Connie Reguli v. Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee

In this disciplinary appeal, the lawyer must be disbarred.  The lawyer engaged in a years-long orchestrated effort on social media to publicly intimidate judges and justice system officials, and to inspire community fear and loathing against the justice system itself. She posted hyperbolic commentary on social media loaded with false allegations about judges and justice system officials, doxed judges and justice system officials, urged her social media followers to send them harassing messages, intimidated judges and justice system officials, spread disinformation and conspiracy theories, and flagrantly defied court orders.  Her public comments to social media followers indicated she wished physical harm to judges and justice system officials, prompting them to fear for their safety and that of their families.  And in defiance of a protective custody order and an Amber Alert for a child in danger, the lawyer enabled her client to evade law enforcement by supplying her client with a burner phone and hiding the client and her child inside the lawyer’s own home. All of these acts were connected to judicial proceedings in which the lawyer was participating. After lengthy disciplinary proceedings, a Board of Professional Responsibility hearing panel recommended disbarment, and on appeal the trial court agreed.  The lawyer appeals to this Court.  Here, the lawyer’s comprehensive efforts sought to intimidate judges and justice system officials, and to directly poison the well of justice.  Her conduct is a grave dishonor as a lawyer and demands the most severe sanction.  No judicial response short of disbarment would be acceptable.