BPR Proposes Adding Discriminatory Conduct to Ethics Rules

The Board of Professional Responsibility has filed a petition with the Tennessee Supreme Court asking the court to amend Rule 8.4 of the Rules of Professional Responsibility to make it professional misconduct for a lawyer to engage, in a professional capacity, in conduct “manifesting bias or prejudice based on race, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status.” Written comments on the proposed change should be submitted by April 1. Instructions for filing comments are in the court order attached to the petition.