What rights does someone who files a complaint against a Tennessee lawyer (especially a Board of Professional Responsibility member) have if the complaint is dismissed?

Subject

Opinion No. 12-17, Rights of Persons Who File Attorney Disciplinary Complaints, February 21, 2012

Plain-English summary

In Tennessee, the Supreme Court has inherent constitutional authority to regulate the practice of law. The Court created the Board of Professional Responsibility through Supreme Court Rule 9. When a citizen files a complaint against a Tennessee attorney, that complaint moves through a structured process. Representative Bass asked the AG four questions about what the complainant gets out of that process, and how the system handles complaints filed against a Board member.

Question 1: What rights does a complainant have?

Limited and procedural rights, not adjudicative rights. Under Tenn. Sup. Ct. Rule 9, §§ 8 and 9, a complainant can:

1. File a written complaint
2. Receive notice from disciplinary counsel (or special disciplinary counsel for complaints against a Board member) if dismissal is recommended
3. Appeal in writing, within 30 days, to the Board (for ordinary complaints, § 8) or the Chief Justice (for complaints against Board members, § 9)

That's it. The complainant is not a party to the disciplinary proceeding. The attorney whose license is at stake is the party. The complainant cannot challenge the Board's or Chief Justice's final disposition. Fletcher v. Board of Professional Responsibility (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995); Flowers v. Board of Professional Responsibility (Tenn. 2010).

Question 2: Can the complainant see the attorney's response?

Usually no. Section 25 of Rule 9 makes disciplinary investigations confidential. The complainant only gets to see the attorney's response if (a) the attorney discloses it or authorizes disclosure, (b) the attorney requests that the whole proceeding be made public, or (c) the investigation itself requires referencing the response. The Tennessee Supreme Court has explained the confidentiality rule serves to protect the complainant from recriminations, protect the attorney from unsubstantiated charges during investigation, preserve sources of information for the Board, and preserve public confidence. Doe v. Board of Professional Responsibility (Tenn. 2003).

Question 3: Is the complainant entitled to reasons for the dismissal?

No. Rule 9 does not require disciplinary counsel, the Board, or the Chief Justice to explain dismissals to complainants.

Question 4: Is it constitutional for the Board or Chief Justice to review a dismissal?

Yes. The complainant has no constitutional right at stake (the Rule 9 procedural rights are not constitutional rights). And the Board's or Chief Justice's initial handling of the complaint is "ministerial rather than adjudicatory": they receive and route the complaint, but they don't decide it on the merits. The merits decision happens later in the process. So there is no due-process concern about the same body that initially received the complaint reviewing a later recommendation of dismissal.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 2012. Subsequent statutory amendments, court decisions, or later AG opinions may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context, not current legal advice. Verify current law before relying on any specific rule, deadline, or remedy mentioned here.

The Tennessee Supreme Court substantially revised Rule 9 in 2014. The section numbers, the role of disciplinary counsel, the structure of the appeal, and the confidentiality provisions have all changed. Anyone navigating an actual Tennessee bar complaint should consult the current version of Rule 9 and current guidance from the Board of Professional Responsibility.

Background and statutory framework

Inherent judicial authority. Tennessee's Supreme Court is a creature of the constitution. Tenn. Const. art. VI, § 1. The Court has original and exclusive authority over admission to and supervision of the bar. Smith County Education Ass'n v. Anderson (Tenn. 1984); Petition of Tennessee Bar Ass'n (Tenn. 1976).

The Board of Professional Responsibility. Created by Supreme Court Rule 9, §§ 5.1, 5.5. The Board is an arm of the Supreme Court for sovereign-immunity purposes. Rayburn (Tenn. 2009). Its authority is derived from the Court. Brown (Tenn. 2000).

The complaint process.

Under § 8 (ordinary complaints):

• Disciplinary counsel investigates.
• A recommendation of dismissal must be reviewed by a district committee member.
• If approved, the complainant gets notice of the recommendation.
• The complainant may appeal in writing to the Board.
• The Board approves, modifies, or disapproves.
• After the Board acts, the complainant has no further rights. Fletcher (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995).

