On Thursday, September 7, 2023, the Supreme Court of Tennessee temporarily suspended attorney Joseph Houston Crabtree, Jr. from practicing law. The court found that Crabtree failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility regarding a complaint of misconduct.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Joseph Houston Crabtree, Jr.,” with case no. M2023-01264-SC-BAR-BP.
According to a release from the Board of Professional Responsibility, the suspension is effective immediately. Crabtree is prohibited from accepting new cases, representing existing clients, or using any indicia of a lawyer, legal assistant, or law clerk. He must also notify all clients, co-counsel, and opposing counsel of the suspension and deliver any papers or property to which they are entitled.
This is not the first time Crabtree has faced disciplinary action. He was previously suspended on November 22, 2022, for a period of three years, with one year served on active suspension and the remaining two years on probation. That suspension remains in effect.
The current suspension is a result of Crabtree’s failure to respond to a complaint of misconduct filed against him. The Board of Professional Responsibility alleges that Crabtree violated several rules of professional conduct.
Crabtree has the right to request dissolution or modification of the suspension by petitioning the Supreme Court. However, until then, he is precluded from practicing law in any capacity.
The Supreme Court’s decision to temporarily suspend Crabtree’s license is a reminder of the high standards of conduct expected of attorneys in Tennessee. The court takes allegations of misconduct seriously and will take swift action to protect the public and maintain the integrity of the legal profession.
According to avvo.com, Mr. Crabtree, Jr., is a family attorney in Athens, Tennessee. He acquired his law license in Tennessee in 1985.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
