Marion County Mayor John Graham stands in front of the Marion County Courthouse.JASPER, Tenn. -- Marion County commissioners approved Dr. Rusty Adcock as the county medical examiner last week after a recommendation by County Mayor John Graham.
The board voted 14-1 to give Adcock the job after Graham said he held "a convention of physicians that live within the county."
"By law, we're supposed to reappoint [a county medical examiner] every four years, and we have not done that in quite a while," he said.
The medical examiner investigates deaths that take place outside a hospital. They may order autopsies and issue death certificates, among other duties.
Graham said a convention was held recently at the County Commission Building, and most of the physicians who live in the county attended.
"We went through the normal parliamentary procedures of making motions, seconding, and voting," he said.
Following state law, the group of physicians at the convention presented two nominees to Graham for the position of medical examiner, officials said.
Graham then chose one of those nominees to recommend to the board.
County Attorney Billy Gouger said the position would be an "immediate appointment" even though county administrators aren't sure what the salary for the job will be.
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.