Under § 9 (complaints against Board members, disciplinary counsel, district committee members):

• The complaint goes to the Chief Justice instead of the Board.
• The Chief Justice appoints special disciplinary counsel and an Associate Justice to serve in the Board's role.
• If special disciplinary counsel recommends dismissal, the Associate Justice reviews it.
• If approved, the complainant gets notice and can appeal to the Chief Justice.
• After the Chief Justice acts, the complainant has no further rights.
• The only judicial review of a final disciplinary judgment runs to the trial court via petition, and the only parties with standing are the respondent attorney and the Board (or special disciplinary counsel).

Confidentiality. Rule 9, § 25 makes disciplinary matters confidential and privileged, subject to specific exceptions (formal disciplinary petition filed, public discipline imposed, attorney requests publicness, criminal conviction, disability proceedings). Rule 9 also operates as an exception to Tennessee's open-records law under Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(2)(A). The Tennessean v. Tennessee Department of Personnel (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007).

Common questions

Q: I filed a bar complaint and got a notice that disciplinary counsel is recommending dismissal. What can I do?
A: You have 30 days to file a written appeal. The recipient depends on whether the attorney is a Board member: the Board receives appeals for ordinary complaints (§ 8); the Chief Justice receives appeals when the attorney is a Board member or other Board-affiliated person (§ 9). Past those 30 days, the dismissal stands.

Q: Can I find out what the attorney said in response to my complaint?
A: Usually no. The attorney's response is confidential under Rule 9, § 25, with limited exceptions if the attorney chooses to disclose or makes the matter public.

Q: Why am I not allowed to know the reasons for dismissal?
A: Rule 9 does not require disclosure. The disciplinary process is structured to protect the attorney from unsubstantiated accusations and to keep sources of information flowing to the Board.

Q: Why can the Board or Chief Justice review a dismissal even though they received the original complaint?
A: Because the initial handling is ministerial routing, not a merits decision. The merits decision happens during investigation by disciplinary counsel, with district-committee review of any recommended dismissal. The Board or Chief Justice only makes a merits call when the complainant appeals.

Q: Can I sue the lawyer for malpractice while the bar complaint is pending?
A: The opinion does not address malpractice claims. Civil malpractice and bar discipline are separate tracks; both can run at once. Consult a Tennessee attorney about your specific situation.

Citations and references

Constitutional provisions and rules:

• Tenn. Const. art. VI, § 1
• Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9 (Disciplinary Enforcement)
• Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 8 (Rules of Professional Conduct)

Statute:

• Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(2)(A)

Cases:

• Belmont v. Board of Law Examiners, 511 S.W.2d 461 (Tenn. 1974)
• Smith County Education Ass'n v. Anderson, 676 S.W.2d 328 (Tenn. 1984)
• Brown v. Board of Professional Responsibility, 29 S.W.3d 445 (Tenn. 2000)
• Doe v. Board of Professional Responsibility, 104 S.W.3d 465 (Tenn. 2003)
• Rayburn v. Board of Professional Responsibility, 300 S.W.3d 654 (Tenn. 2009)
• Flowers v. Board of Professional Responsibility, 314 S.W.3d 882 (Tenn. 2010)
• Fletcher v. Board of Professional Responsibility, 915 S.W.2d 448 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995)

Source

• Landing page: https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/opinions.html
• Original PDF: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/attorneygeneral/documents/ops/2012/op12-017.pdf

