The Tennessee Supreme Court disbarred Maury County lawyer Amanda Howell Castillo from the practice of law on Jan. 7 and ordered her to pay restitution to one former client. Based on two complaints, the court found that Castillo failed to represent a client in a diligent manner, reasonably communicate with a client, expedite a client’s litigation, comply with an order of summary suspension, respond to disciplinary complaints, and inform a client of her suspension from the practice of law and withdraw from representation. The court also found that in the second complaint, Castillo failed to set her client’s case for hearing, provide the professional services for which she was retained and return an unreasonable fee to the client. The court determined that these actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.16, 3.2, 3.4(c), 8.1(b) and 8.4(g).

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Jan. 5 dismissed a petition from Davidson County lawyer Michael Lloyd Freeman, which sought to dissolve a temporary suspension imposed by the court on Sept. 3, 2025. The court suspended Freeman based on his failure to respond or provide adequate responses to multiple complaints of misconduct. Freeman filed the petition to dissolve on Sept. 17, 2025. The Board of Professional Responsibility held a hearing to consider Freeman’s petition. In a report filed after the hearing, it recommended that the petition be denied. On Dec. 23, 2025, it asked the court to approve the recommendation. The court agreed and assessed the costs incurred for the proceeding to Freeman.

Sumner County lawyer Lee Wilson McDougal received a censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on Jan. 7. McDougal was appointed counsel to a parent in a dependency and neglect juvenile proceeding involving allegations of severe abuse. Following the adjudicatory hearing, McDougal complied with the client’s request to file a de novo appeal but failed to inform his client of the court’s adjudication and final disposition. The court also found that he failed for 10 months to consult with his client about the appeal, failed to keep his client reasonably informed about the appeal status, and failed to comply with the client’s requests for documents. After the client requested that he withdraw from representation, McDougal delayed withdrawal for at least four months according to the court. These actions were determined to pose substantial potential harm to the client and to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.15, 1.16 and 8.4(d).

Knox County lawyer Bret Philip Bryce received a censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on Jan. 7. The court found that Bryce failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, failed to communicate with his client about the representation, and failed to comply with a court order. These actions were determined to be prejudicial to the administration of justice, to cause a delay in the case for over nine months and to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 3.2 and 8.4.

Shelby County lawyer Brian Wade Lynn received a censure on Jan. 6 from the Tennessee Supreme Court. Lynn’s law license was administratively suspended on March 5, 2025, for non-payment of his professional privilege tax, and he has not sought reinstatement of his license. The court found that at the time of the administrative suspension, Lynn was counsel of record in 14 bankruptcy cases, and that after receiving the suspension, he filed two notices in one of his bankruptcy cases. The court found that he also significantly delayed providing notice to his clients of the administrative suspension, withdrawing as counsel of record, and complying with other obligations. The court determined that Lynn violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.15, 1.16(d), 3.4(c) and 8.4(d).

Hardin County Lawyer Nicholas Lee Surratt was censured Jan. 6 by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Surratt agreed to represent a client in transmitting a demand letter in connection with a contract dispute. The client paid a $350 fee for drafting and transmittal of the demand letter. The court found that Surratt never drafted the demand letter, took no other action for the client, failed to respond to the client’s inquiries about the status of the representation and never refunded the $350 fee. The court determined that these actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.15 and 1.16(d). It also directed Surratt to pay restitution of $350 to his client within 60 days.

Mississippi lawyer Carlos Eugene Moore was reinstated to the active practice of law in Tennessee on Jan. 5. He had been suspended for one year on March 27, 2025, retroactive to the date of suspension in the state of Mississippi. Moore filed a petition for reinstatement on Nov. 21, 2025. The Board of Professional Responsibility found the petition to be satisfactory.

Mississippi lawyer Christopher Ryan Toms was reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee on Dec. 30. He was placed on inactive status more than five years ago on Dec. 2, 2013. The Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility reviewed the petition for reinstatement and determined Toms had met the requirements for reinstatement.

Sevier County lawyer James Ralph Hickman was censured by the Tennessee Supreme Court on Dec. 23. The court found that Hickman engaged in the unauthorized practice of law on July 10, 2023, and July 13, 2023, when he appeared in court on behalf of two clients and counseled the clients regarding the entry of guilty pleas while his license to practice law was suspended. His actions were determined to violate Tennessee Rule of Professional Conduct 5.5.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Nov. 21 suspended 16 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee, 11 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 eight suspended this year, one suspended in 2024 and one suspended in 2018. Access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.