibility filed a response in opposition to the petition stating that she has outstanding requirements with the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility and the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education. On Dec. 15, 2025, the Tennessee Supreme Court filed an order directing Gardial to satisfy these outstanding obligations by Jan. 27 or face dismissal of her petition. The court reported on Jan. 30 that Gardial had not responded to its request and thus dismissed the petition.

On Jan. 30, the Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Shelby County lawyer Sheila L. Robinson-Beasley from the practice of law for six years, with five years to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. The court conditioned probation on Robinson-Beasley employing a practice monitor for one year, attending the Board of Professional Responsibility’s ethics workshop, and complying with all terms of the suspension, CLE requirements and fees and court costs owed. The court found that Robinson-Beasley did not follow proper protocol in the execution and use of a durable power of attorney and limited power of attorney prepared on behalf of an ill family member. In addition, following the death of that individual, she converted assets belonging to the estate and made false representations about the powers of attorney to those involved in the sale of the deceased’s residence and at the deceased’s bank. Her conduct was determined to violate Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.15, 4.1 and 8.4.

The Tennessee Supreme Court permanently disbarred Sumner County lawyer Jocelyn Doria Mims on Jan. 30. The court took the action after determining that Mims’s felony convictions for tampering with evidence, making a false report and intentionally failing to report child sexual abuse constituted serious criminal conduct that was prejudicial to the administration of justice and reflected adversely on her honesty, trustworthiness and fitness as a lawyer. Her actions were determined to violate Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.2(d), 1.6(c), 3.3(h), 3.4(a)-(b), 4.1(a) and 8.4(a), (b), (c) and (d).

The Tennessee Supreme Court recently reinstated six lawyers who had been suspended for failing to pay the state professional privilege tax. They include two lawyers suspended in 2025, one suspended in 2020, one suspended in 2019, one suspended in 2018 and one suspended in 2010. View these lists and all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005 on the TBA website.

A number of lawyers have been reinstated after being suspended for failing to complete continuing legal education requirements. They include 27 suspended in 2025, two suspended in 2024, one suspended in 2017, one suspended in 2014 and one suspended in 2013. The TBA has records of all administrative suspensions and reinstatements going back to 2005. See all lists here.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Jan. 22 suspended 22 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee, 12 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. Lawyers reinstated in the last month include nine suspended in 2025 and one suspended in 2021. Access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.

Knox County lawyer Carey Davis Patin was reinstated to the practice of law on Jan. 21 after being on inactive status since Aug. 4, 2020. Patin filed a reinstatement petition, which the Board of Professional Responsibility found to be satisfactory.

The Tennessee Supreme Court temporarily suspended Sullivan County lawyer Ricky A. W. Curtis from the practice of law on Jan. 22. The court took the action after determining that Curtis failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning one complaint of misconduct. He is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases and must cease representing existing clients by Feb. 21. The suspension will remain in effect until dissolution or modification by the court.

The Tennessee Supreme Court temporarily suspended Rutherford County lawyer Dalen L. P. Farmer from the practice of law on Jan. 22. The court took the action after determining that Farmer failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning one complaint of misconduct. He is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases and must cease representing existing clients by Feb. 21. The suspension will remain in effect until dissolution or modification by the court.