The Tennessee Supreme Court has disbarred Perry Stout, a former Johnson County Sessions Judge, following his guilty plea to marijuana trafficking charges. The decision, announced by the court’s Board of Professional Responsibility, effectively bans Stout permanently from practicing law within the state. This action is in line with Tennessee’s 2020 rule eliminating the possibility for disbarred attorneys to request reinstatement after five years.
The case highlights significant ethical breaches given Stout’s judicial role. Evidence presented during the May 24 hearing indicated that his actions adversely affected the Johnson County community, undermining local confidence in the legal process. Importantly, the court pointed out that as a juvenile judge, Stout’s involvement in drug trafficking created a devastating conflict of interest. It’s conceivable that some juveniles appearing before him on drug-related charges could have been indirectly impacted by his illegal activities.
For further details, you can read the full story reported by WJHL. Stout is currently being detained at Morgan County jail, an outcome that will, hopefully, prevent any further erosion of judicial and community trust.
More information can also be found on Above the Law.