On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the Tennessee Board of Professional Conduct announced the suspension of attorney William Anthony Paxton.
The suspension was the result of an Order of Reciprocal Discipline issued by the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Under this order, Paxton is suspended from practicing law for one year, although this suspension is stayed contingent upon his adherence to certain conditions, including avoiding any further misconduct and complying with an earlier order issued by the Supreme Court of Ohio on November 25, 2025.
On January 7, 2026, the Tennessee Supreme Court directed Paxton to respond within 30 days to justify why the Ohio-imposed discipline should not also be enforced in Tennessee. However, he did not respond to this directive.
Moving forward, Paxton is required to comply with the obligations set forth in Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, which outlines the responsibilities of suspended attorneys and the procedures for seeking reinstatement.
According to Avvo.com, Mr. Paxton is a family attorney in Maryville, Tennessee. He acquired his law license in Tennessee in 1994.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
