The Case of Cocke County Attorney Charlotte Ann Leibrock

In the Tennessee legal system, the Supreme Court has the authority to issue a summary suspension when an attorney’s conduct poses a “threat of substantial harm to the public.” For Newport-based attorney Charlotte Ann Leibrock (BPR No. 026433), a string of recent criminal charges related to public intoxication and driving under the influence has led to an immediate halt of her legal practice.

Effective December 16, 2025, the Tennessee Supreme Court ordered the temporary suspension of Leibrock’s law license.

The Core Misconduct: Public Safety and Professional Conduct

The disciplinary action (BPR No. 2025-3537-1-REL) follows a troubling sequence of events that occurred in late 2025. According to reports from the Tennessee Bar Association, the suspension was triggered by the following incidents:

1. Arrest at the Greene County Detention Center

On November 30, 2025, Leibrock was arrested in Greeneville after police received a call that she had arrived at the detention center to visit a client while appearing intoxicated. Officers reported that she failed a field sobriety test and she was subsequently charged with:

DUI (Driving Under the Influence)
Driving Left of Center
Violation of Implied Consent
Violation of Financial Responsibility Law

2. Prior Incident at Cocke County Jail

Only weeks prior, in early November 2025, Leibrock was reportedly charged with public intoxication after allegedly appearing intoxicated while attempting to speak with an inmate at the Cocke County Jail Annex in Dandridge.

A Pattern of Disciplinary Issues

Charlotte Ann Leibrock has been licensed to practice in Tennessee since 2007, often working alongside her father at their firm, Leibrock & Leibrock. However, her recent suspension follows a prior formal Public Censure issued in April 2023.

In that earlier case, Leibrock pled guilty to disorderly conduct after she removed a Ring doorbell from a home her client was renting without the homeowner’s permission, causing property damage. The Court determined this conduct violated RPC 8.4(b) (criminal acts that reflect adversely on a lawyer’s honesty or fitness).

Immediate Mandates of the Suspension

Under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 12.3, a temporary suspension is an immediate “emergency” measure. The 2025 order carries strict requirements:

Preclusion from New Cases: Leibrock was immediately barred from accepting any new legal clients or matters.
Deadline to Wind Down: She was required to cease all representation of existing clients by January 16, 2026.
Prohibition of Presence: After the January deadline, she is strictly prohibited from maintaining a presence where the practice of law is conducted or using any indicia of a lawyer or legal assistant.
Client Notification: She must notify all current clients, co-counsel, and opposing counsel of her suspension and return all client property and papers.

Conclusion: The Path Forward

The temporary suspension of Charlotte Ann Leibrock remains in effect until it is dissolved or modified by the Tennessee Supreme Court. To regain her status, she must demonstrate that she no longer poses a threat to the public and comply with the rigorous requirements of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9. For those seeking to verify the current standing of any attorney in the Cocke County area, the Board of Professional Responsibility maintains the definitive record of all active and suspended practitioners.