Original opinion text

Rights of Persons Who File Attorney Disciplinary Complaints
QUESTIONS
Lbl1. In attorney disciplinary proceedings under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, what are
the rights of a person (complainant) who files a disciplinary complaint against an attorney
member of the Board of Professional Responsibility (Board) if that complaint is dismissed?
Lbl2. Do the confidentiality provisions of Section 25 of Rule 9 prohibit the disclosure to a
complainant of the respondent attorney's response to the disciplinary complaint?
Lbl3. Is a complainant entitled to an explanation for the dismissal of a disciplinary
complaint as approved by the Board or the Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court?
Lbl4. Is it constitutional for the Board or the Chief Justice, as the case may be, to review the
complainant's appeal of the dismissal of a disciplinary complaint?
OPINIONS
Lbl1. The "rights" of a complainant arise from the provisions of Tennessee Supreme Court
Rule 9, §§8 and 9. Section 8 applies to disciplinary complaints against attorneys in general.
Section 9 applies to disciplinary complaints against attorney members of the Board, disciplinary
counsel, and district committee members. Under both sections a complainant has the right (1) to
file a written disciplinary complaint, (2) to receive notice from disciplinary counsel (§8) or
special disciplinary counsel (§9) if the recommended disposition of the complaint is dismissal,
and (3) if dissatisfied with the recommendation of dismissal, to appeal to the Board (§8) or the
Chief Justice (§9) in writing within 30 days. See Tenn. Sup. Ct. Rule 9, §§8.1 and 9.4(b)(1). A
complainant has no other rights in attorney disciplinary proceedings.
Lbl2. The answer to this question depends on whether the respondent attorney discloses the
response or authorizes its disclosure, or whether disclosure is necessary to the investigation of the
allegations of the disciplinary complaint. A respondent may disclose the responses to the
disciplinary complaint or may request that the entire proceeding be made public. Tenn. Sup. Ct.
Rule 9, §25.5 and 25.1(c). The Board, through disciplinary counsel, has a duty to investigate the
allegations of a disciplinary complaint, and it is conceivable that the completion of the
Page 2
investigation may, to some extent and in some fashion, require that reference be made to
information derived from the response to the disciplinary complaint.

