Former Sen. Ward Crutchfield disbarred by state Supreme Court {TN Waltz}

NASHVILLE - Attorney and former Sen. Ward Crutchfield, who pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge last month, won't be practicing anytime soon in Tennessee after being formally disbarred by the state Supreme Court.

In the order issued Monday, Justice Janice M. Holder wrote that the 78-year-old Chattanooga Democrat "has consented to disbarment because he cannot successfully defend himself against the charges under investigation and has discontinued the practice of law."

Under court rules, Crutchfield can apply for reinstatement in five years, but Jones wrote he would have to "prove by clear and convincing evidence" that he has the moral qualifications to resume practicing law. He also would have to take at least part of the bar exam again.

Crutchfield, who is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 28, resigned earlier this month after pleading guilty to taking $3,000 in the FBI's Tennessee Waltz bribery and extortion sting. He surrendered his law license the week after his plea.

At the time he surrendered his license, Crutchfield provided the Chattanooga Times Free Press with a copy of an accompanying affidavit in which he said he accepts "full responsibility" for his conduct in the case.

"I also accept the consequence of the loss of my law license as a result of my plea," the affidavit stated.

Ten candidates _ five Democrats and five Republicans _ are seeking the state Senate seat vacated by Crutchfield, who served in the General Assembly for 31 years.

Both party primaries will take place Oct. 4, and the general election will follow Nov. 15.

Overall, Tennessee Waltz led to criminal charges against 11 defendants, including several local officials in Memphis and Chattanooga.

The sting was built around a fake company, E-Cycle Management, that offered bribes for help in changing state law for a business advantage.

On Tuesday, former Sen. John Ford, D-Memphis, was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in federal prison for taking $55,000 in bribes.

Former state Sen. Roscoe Dixon, D-Memphis, is the only other Tennessee lawmaker convicted at trial. He is serving a prison sentence of five years and three months.

Former Rep. Chris Newton, R-Cleveland, pleaded guilty to bribery and spent nine months in prison.

Besides Crutchfield, former Sen. Kathryn Bowers, D-Memphis, also pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

Bet that must have hurt..

Our TN Supreme Court is full of liberal Democrats...

Like he’s really able to practice law now much less in 5 years. And he’ll have to take the bar again when he’s 83? Get real. Will TN really send a 78 year old man to prison? He’ll be out on appeals for years and by the time he’s run out of get out of jail free cards, he’ll be dead or so close to it they’ll send him back to the nursing home with a slap on the wrist.

3 posted on 08/30/2007 8:43:23 AM PDT by mtbopfuyn (I think the border is kind of an artificial barrier - San Antonio councilwoman Patti Radle)

I guess most of the 11 that were snarled by the sting were Democrats. I guess Republicans were not as greedy.

Do these folks that were part of the Tennessee Waltz believe that money is how the law is changed and not the will of the people?

4 posted on 08/30/2007 8:45:55 AM PDT by topher (Let us return to old-fashioned morality - morality that has stood the test of time...)

and that is only the tip of the iceberg. At least they got that crook on something.

Under court rules, Crutchfield can apply for reinstatement in five years, but Jones wrote he would have to “prove by clear and convincing evidence” that he has the moral qualifications to resume practicing law.

This is the reason Bill Clinton never applied to be reinstated.
He knows he would be denied.

6 posted on 08/30/2007 9:13:09 AM PDT by counterpunch ("The Democrats are the party of slavery." - Cindy Sheehan)

This is the reason Bill Clinton never applied to be reinstated. He knows he would be denied.

Or he is waiting for his wife to become president...

7 posted on 08/30/2007 9:16:36 AM PDT by John123 ("What good fortune for the governments that the people do not think" -- Adolf Hitler)

Don’t you mean “co-president”?

8 posted on 08/30/2007 9:21:30 AM PDT by counterpunch ("The Democrats are the party of slavery." - Cindy Sheehan)

Don’t be surprised if this guy tries to practice law again in 5 years (assuming he is still alive, of course!), because these greedy crooks just can’t stop trying to feed at the trough. It’s called “public service”, and they’re addicted to it.

Ha, the way the world is now with “continuing education” an 80 year old lawyer in CA had to attend classes on law. Heck, the guy has probably forgotten more than the others teaching the course.

10 posted on 08/30/2007 9:56:38 AM PDT by freekitty (May the eagles long fly over our beautiful and free American sky.)

Former Sen. Ward Crutchfield, DEMOCRAT, disbarred by state Supreme Court.

11 posted on 08/30/2007 11:04:32 AM PDT by RetSignman (DEMSM: "If you tell a big enough lie, frequently enough, it becomes the truth")

Former Sen. Ward Crutchfield, DEMOCRAT,

I was just going to ask anyone reading this thread, to what party he belongs. If they mentioned it in the article, it was buried.

12 posted on 08/30/2007 6:45:51 PM PDT by Auntie Mame (Fear not tomorrow. God is already there.)

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.