Herbert Slatery is sworn in as Tennessee attorney general by state Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon Lee as his wife, Cary, looks on at a ceremony in Nashville Wednesday.NASHVILLE - Herbert Slatery was sworn in as state government's top lawyer on Wednesday, giving Tennessee its first Republican attorney general since 1870.
The Knoxville native, who until Wednesday worked as Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's chief legal counsel, was sworn in by Haslam, a longtime friend, and Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon Lee, a Democrat.
"I appreciate the gravity of the office and the responsibility that I have to those working in it and to the citizens of the state of Tennessee," Slatery, 62, told family and supporters who packed the old state Supreme Court chamber in the Capitol.
He thanked Lee and the four other Supreme Court justices who appointed him to the eight-year term. He replaces Bob Cooper, a Democrat and Chattanooga native who unsuccessfully sought reappointment.
As attorney general, Slatery runs an office with 320 employees, including 175 lawyers. The attorney represents state government in all civil litigation as well as all criminal prosecutions at appellate levels. The office also issues legal opinions in response to officials' requests.
Following the sometimes emotional ceremony, Haslam told reporters, "I can assure you that Herbert will do a great job. He truly is a man of integrity. I'm not saying that because he's my friend."
The new attorney general praised Tennessee's unique method of filling the post, saying candidates in most states run for the office and spend considerable time raising money to win.
Tennessee "allows the AG to do what he's supposed to do, not be out campaigning or creating controversy by filing lawsuits for publicity," Slatery said. "He does his job and that's to represent the citizens of the state of Tennessee."
Slatery is a former chairman of the Knoxville-based law firm Egerton, McAfee, Armistead & Davis.
Following the ceremony, reporters asked the new attorney general about his membership in Knoxville's exclusive Cherokee Country Club, which in the past had excluded minorities and women as members.
"I don't think it's an issue, to be honest with you," Slatery said. "I think it was an issue maybe 20 years ago or so." He recalled that minorities and women have been admitted since then.
He listed his membership in the club in his attorney general's application. But he wrote "not applicable" in response to a question about whether applicants had ever belonged to an organization that limited membership based on race or gender.
Tennessee's only previous Republican attorney general was Thomas M. Coldwell, who served from 1865 to 1870 during Reconstruction. Coldwell was also Tennessee's last popularly elected attorney general.
During a post-Reconstruction state constitutional convention controlled by former Confederates, the post was changed from elected to appointed. The new constitution was then approved by voters.
Contact staff writer Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550.