3. No. There is no requirement that a complainant be informed of the reasons that led to
   dismissal of a disciplinary complaint as approved by the Board or the Chief Justice.
4. Yes. First, the rights of a complainant are limited to the rights arising from Rule 9,
   §§8 and 9. Accordingly, no constitutional rights of the complainant are implicated by the
   dismissal of a disciplinary complaint. Second, the initial administrative handling of a
   disciplinary complaint by the Board or the Chief Justice, as the case may be, is ministerial rather
   than adjudicatory. Therefore, due process rights would not be compromised by the later review
   by the Board or the Chief Justice of a recommendation of dismissal, even if due process rights
   were implicated.
   ANALYSIS
   I. The Supreme Court and the Board of Professional Responsibility
   Article VI, Section 1, of the Tennessee Constitution provides that “[t]he judicial power of
   this State shall be vested in one Supreme Court and in such Circuit, Chancery and other inferior
   courts as the Legislature shall from time to time, ordain and establish.” The Supreme Court is
   thus a direct creature of the Constitution and constitutes the supreme judicial tribunal of the
   State. See Belmont v. Board of Law Examiners, 511 S.W.2d 461, 463 (Tenn. 1974).
   The licensing and regulation of attorneys practicing law in the courts of Tennessee are
   squarely within the inherent authority of the judicial branch of government. Smith County
   Education Ass’n v. Anderson, 676 S.W.2d 328, 333 (Tenn. 1984). The Supreme Court “has
   original and exclusive jurisdiction to promulgate its own Rules,” and “[i]ts . . . authority
   embraces the admission and supervision of members of the Bar of the State of Tennessee.” Id.
   (quoting Petition of Tennessee Bar Ass’n, 539 S.W.2d 805, 807 (Tenn. 1976)). The Supreme
   Court, “in the exercise of its constitutionally delegated authority, has promulgated rules and
   regulations governing the practice of law.” Smith County Education Ass’n, 676 S.W.2d at 333-
   34.
   The Board was created when the Tennessee Supreme Court promulgated Rule 9 pursuant
   to its inherent supervisory authority to regulate the practice of law. See Brown v. Board of
   Professional Responsibility, 29 S.W.3d 445, 449 (Tenn. 2000); Belmont v. Board of Law
   Examiners, 511 S.W.2d 461, 462 (Tenn. 1974); Tenn. Sup. Ct. Rule 9, §5. The Board’s authority
   and all of its functions are derived from the Supreme Court. Brown, 29 S.W.3d at 449 (Tenn.
   2000). The Board is an agent of the Tennessee Supreme Court, Doe v. Board of Professional
   Responsibility, 104 S.W.3d 465, 470 (Tenn. 2003), and is an arm of the State for purposes of
   sovereign immunity. Rayburn v. Board of Professional Responsibility, 300 S.W.3d 654, 663
   (Tenn. 2009).
   The Rules of Professional Conduct, which were promulgated by the Supreme Court to
   govern the ethical and professional behavior of attorneys engaged in the practice of law in
   investigation may, to some extent and in some fashion, require that reference be made to
   Lbl
   Lbl
   Article VI, Section 1, of the Tennessee Constitution provides that "[t]he judicial power of
   this State shall be vested in one Supreme Court and in such Circuit, Chancery and other inferior
   courts as the Legislature shall from time to time, ordain and establish." The Supreme Court is
   thus a direct creature of the Constitution and constitutes the supreme judicial tribunal of the
   State. See Belmont v. Board of Law Examiners, 511 S.W.2d 461, 463 (Tenn. 1974).
   The licensing and regulation of attorneys practicing law in the courts of Tennessee are
   squarely within the inherent authority of the judicial branch of government. Smith County
   Education Ass'n V. Anderson, 676 S.W.2d 328, 333 (Tenn. 1984). The Supreme Court "has
   original and exclusive jurisdiction to promulgate its own Rules," and "[i]ts authority
   embraces the admission and supervision of members of the Bar of the State of Tennessee." Id.
   (quoting Petition of Tennessee Bar Ass'n, 539 S.W.2d 805, 807 (Tenn. 1976)). The Supreme
   Court, "in the exercise of its constitutionally delegated authority, has promulgated rules and
   regulations governing the practice of law." Smith County Education Ass'n, 676 S.W.2d at 333-
   The Board was created when the Tennessee Supreme Court promulgated Rule 9 pursuant
   to its inherent supervisory authority to regulate the practice of law. See Brown v. Board of
   Professional Responsibility, 29 S.W.3d 445, 449 (Tenn. 2000); Belmont v. Board of Law
   Examiners, 511 S.W.2d 461, 462 (Tenn. 1974); Tenn. Sup. Ct. Rule 9, §5. The Board's authority
   and all of its functions are derived from the Supreme Court. Brown, 29 S.W.3d at 449 (Tenn.
   2000). The Board is an agent of the Tennessee Supreme Court, Doe v. Board of Professional
   Responsibility, 104 S.W.3d 465, 470 (Tenn. 2003), and is an arm of the State for purposes of
   sovereign immunity. Rayburn v. Board of Professional Responsibility, 300 S.W.3d 654, 663
