On October 18, 2022, the Supreme Court of Tennessee ruled on the Notice of Submission filed by the Board of Professional Responsibility consisting of a certified copy of an opinion entered by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals on May 26, 2022, disbarring Reston Attorney Johnnie Louis Johnson, III.
The case titled In Re: Johnnie Louis Johnson, III was brought by the Board of Professional Responsibility, case no. m2022-01243-SC-BAR-BP.
The charges cited violations of District of Columbia Rules of Professional Conduct rules 1.4(b) (duty to communicate), 1.5(a) (unreasonable fee), 3.3(a)(1) (making knowingly false statements to a tribunal), 8.1(b) (knowing failure to respond and to disclose a fact necessary to correct a misapprehension, 8.4(c) (dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation), and 8.4(d) (conduct seriously interfering with the administration of justice).
According to the filing:
“On September 12, 2022, this Court entered a Notice of Reciprocal Discipline requiring Mr. Johnson to inform this Court within thirty (30) days of receipt of the Notice why reciprocal discipline should not be imposed in Tennessee pursuant to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 25.4 or, in the absence of a response demonstrating the grounds set forth in Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 25.4, this Court would impose a similar discipline with identical terms and conditions based upon the disbarment issued by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. “
Respondent failed to file any response to the Supreme Court of Tennessee.
The Court, after careful consideration of the record, finds it appropriate to enter an Order of Reciprocal Discipline disbarring Mr. Johnson.
The Order of Reciprocal Discipline reads:
“IT IS, THEREFORE, CONSIDERED, ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED BY THE COURT THAT:
(1) Johnnie Louis Johnson, III is hereby permanently disbarred from the practice
of law in Tennessee.
(2) Mr. Johnson shall comply in all respects with Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 28
regarding the obligations and responsibilities of disbarred attorneys.
(3) Pursuant to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 28.1, this Order shall be effective upon
entry.
The Board of Professional Responsibility shall cause notice of this discipline to be
published as required by Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 28.11.”
According to LinkedIn, Mr. Johnnie Louis Johnson III is the owner and Senior Trial Attorney at Law Offices of Johnnie Louis Johnson III, LLC, servicing Reston, Virginia. He has been admitted to Tennessee, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
