Opinion ID: 1726998
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Tennessee

Text: 5.1 The Supreme Court shall appoint from among the licensed practitioners of law in Tennessee a nine member board to be known as The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Tennessee (hereinafter referred to as the Board), which shall consist of: (a) Three members of the bar of this state appointed for an initial term of three years; and (b) Three members of the bar of this state appointed for an initial term of two years; and (c) Three members of the bar of this state appointed for an initial term of one year. Subsequent terms of all members shall be for three years. No member shall serve for more than two consecutive terms. Vacancies shall be filled by the Supreme Court. 5.2 The Supreme Court shall designate one member as Chairman of the Board and another member as Vice-Chairman. 5.3 The Board shall act only with the concurrence of five or more members. Five members shall constitute a quorum. 5.4 Members shall receive no compensation for their services but may be reimbursed for their travel and other expenses incidental to the performance of their duties. 5.5 The board shall exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred and imposed upon it by these Disciplinary Rules, including the power and duty: (a) To consider and investigate any alleged ground for discipline or alleged incapacity of any attorney called to its attention, or upon its own motion, and to take such action with respect thereto as shall be appropriate to effectuate the purposes of these Disciplinary Rules. (b) To appoint a Chief Disciplinary Counsel and such Assistant Disciplinary Counsel and staff as may from time-to-time be required to properly perform the functions hereinafter prescribed. The Chief Disciplinary Counsel and Assistant Disciplinary Counsel are hereinafter referred to as Disciplinary Counsel. (c) To assign periodically the members of hearing committees within each Disciplinary District to review and approve or modify recommendations by Disciplinary Counsel for dismissals, informal admonitions and institution of formal charges. (d) To review, upon application by Disciplinary Counsel, a determination by the reviewing member of a hearing committee that a matter should be concluded by dismissal or by private informal admonition without the institution of formal charges. (e) To privately reprimand attorneys for misconduct. (f) To adopt rules of procedure not inconsistent with these Rules. (g) The Board shall, to the extent it deems feasible, consult with officers of local bar associations concerning any appointment it is authorized to make under these Rules.