On Thursday, June 20, 2024, the Tennessee Supreme Court disbarred attorney Robert Allen Doll, III from practicing law in the state.
The case is entitled “Robert Allen Doll, III v. Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee,” with case no. M2022-01723-SC-R3-BP.
The ruling upholds decisions by a Board of Professional Responsibility hearing panel and the Chancery Court of Davidson County to disbar Doll for criminal convictions related to his legal work. In 2017, Doll was convicted by a Williamson County jury of two counts of subornation of aggravated perjury and one count of criminal simulation.
The convictions stemmed from Doll’s representation of a client in post-divorce proceedings against her ex-husband. Evidence presented at Doll’s criminal trial showed that in 2013, Doll submitted an emergency petition on behalf of his client that included her forged signature and a false oath claiming she had signed it in front of a notary public.
When the client later testified under oath that she did not sign the petition, Doll made contradictory statements to the presiding judge. He also coached the client to lie under oath by claiming multiple times that the forged signature was actually hers. As a result, the client was charged with perjury and sued by her ex-husband.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court found Doll’s actions seriously violated his duties as an attorney and damaged the integrity of the legal system. It agreed with the lower decisions that disbarment was the appropriate sanction based on American Bar Association guidelines for offenses involving dishonesty, fraud, and interference with the administration of justice.
The Court rejected Doll’s argument that it should consider less severe sanctions given to attorneys in similar misconduct cases. It noted Doll had multiple prior disciplinary actions, that his crimes directly related to misuse of his law license, and that his actions harmed his client. Doll’s failure to fully acknowledge wrongdoing was also cited as an aggravating factor.
In affirming disbarment, the Supreme Court emphasized the seriousness of Doll’s actions, especially suborning perjury, which “cuts through the very heart of the judicial system.” It concluded no comparable case warranted a lesser sanction than removal from practicing law.
The Disposition states:
“We hold the trial court’s decision upholding the hearing panel’s sanction of disbarment was neither arbitrary nor an abuse of discretion. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the chancery court and the decision of the hearing panel to disbar Mr. Doll from the practice of law in the State of Tennessee. Mr. Doll’s disbarment shall be effective upon entry of this Court’s order under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, section 28. l.”
According to avvo.com, Mr. Doll is a family attorney in Nashville, Tennessee. He attended the University of North Dakota School of Law. He acquired his law license in Tennessee in 2003.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