   The Rules of Professional Conduct, which were promulgated by the Supreme Court to
   govern the ethical and professional behavior of attorneys engaged in the practice of law in
   Tennessee, are set forth in Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 8. Rule 9, entitled Disciplinary
   Enforcement, creates the Board of Professional Responsibility (§5.1), prescribes its duties (§5.5),
   prescribes the duties of disciplinary counsel (§7), defines the procedures by which alleged
   violations of Rule 8 are to be determined (§§8 and 9), and defines the various forms of discipline
   exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred and imposed
   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
   Id. §5.5. The "ground(s) for discipline" referred to above consist of any violation of an
   attorney's oath of office or the Rules of Professional Conduct (set forth at Rule 8). See id. §3.2.
   Thus, the primary purpose of Rule 9 is to provide the infrastructure and procedures for the
   When a disciplinary complaint is filed against an attorney, the Board, through disciplinary
   counsel, has a duty to investigate the complaint. Id., §§5.5(a), 7.2(b), 8.1, 9.2(a), and 9.4.
   Following the investigation, disciplinary counsel has a number of options, including a
   recommendation that the complaint be dismissed. Id. A recommendation of dismissal must be
   reviewed by a district committee member, 1 and, if approved, disciplinary counsel must provide to
   the complainant notice of the recommendation of dismissal. The complainant then may appeal in
   writing to the Board, which may approve, modify, or disapprove the recommendation. Id.;
   Flowers v. Board of Professional Responsibility, 314 S.W. 3d 882, 891-92 (Tenn. 2010).
   Regardless of the Board's disposition, the rights of the complainant are concluded. The
   complainant has no further right of appeal or review. Fletcher v. Board of Professional
   Responsibility, 915 S.W.2d 448, 450 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995). A complainant thus instigates a
   proceeding through which the appropriate licensing agency, in this case the Tennessee Supreme
   Court, determines whether the attorney in question has violated any of the conditions of his or
   Section 9 of Rule 9 provides the specific procedures for handling disciplinary complaints
   filed against attorney Board members. Those procedures generally are the same as those under
   1 Rule 9 divides disciplinary jurisdiction into nine separate districts in Tennessee. Tenn. Sup. Ct. Rule 9, §2. The
   Supreme Court appoints one district committee within each district. Id. §6. The committee "shall consist of not less
   than five members, nor more than thirty members of the bar of this State who maintain an office for the practice of
   law within that district or, if not actively engaged in the practice of law, reside within that district." Id.
   Page 3
   Tennessee, are set forth in Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 8. Rule 9, entitled Disciplinary
   Enforcement, creates the Board of Professional Responsibility (§5.1), prescribes its duties (§5.5),
   prescribes the duties of disciplinary counsel (§7), defines the procedures by which alleged
   violations of Rule 8 are to be determined (§§8 and 9), and defines the various forms of discipline
   that may be imposed on attorneys found to have violated Rule 8 (§4). See Tenn. Sup. Ct. Rule 9.
   The Board is authorized to
   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.
   Id. §5.5. The “ground(s) for discipline” referred to above consist of any violation of an
   attorney’s oath of office or the Rules of Professional Conduct (set forth at Rule 8). See id. §3.2.
   Thus, the primary purpose of Rule 9 is to provide the infrastructure and procedures for the
   enforcement of the standards of ethical and professional conduct prescribed by Rule 8.
   II. Initial Handling of Disciplinary Complaints
   When a disciplinary complaint is filed against an attorney, the Board, through disciplinary
   counsel, has a duty to investigate the complaint. Id., §§5.5(a), 7.2(b), 8.1, 9.2(a), and 9.4.
   Following the investigation, disciplinary counsel has a number of options, including a
   recommendation that the complaint be dismissed. Id. A recommendation of dismissal must be
   reviewed by a district committee member,1
   and, if approved, disciplinary counsel must provide to
   the complainant notice of the recommendation of dismissal. The complainant then may appeal in
   writing to the Board, which may approve, modify, or disapprove the recommendation. Id.;
   Flowers v. Board of Professional Responsibility, 314 S.W. 3d 882, 891-92 (Tenn. 2010).
   Regardless of the Board’s disposition, the rights of the complainant are concluded. The
   complainant has no further right of appeal or review. Fletcher v. Board of Professional
   Responsibility, 915 S.W.2d 448, 450 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995). A complainant thus instigates a
