Reinstated
On Mar. 3, the Supreme Court of Tennessee entered an order reinstating Memphis attorney William Palmer Effrid to the practice of law after he complied with the terms of Rule 21.
Suspended
Memphis attorney Scott Eric Crawford has been temporarily suspended from the practice of law in this state by order of the Tennessee Supreme Court filed on March 19. The court found, based upon a petition filed by the Board of Professional Responsibility, that Crawford's continued practice of law posed a risk of irreparable harm to the public.
The petition was authorized by the chairman of the Board of Professional Responsibility and was supported by the affidavit of an FBI special agent, by Crawford's own statement given to officers of the Memphis Police Department, and of the DEA upon his arrest on federal criminal charges, and by the March 5 amended order on detention hearing setting conditions of release filed by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, which prohibits Crawford from practicing law while the criminal charges are still pending against him in U.S. District Court. Crawford agreed to the imposition of an immediate temporary suspension order until the conclusion of the prosecution against him in U.S. District Court.
This suspension was issued pursuant to Section 4.3 of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, and as agreed to by Crawford before the U.S. District Court. Crawford is precluded from practicing law in any form effective March 19, 2004, and is entitled to petition the Tennessee Supreme Court for dissolution or modification of this suspension order only upon his acquittal of the federal charges or upon their dismissal by the U.S. District Court.
Crawford shall furthermore not use any indicia of lawyer, legal assistant or law clerk, nor maintain a presence where the practice of law is conducted. Section 18 of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9 requires Crawford to notify by registered or certified mail all clients being represented in pending matters; all co-counsel; all opposing counsel and opposing parties without counsel of the Supreme Court's order suspending him. Section 18 also requires Crawford to deliver to all clients any papers or property to which they are entitled.
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Bolivar attorney John Carlin Mask Jr. has been temporarily suspended from the practice of law in this state by the Supreme Court entered March 31. The court suspended Mask based upon a petition filed by the Board of Professional Responsibility alleging that he poses a substantial threat of harm to the public by practicing law under a CLE suspension since Jan. 8, 1997, and by cashing a client's check for court cost and not filing the lawsuit.
This suspension was issued pursuant to Section 4.3 of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9. Mask is precluded from accepting any new clients after May 1. After this date, Mask shall furthermore not use any indicia of lawyer, legal assistant or law clerk, nor maintain a presence where the practice of law is conducted.
Section 18 of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9 requires Mask to notify by registered or certified mail all clients being represented in pending matters; all co-counsel or opposing counsel of the Supreme Court's order suspending him. Section 18 also requires Mask to deliver to all clients any papers or properties to which they are entitled.
This suspension shall remain in effect until it is dissolved or amended by order of the Supreme Court of Tennessee.
Publicly Censured
Paul Anthony Robinson Jr. of Memphis was publicly censured by the Supreme Court of Tennessee by order filed March 25.
Disciplinary counsel, acting on the authority of the board, filed a petition for discipline against Robinson. The petition alleged that Robinson improperly engaged in the unauthorized practice of law in Tennessee by practicing from Sept. 10, 2001, through Nov. 11, 2002, since his law license was administratively suspended by prior Tennessee Supreme Court order during this period on account of his failure to pay the required annual registration fee.
Pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, the Board and Robinson entered into a conditional guilty plea whereby Robinson agreed to the imposition of a public censure. The board and the Tennessee Supreme Court found that Robinson engaged in the unauthorized practice of law during this period, and that his conduct was detrimental to the administration of justice.
The Board and Supreme Court also ordered Robinson to pay the costs and expenses of the disciplinary hearing.
Information regarding these disciplinary actions was obtained from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court.