Marion County Mayor John Graham stands in front of the Marion County Courthouse.JASPER, Tenn. – Marion County is moving to hire a county medical examiner and a medical director for the county jail as a result of pending litigation showing the county is not complying with state law, officials said.
Now the County Commission has to begin the process of filling those jobs. County leaders would not discuss the pending case.
“One of the things that came out of the legal action is the fact that [the county] is not in compliance with the law on the medical director for the jail,” Marion County Attorney Billy Gouger said. “It requires that the position is appointed by the board and whoever the person is occupying that position must have a written contract, and we don’t have that. I don’t think we’ve ever had that.”
Gouger said the county is also lacking a certified medical examiner because “the board has not filled that position or reappointed someone to that office.”
Commission Chairman Gene Hargis said the board needs to conform with the law as soon as possible.