Blount County lawyer disbarred
October 25, 2021

Effective October 22, 2021, the Tennessee Supreme Court permanently disbarred Charles Alphonso Carpenter from the practice of law. Mr. Carpenter consented to permanent disbarment because he could not successfully defend the charges alleged in Petitions for Discipline and complaints filed against him with the Board.

In the pending Petition for Discipline, Carpenter failed to communicate with his clients, failed to file proper pleadings relative to the immigration matters, failed to correct errors in documents submitted and failed to inform his clients of his errors. In another matter, Carpenter signed the name of his client to an emergency Juvenile Petition as an affiant and then notarized, with his own notary seal, the signature. In pending disciplinary investigations, Carpenter represented eight clients in immigration matters and failed to communicate with his clients, failed to file proper pleadings in the immigration matters, failed to correct improperly filed immigration pleadings, failed to inform clients of his errors, and received fees but performed no work. Carpenter also failed to respond to Disciplinary counsel requests for information during the investigatory process.

Mr. Carpenter’s conduct violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3 (diligence), 1.4 (communication), 1.5 (fees), 8.1(b) (disciplinary matters), and 8.4(a), (c) and (d) (misconduct).

Carpenter must comply with the requirements of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Sections 28 regarding the obligations and responsibilities of disbarred attorneys and is not eligible for reinstatement to the practice of law in the state of Tennessee.