Nashville, Tenn. – The Court of the Judiciary, the body charged with overseeing the ethical conduct of judges, named Timothy R. Discenza as its new chief disciplinary counsel. Discenza, of Memphis, has served as federal prosecutor for the Department of Justice for the past 33 years.
Discenza will begin serving as chief disciplinary counsel on July 1. Steve Daniel, who currently holds the position, will be stepping down as chief disciplinary counsel when his contract ends on June 30, 2010.
“Timothy Discenza’s extensive experience conducting complex investigations as a federal prosecutor will be a valuable asset to the Court of Judiciary,” said Don Ash, presiding judge of the Court of the Judiciary. “His knowledge of judicial ethics and extensive litigation experience has given him an astute understanding of the objectivity and sensitivity required to serve as chief disciplinary counsel.”
Prior to joining the Department of Justice, Discenza worked in private practice for three years. For the past two years, Discenza has served as an adjunct professor of law for the University of Memphis School of Law. Discenza received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Memphis School of Law and earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois.
Discenza has agreed to retain Patrick J. McHale as assistant disciplinary counsel, a position he has held since January 2009. McHale, a practicing attorney for 34 years, has maintained a diverse legal career focusing on civil litigation throughout the state. McHale received both his undergraduate and law degrees from Vanderbilt University.
The chief disciplinary counsel and assistant disciplinary counsel are responsible for reviewing and screening complaints against judges, conducting preliminary and full investigations of judges, making recommendations to the Court’s investigative panel and prosecuting formal charges. Both the chief disciplinary counsel and assistant disciplinary counsel are not a state employees, but rather a contractors appointed by the Court of the Judiciary.