An investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in the indictment of a Juvenile Court Judge in Hawkins County on forgery and bribery charges. According to a TBI Press Release, Agents learned that 47-year-old Daniel Boyd, while working as an attorney, provided a client with a default judgment declaring her divorce to be finalized. The document appeared to be signed by the Chancellor of the 3rd Judicial District. Further investigation revealed that no document existed with the Clerk and Master’s Office and that the case was never presented to the Chancellor. Additionally, the investigation revealed that when Boyd’s client filed a complaint, he offered her money if she would withdraw the complaint. On Monday (8/14/23), the Hawkins County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Boyd with three counts of Forgery, one count of Criminal Simulation, and one count of Bribery. On Tuesday (8/15/23), he turned himself in and was booked into the Hawkins County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
The Rogersville Review reports that in 2018, the Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Boyd from the practice of law for three years with 120 days of that time to be served on active suspension and the balance on probation. The suspension was a result of complaints of misconduct in Boyd’s private law practice and were not related to his role as a Juvenile Judge.