TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Nov 15, 2024

The Office of Gov. Bill Lee is accepting applications to fill an upcoming vacancy in the position of public defender for the First Judicial District. The vacancy is due to the retirement of Jeffery C. Kelly, which will occur on Feb. 28, 2025. To qualify for the office, applicants must be licensed Tennessee attorneys and be residents of the state for at least five years and of the judicial district for at least one year. The district includes Carter, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties. Attorneys interested in being considered should submit a resume and cover letter by mail to Erin Merrick, chief counsel to the governor, State Capitol, First Floor, 600 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Nashville, TN 37243, or by email to Katelin.Brown@tn.gov by 5 p.m. CST on Dec. 2. The individual selected will serve until the next biennial election in August 2026.