   proceeding through which the appropriate licensing agency, in this case the Tennessee Supreme
   Court, determines whether the attorney in question has violated any of the conditions of his or
   her license. The complainant is not a party to this action.
   Section 9 of Rule 9 provides the specific procedures for handling disciplinary complaints
   filed against attorney Board members. Those procedures generally are the same as those under
   1
   Rule 9 divides disciplinary jurisdiction into nine separate districts in Tennessee. Tenn. Sup. Ct. Rule 9, §2. The
   Supreme Court appoints one district committee within each district. Id. §6. The committee “shall consist of not less
   than five members, nor more than thirty members of the bar of this State who maintain an office for the practice of
   law within that district or, if not actively engaged in the practice of law, reside within that district.” Id.
   Page 4
   Section 8, but with certain modifications, including (1) the disciplinary complaint is filed with
   the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, §9.2(b), rather than with the Board; (2) the Chief Justice
   appoints a special disciplinary counsel to perform the duties ordinarily performed by staff
   disciplinary counsel, §9.4(a); and (3) the Chief Justice appoints an Associate Justice to serve in
   the capacity of the Board for purposes of the specific proceeding against the Board member,
   which Associate Justice does not participate in the potential eventual review of the judgment of a
   special hearing panel, §§9.4(b) and (c). Tenn. Sup. Ct. Rule 9, §9. These modifications address
   the inherent conflict with the Board addressing a complaint against one of its own members.
   If the appointed special disciplinary counsel recommends dismissal of the complaint, the
   designated Associate Justice (serving in the capacity of the Board) must review that
   recommendation. If the recommendation of dismissal is approved, special disciplinary counsel
   must notify the complainant, and the complainant may appeal to the Chief Justice. Id. §§9.4(b)
   and (b)(1). Regardless of the disposition by the Chief Justice, the complainant has no further
   rights. The only matter subject to further review through petition to a trial court is a judgment of
   a hearing panel or special hearing panel, and the only parties with standing to seek such review
   are the respondent attorney/Board member or the Board/special disciplinary counsel. Id. §§1.3
   and 9.4(d); Brown v. Board of Professional Responsibility, 29 S.W.3d 445, 449 (Tenn. 2000);
   Fletcher, 915 S.W.2d at 450; Flowers, 314 S.W. 3d at 892-93.
   III. Confidentiality in Rule 9 Proceedings
   Section 25 of Rule 9 provides in pertinent part:
   25.1 All matters, investigations, or proceedings involving
   allegations of misconduct by or the disability of an attorney,
   including all hearings and all information, records, minutes, files or
   other documents of the Board, district committee members and
   Disciplinary Counsel shall be confidential and privileged, and shall
   not be public records, until or unless:
   (a) a recommendation for the imposition of public discipline,
   without the initiation of a formal disciplinary proceeding pursuant
   to Section 8.2, is filed with the Supreme Court by the Board; or
   (b) a petition to initiate a formal disciplinary proceeding is filed
   pursuant to Section 8.2; or
   (c) the respondent-attorney requests that the matter be public; or
   (d) the investigation is predicated upon conviction of the
   respondent-attorney for a crime; or
   (e) in matters involving alleged disability, this Court enters an
   order transferring the respondent-attorney to disability inactive
   status pursuant to Section 21.
   Section 8, but with certain modifications, including (1) the disciplinary complaint is filed with
   the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, §9.2(b), rather than with the Board; (2) the Chief Justice
   appoints a special disciplinary counsel to perform the duties ordinarily performed by staff
   disciplinary counsel, §9.4(a); and (3) the Chief Justice appoints an Associate Justice to serve in
   the capacity of the Board for purposes of the specific proceeding against the Board member,
   which Associate Justice does not participate in the potential eventual review of the judgment of a
   special hearing panel, §§9.4(b) and (c). Tenn. Sup. Ct. Rule 9, §9. These modifications address
   If the appointed special disciplinary counsel recommends dismissal of the complaint, the
   designated Associate Justice (serving in the capacity of the Board) must review that
   recommendation. If the recommendation of dismissal is approved, special disciplinary counsel
   must notify the complainant, and the complainant may appeal to the Chief Justice. Id. §§9.4(b)
   and (b)(1). Regardless of the disposition by the Chief Justice, the complainant has no further
