Opinion ID: 3159960
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Prehearing Facts

Text: This appeal arises from a disciplinary proceeding involving Paul Julius Walwyn, a Nashville lawyer whose practice focuses primarily upon criminal defense work. The Board of Professional Responsibility (the “Board”) filed an initial petition for discipline against Mr. Walwyn on September 7, 2012, and filed a supplemental petition on April 1, 2013.1 These petitions included three separate complaints against Mr. Walwyn pertaining to his appellate representation of criminal defendants Cristobal Lara (“the Lara case”), Deonte Alesio Matthews (“the Matthews case”), and James Tremelle Hunt (“the Hunt case”). With respect to the Lara case and the Matthews case, the Board alleged that Mr. Walwyn had violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct (“RPC”) 1.3, Diligence;2 3.2, Expediting Litigation;3 3.4(c), Fairness to Opposing Party and Counsel;4 and 8.4(a) and (d), Misconduct.5 With respect to the Hunt case, the Board alleged that Mr. Walwyn had violated RPC 1.1, Competence;6 1.3, Diligence; 1.4, Communication; 3.2, Expediting Litigation; and 8.4(a) and (d), Misconduct. 1 This disciplinary proceeding was initiated prior to January 1, 2014, when this Court adopted substantial revisions to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9. This appeal is therefore governed by the pre2014 version of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, and references in this opinion are to the pre-2014 version of Rule 9. 2 RPC 1.3 provides: “A lawyer shall act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client.” 3 RPC 3.2 provides: “A lawyer shall make reasonable efforts to expedite litigation.” 4 RPC 3.4(c) provides: “A lawyer shall not . . . knowingly disobey an obligation under the rules of a tribunal, except for open refusal based on an assertion that no valid obligation exists . . . .” 5 RPC 8.4(a) and (d) provide: “It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to: (a) violate or attempt to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct, knowingly assist or induce another to do so, or do so through the acts of another; . . . (d) engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of