On Thursday, December 8, 2022, the Supreme Court of Tennessee ruled on the Notice of Submission filed by the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning Germantown attorney Brian Kirk Kelsey’s felony convictions.
The case titled In Re: Brian Kirk Kelsey was brought by the Board of Professional Responsibility, case no. M2022-01698-SC-BAR-BP.
On November 22, 2022, Kelsey pleaded guilty to two serious crimes of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States and Aiding and Abetting the Acceptance of Excessive Contributions. These charges stemmed from his 2016 unsuccessful congressional campaign during which Kelsey and others caused the political organization to make illegal campaign contributions to Kelsey and caused such organizations to file false reports.
Based on the foregoing facts, the Court finds it appropriate to enter an Order of Enforcement suspending Kelsey.
The Order of Enforcement reads:
“IT IS, THEREFORE, CONSIDERED, ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED BY THE COURT THAT:
(1) Brian Kirk Kelsey is suspended from the practice of law on this date pending further orders of this Court,
(2) This matter shall be referred to the Board of Professional Responsibility for the institution of a formal proceeding in which the sole issue to be determined shall be the extent of the final discipline.
(3) Brian Kirk Kelsey shall fully comply with the provisions of Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 28, concerning disbarred or suspended attorneys.
(4) The Board of Professional Responsibility shall cause notice of this suspension to be published as required by Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 28.11.”
Prior to the suspension, Mr. Brian Kirk Kelsey served in the Tennessee State Senate from 2009 to November 8, 2022. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University. Kelsey has been licensed in Tennessee. His info can be found on Ballotpedia.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