   rights. The only matter subject to further review through petition to a trial court is a judgment of
   a hearing panel or special hearing panel, and the only parties with standing to seek such review
   are the respondent attorney/Board member or the Board/special disciplinary counsel. Id. §§1.3
   and 9.4(d); Brown v. Board of Professional Responsibility, 29 S.W.3d 445, 449 (Tenn. 2000);
   Fletcher, 915 S.W.2d at 450; Flowers, 314 S.W. 3d at 892-93.
   Page 5
   . . .
   25.3 All work product and work files (including internal
   memoranda, correspondence, notes and similar documents and
   files) of the Board, district committee members, and Disciplinary
   Counsel shall be confidential and privileged and shall not be public
   records.
   . . .
   25.5 All participants in any matter, investigation, or proceeding
   shall conduct themselves so as to maintain confidentiality.
   However, unless a protective order has been entered, nothing in
   this Section or these Rules shall prohibit the complainant,
   respondent-attorney, or any witness from disclosing the existence
   or substance of a complaint, matter, investigation, or proceeding
   under these Rules or from disclosing any documents or
   correspondence filed by, served on, or provided to that person.
   Tenn. Sup. Ct. Rule 9, §§25.1, 25.3 and 25.5.
   These provisions, subject to the stated exceptions and limitations, generally provide for
   the confidentiality of all information pertaining to attorney disciplinary proceedings. For
   purposes of the questions addressed in this opinion, exceptions to this broad confidentiality exist
   when a respondent-attorney requests that the proceedings be made public (§25.1(c)) or when a
   respondent-attorney discloses his or her response to a disciplinary complaint. (§25.5). Id.
   Otherwise, Section 25 requires confidentiality, unless the completion of the investigation
   required by sections 5.5(a), 7.2(b), 8.1, 9.2(a), and 9.4 may, to some extent and in some fashion,
   require that reference be made to information derived from the response to the disciplinary
   complaint.
   The Tennessee Supreme Court has previously articulated the strong policy reasons for
   requiring that matters related to attorney investigations generally remain confidential, stating:
   The purposes underlying confidentiality are obvious. Foremost, the rule
   serves to protect both the complainant from possible recriminations and the
   attorney from unsubstantiated charges while a thorough investigation is
   conducted. Moreover, removing or unnecessarily qualifying the confidentiality
   requirement would eliminate many sources of information and reduce complaints
   received by the Board from lay citizens, litigants, lawyers, and judges. Finally,
   the rule serves to protect public confidence in the judicial system by preventing
   disclosure of a charge until the directives of section 25 are satisfied.
   Doe, 104 S.W.3d at 472.
   Rule 9 and its accompanying provisions related to maintaining the confidentiality of
   investigative records were adopted by the Tennessee Supreme Court pursuant to its “inherent
   Tenn. Sup. Ct. Rule 9, §§25.1, 25.3 and 25.5.
   These provisions, subject to the stated exceptions and limitations, generally provide for
   the confidentiality of all information pertaining to attorney disciplinary proceedings. For
   purposes of the questions addressed in this opinion, exceptions to this broad confidentiality exist
   when a respondent-attorney requests that the proceedings be made public (§25.1(c)) or when a
   respondent-attorney discloses his or her response to a disciplinary complaint. (§25.5). Id.
   Otherwise, Section 25 requires confidentiality, unless the completion of the investigation
   required by sections 5.5(a), 7.2(b), 8.1, 9.2(a), and 9.4 may, to some extent and in some fashion,
   require that reference be made to information derived from the response to the disciplinary
   The Tennessee Supreme Court has previously articulated the strong policy reasons for
   The purposes underlying confidentiality are obvious. Foremost, the rule
   attorney from unsubstantiated charges while a thorough investigation is
   conducted. Moreover, removing or unnecessarily qualifying the confidentiality
   requirement would eliminate many sources of information and reduce complaints
   received by the Board from lay citizens, litigants, lawyers, and judges. Finally,
   the rule serves to protect public confidence in the judicial system by preventing
   Rule 9 and its accompanying provisions related to maintaining the confidentiality of
   investigative records were adopted by the Tennessee Supreme Court pursuant to its "inherent
   Page 6
   supervisory power to regulate the practice of law.” Id. at 469-70 (citing Brown, 29 S.W.3d at
   449, quoting In re Burson, 909 S.W.2d 768, 773 (Tenn. 1995)). The provisions of Rule 9
   relating to confidentiality constitute an exception to the general requirement under Tennessee law
   that all state records are open for public inspection. Specifically Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-
