Tennessee Supreme Court proposes changes to rules which would raise the maximum duration of a suspension and which would make disbarment irrevocable

Currently, the maximum length of a suspension from practice in Tennessee is five years.  The only harsher punishment is disbarment. Disbarment, however, was not permanent. A disbarred lawyer can apply for reinstatement after five years.

This may change in the near future.  The Tennessee Supreme Court recently asked for public comments on a proposal to revise the rules of disciplinary enforcement.  The new rules would make disbarment permanent and irrevocable and would extend the potential length of a suspension from 5 years maximum to 10 years maximum.

You can read the proposed changes here.  Faughnan on Ethics questions whether these changes are necessary.