Knox County Law Director Bill Lockett
A former Knox County Law Director must wait out his entire suspension.
The Tennessee Supreme Court made that ruling Tuesday, reversing a lower court's decision in favor of Bill Lockett.
Before Lockett became the county's Law Director, he admitted to taking money from clients that was meant for his law firm, and using it himself. That led to a four year suspension from practicing law.
Lockett appealed that decision in May 2010, and a Chancery Court judge reduced his suspension to two years.
In January, the Board of Professional Responsibility asked the Supreme Court to restore Lockett's suspension to four years.
The Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision Thursday granting that request.