Ethics Complaint Levels Charges Against Two Judges, Lewis

DA Glenn Funk also named in filing to Board of Professional Review and Board of Judicial Conduct

Lewis & Moreland vacationing in Costa Rica in 2013

Following a Scene story on Tuesday, a complaint was filed today with both the Board of Professional Responsibility and the Board of Judicial Conduct against attorney Bryan Lewis and Judge Casey Moreland alleging “violations of the rules governing attorneys and judges.” These boards regulate the conduct of attorneys and judges, respectively.

The filing was made anonymously “due to concerns regarding retaliation.” A copy of the complaint was simultaneously sent to both the Scene and WSMV-Channel 4 from an anonymous email account. Attempts to reach the person who filed the complaint were unsuccessful.

The Scene story, which detailed the suicide of Leigh Terry following a trip to Alabama with Moreland, Lewis and others, included allegations, contained in a Metro police report, that Moreland had sex with Terry, who is a client of Lewis', in exchange for the dismissal of her DUI charges. When asked if he had ever had sex with Terry, Moreland told the Scene, “I fully reject and deny any personal relationship with Leigh Terry whatsoever.”

Lewis would later describe his relationship with Terry as a “friend with benefits,” and he paid for an apartment for her.

Additionally, the complaint filed with the two boards alleges misconduct about Judge Michael Binkley, a circuit court judge in Williamson County, and Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk. According to the complaint, Binkley was arrested “during a prostitution sting on Dickerson Road in 2010.” According to the complaint, the charges against Binkley “were dismissed and expunged by Judge Casey Moreland on the very same day in a highly unusual manner, both in timing and procedure. Since that time, Attorney Lewis has boasted to a number of individuals that Judge Binkley ‘owes’ Attorney Lewis and Judge Moreland for ‘fixing’ the prostitution charges against Judge Binkley.” The Scene could not independently verify the truth of the allegations contained in the complaint filed with the two boards.

The Scene left messages with Binkley’s office requesting a response. WSMV reached Binkley, who responded with “no comment.” Funk's office declined to comment on the complaint.

Lewis is already scheduled for a three-day hearing before the Board of Professional Responsibility, beginning Feb. 13, on charges that he improperly sought and received Moreland's assistance in gaining the early release of developer David Chase from a mandatory 12-hour hold. Chase had been arrested on suspicion of domestic violence. The original complaint against Lewis, which led to this hearing, charges that he attempted to influence a judge by improper means, had an ex parte contact with the judge, and assisted the judge in the violation of the code of judicial conduct. That complaint also notes that Moreland was publicly reprimanded for his actions in releasing Chase before the mandatory 12-hour hold.

Ironically, Chase is suing ex-girlfriend Lauren Bull and others for defamation in a case which is pending in Binkley’s Williamson County courtroom.

Full Article & Source:
Ethics Complaint Levels Charges Against Two Judges, Lewis

See Also:
Questions Surround Trip Taken by Judge, Lawyers, Women 

Judge, attorney face questions about woman's suicide

Tennessee State Senator Wants Judicial Discipline Panel to Investigate Nashville Judges