   503(a)(2)(A) requires that all state records be open for public inspection “unless otherwise
   provided by state law.” Rule 9, adopted by the Supreme Court pursuant to its inherent authority
   to regulate the practice of law, is a state law mandating that certain records be maintained as
   confidential. See The Tennessean v. Tennessee Department of Personnel, No. M2005-02578-
   COA-R3-CV, 2007 WL 1241337, at 6-8 (Tenn. Ct. App. Apr. 27, 2007) (noting that the Supreme
   Court’s rules requiring the maintenance of certain records as confidential constitute a state law
   exception to the general rule that State records are open to the public).
   IV. Review by Board or Chief Justice of Recommendation of Dismissal
   The rights of a complainant arise from the provisions of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule
   9, §§8 and 9. These rights are limited to filing a complaint, receiving notice of a
   recommendation of dismissal, and appealing that recommendation to the Board or the Chief
   Justice, as the case may be. A complainant has no other or further right of appeal or review,
   Fletcher, 915 S.W.2d at 450, and Rule 9 provides no authority to complain of any failure of the
   Board to act. Id. Accordingly, no constitutional rights of the complainant are implicated by the
   dismissal of a disciplinary complaint.
   When a disciplinary complaint is filed it is first investigated by staff disciplinary counsel
   or special disciplinary counsel. Rule 9, §§8.1 and 9.4(a). The initial receipt of the complaint by
   the Board or the Chief Justice (§9.2(b)), as the case may be, is a routine matter that involves no
   decision-making as to its allegations. The initial handling is thus administrative and ministerial
   rather than adjudicatory in nature. It is only when the complaint returns to the Board or the Chief
   Justice for review of a recommendation of dismissal that any decision-making on their part on
   the merits is involved. Therefore, no constitutional rights of the respondent-attorney are
   compromised when the Board or the Chief Justice is involved with both the initial receipt of the
   complaint and later review of a recommendation of dismissal.
   ROBERT E. COOPER, JR.
   Attorney General and Reporter
   WILLIAM E. YOUNG
   Solicitor General
   supervisory power to regulate the practice of law." Id. at 469-70 (citing Brown, 29 S.W.3d at
   449, quoting In re Burson, 909 S.W.2d 768, 773 (Tenn. 1995)). The provisions of Rule 9
   relating to confidentiality constitute an exception to the general requirement under Tennessee law
   that all state records are open for public inspection. Specifically Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-
   503(a)(2)(A) requires that all state records be open for public inspection "unless otherwise
   provided by state law." Rule 9, adopted by the Supreme Court pursuant to its inherent authority
   to regulate the practice of law, is a state law mandating that certain records be maintained as
   confidential. See The Tennessean v. Tennessee Department of Personnel, No. M2005-02578-
   COA-R3-CV, 2007 WL 1241337, at 6-8 (Tenn. Ct. App. Apr. 27, 2007) (noting that the Supreme
   Court's rules requiring the maintenance of certain records as confidential constitute a state law
   IV. Review by Board or Chief Justice of Recommendation of Dismissal
   The rights of a complainant arise from the provisions of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule
   9, §§8 and 9. These rights are limited to filing a complaint, receiving notice of a
   recommendation of dismissal, and appealing that recommendation to the Board or the Chief
   Justice, as the case may be. A complainant has no other or further right of appeal or review,
   Fletcher, 915 S.W.2d at 450, and Rule 9 provides no authority to complain of any failure of the
   Board to act. Id. Accordingly, no constitutional rights of the complainant are implicated by the
   When a disciplinary complaint is filed it is first investigated by staff disciplinary counsel
   or special disciplinary counsel. Rule 9, §§8.1 and 9.4(a). The initial receipt of the complaint by
   the Board or the Chief Justice (§9.2(b)), as the case may be, is a routine matter that involves no
   decision-making as to its allegations. The initial handling is thus administrative and ministerial
   rather than adjudicatory in nature. It is only when the complaint returns to the Board or the Chief
   Justice for review of a recommendation of dismissal that any decision-making on their part on
   the merits is involved. Therefore, no constitutional rights of the respondent-attorney are
   compromised when the Board or the Chief Justice is involved with both the initial receipt of the
   WILLIAM E. YOUNG
   Page 7
   TALMAGE M. WATTS
   Assistant Attorney General
   Requested by:
   The Honorable Eddie Bass
   State Representative
   109 War Memorial Building
   Nashville, TN 37243
   State Representative