A Continuing Education

Reciprocal discipline has been imposed by the Tennessee Supreme Court for a Maine sanction that was imposed on the Respondent for misconduct in seeking CLE credit

By Order of Reciprocal Discipline entered by the Supreme Court of Tennessee on August 8, 2024, Jason Russell Buckley received a one (1) year suspension retroactive to September 7, 2023. Mr. Buckley was suspended by the Supreme Judicial Court for the State of Maine for one (1) year by Order on Motions for Sanctions M. Bar R. 21 entered September 7, 2023, for requesting continuing legal education credit for attending on June 16 and June 17, 2022, live webcast seminars occurring simultaneously in violation of Maine Rules of Professional Conduct 8.4(c) (Misconduct) and Maine Bar Rule 5(a), (f)(1).

On April 8, 2024, the Supreme Court entered a Notice of Reciprocal Discipline directing Mr. Buckley to inform the Court, within thirty (30) days of receipt of the Notice, why the discipline imposed by the Supreme Judicial Court for the State of Maine should not be imposed in Tennessee. On May 6, 2024, Mr. Buckley filed a timely response with the Court, and the Board filed a reply on June 12, 2024, as ordered. Upon due consideration of the respective arguments, the Supreme Court entered its Order of Reciprocal Discipline.

Our coverage of the Maine sanction

In 2023, [Respondent] submitted documentation that showed that he was attempting to get credit for two live webcasts that occurred simultaneously on June 16, 2022.

He stated that he had used his computer and an iPad but "did not realize that attending multiple CLEs simultaneously was a violation of the Bar rules and that if he had known such, he would not have done so."

He did attend a live presentation and an on-demand CLE after the violation but defaulted on the ensuing disciplinary charges.

The sanction requires him to seek court approval prior to reinstatement.

(Mike Frisch)