On Monday, September 16, 2024, the Supreme Court of Tennessee temporarily suspended lawyer Grace Ingrid Gardiner from practicing law in the state.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Grace Ingrid Gardiner.”
Gardiner received reciprocal discipline from the Tennessee high court based on an order from the Supreme Court of Minnesota on June 20, 2024, that had already temporarily suspended her license to practice in that state. The Tennessee Supreme Court then gave Gardiner 30 days to explain why the Minnesota discipline should not also apply in Tennessee.
In her response filed on September 13, 2024, Gardiner acknowledged that none of the exceptions listed in Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 25.4 applied to her situation. Section 25.4 lays out limited reasons why reciprocal discipline from another state may not be imposed.
With no valid objections raised, the Tennessee Supreme Court imposed the same temporary suspension as was ordered in Minnesota against Gardiner, consistent with the terms from the neighboring state’s high court.
As a suspended attorney, Gardiner must now comply with Tennessee Supreme Court rules regarding the responsibilities of suspended lawyers, including paying any court costs within 90 days.
According to Avvo, Ms. Gardiner is an immigration attorney in Tampa, Florida. She obtained her license in Tennessee in 2004.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
