On Thursday, August 28, 2025, the Supreme Court of Florida approved the uncontested report of a referee, resulting in a 91-day suspension for attorney Keith Allen Pope from the practice of law. This suspension will take effect 30 days from the date of the order, allowing Pope time to conclude his practice and safeguard the interests of his existing clients. Should Pope notify the court in writing that he is no longer practicing and does not require the full 30 days, the suspension could be made effective immediately.
The case is entitled “The Florida Bar v. Keith Allen Pope,” with case no. SC2025-0349.
The ruling follows a series of disciplinary actions stemming from a complaint filed by The Florida Bar. The complaint was initiated for reciprocal discipline based on a prior public censure imposed by the Supreme Court of Tennessee. According to a document submitted in the case, the Tennessee Bar found Pope guilty of violating professional conduct rules related to a domestic disturbance incident involving a former girlfriend. This incident led to Pope’s arrest for violating an order of protection, resulting in a guilty plea that reflected negatively on his fitness to practice law.
The Florida Bar’s complaint against Pope was filed on March 14, 2025, and the Supreme Court designated a referee to oversee the proceedings shortly thereafter. Despite multiple attempts to contact him, including notifications sent via certified mail and email, Pope did not respond or participate in any of the scheduled hearings. A case management conference held on April 7, 2025, and a subsequent sanction hearing on June 2, 2025, were both attended solely by representatives from The Florida Bar, as Pope failed to appear.
During the sanction hearing, the referee admitted several exhibits into evidence, including documents detailing the disciplinary actions taken against Pope in Tennessee. These included a public censure issued on July 5, 2022, an arrest warrant, and an order of temporary suspension due to his failure to comply with a monitoring agreement from the Tennessee Lawyer Assistance Program.
The referee’s report highlighted that Pope has no prior disciplinary record in Florida. However, the findings indicated that his actions warranted suspension due to his failure to maintain the integrity expected of legal professionals. The referee recommended the suspension based on established standards for imposing lawyer sanctions, which consider criminal conduct and its effects on a lawyer’s fitness to practice.
The Disposition states:
“The uncontested report of the referee is approved, and Respondent is suspended from the practice of law for ninety-one days, effective thirty days from the date of this order so that Respondent can close out his practice and protect the interests of existing clients.”
According to Avvo.com, Mr. Pope is a child custody attorney in Knoxville, Tennessee. He attended the University of Memphis – Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. He acquired his law license in Florida in 1986.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
