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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

First GOP Tennessee Attorney General Named

NASHVILLE (CN) - Herbert Slatery III will become Tennessee's first Republican attorney general after the state Supreme Court picked Gov. Bill Haslam's counsel over the incumbent Robert Cooper Jr.

Slatery was a lawyer in Knoxville for 30 years before going to work for the governor in January 2011.

In his application, Slattery said his work experience makes him a good fit for attorney general.

"My temperament, my experience in managing a law firm, my knowledge of how the executive branch operates, my familiarity with the budgeting process and financial background, the credibility that I have worked to build with the leaders and members of the General Assembly, and my working relationships with those commissioners leading the departments and agencies all create a set of circumstances that would provide a foundation, from which to successfully carry out my responsibilities," his application states. "I would not be starting 'from scratch' in most instances."

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey said on his Facebook page that Slatery's experience working with Haslam will help in his new role.

"As the first Republican attorney general in Tennessee history, Herbert Slatery will be a strong advocate for the people of Tennessee and a vigilant defender of Tennessee's conservative reforms," Ramsey said. "Herbert has served our governor well as chief counsel and I have no doubt that his strong work will continue as he gains over 6 million new clients across the state of Tennessee. I look forward to working with him to defend our conservative reforms and the legal interests of all Tennesseans."

Cooper, a Democrat, has been attorney general and reporter for the Volunteer State since November 2006.

Tennessee is the only state where the Supreme Court names the attorney general, an eight-year term.

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