On December 17, 2024, the DOJ published a “Letter of Findings” with allegations that the BLE and TLAP violated the ADA by discriminating against two bar applicants “due to a substance use disorder or mental health disorder.”
On January 16, 2025, the Tennessee Supreme Court issued the following Press Release in response to the DOJ’s Letter of Findings:
Nashville, Tenn- Today the Tennessee Supreme Court addressed public findings from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) claiming that the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners (TBLE) and the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP), which operate under the authority of the Tennessee Supreme Court, violated the ADA by discriminating against two bar applicants “due to a substance use disorder or mental health disorder.”
The Court strongly disagrees with DOJ’s assertion that either TBLE or TLAP discriminated against the applicants based on health status or disability. Both TBLE and TLAP follow well-established administrative processes that are designed to avoid discrimination against any applicant. The Court, TBLE, and TLAP have been and remain committed to treating persons with disabilities, including bar applicants with disabilities, with dignity and respect, and in compliance with all legal rights afforded to such applicants.”
You can also access the TN Court’s Press Release directly on its website here:
The Attorney General for the State of Tennessee subsequently responded directly to the DOJ’s Letter of Finding, demonstrating that the DOJ’s allegations are wholly without merit.
On August 26, 2025, the Tennessee Attorney General issued a press release stating that, following Tennessee’s comprehensive response to the DOJ demonstrating Tennessee’s longstanding commitment to ADA compliance, the DOJ formally closed the matter in a letter from the head of the Civil Rights Division on August 22, 2025.
The DOJ also removed its completely erroneous Letter of Findings from its DOJ’s website.
Per Tennessee’s Attorney General, Jonathan Skrmetti: “We are glad the Department of Justice has closed this misguided matter attacking common-sense guardrails protecting the integrity of the practice of law in Tennessee.” The press release went on to say that “the investigation and findings were baseless overreach. I’m proud of Tennessee’s track record of upholding the highest professional standards while ensuring that qualified people have equal opportunity to practice law, regardless of disability status.”
TLAP continues to operate its monitoring program at a level of clinical integrity that generates exceptional no-relapse recovery rates in alcoholism and addiction cases. On a case-by-case basis, TLAP’s support is tailored to meet the needs of each individual participant via well-established clinical protocols and medical best practices that empirically support fitness to practice and protect the public.
See TLAP’s newsletter here.