Coffee County, Tenn.’s new public defender, John E. Nicoll, is sworn into office by Coffee County Circuit Court Judge Craig Johnson. Nicoll replaces longtime public defender B. Campbell Smoot Jr., who died in November.Coffee County, Tenn., has its first new public defender in more than 25 years with Gov. Bill Haslam’s appointment of John E. Nicoll.
Nicoll, a 41-year-old native of Salisbury, Md., was operating a private legal practice in Manchester as founder and managing partner in Nicoll Law Firm until his recent appointment.
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The 14th Judicial District Public Defender’s Office is at 1950 N. Jackson St., Tullahoma, Tenn., and the phone number is 931-454- 1929.
“I’m very honored and humbled to have gotten the appointment and I look forward to leading this office,” Nicoll said Tuesday. The appointment was something of a surprise, he said.
Nicoll brings to the new post his experience as a U.S. Army Judge Advocate’s Corps attorney, where he began his legal career in 2000 as trial counsel in criminal cases including murder, rape, arson, theft, child molestation and drug offenses.
“I think I bring a breadth of experience in that I’ve been both a prosecutor and a defense attorney,” Nicoll said. “I’ve also practiced in three different jurisdictions — practicing in the military, I’ve practiced in state court and I’ve also practiced a lot in federal court on criminal matters.”
Nicoll said a quality staff comes with the office.
“I have inherited a great office consisting of four attorneys, an investigator and two investigative assistants who are experienced and dedicated to their jobs,” he said. “I want to thank them for their graciousness in welcoming me aboard during this emotionally difficult time after the passing of Campbell Smoot.”
Nicoll replaces longtime public defender B. Campbell Smoot Jr., who died Nov. 18, 2014, at the age of 78. Smoot had served in the post since being appointed by Gov. Ned McWherter in 1989 and held the seat through four, eight-year elected terms.
After his honorable discharge, Nicoll and his Coffee County-native wife, Chasity, teamed up in 2004 to form a law firm in Manchester. The two met during their military service, Nicoll said.
A couple of years ago, Chasity Nicoll took a job with the U.S. Department of Defense as a labor counselor, he said. Now, the Nicolls are in the process of closing the private practice.
Haslam said Nicoll’s “strong academic record and broad experience in criminal cases, both as an Army JAG officer and as a managing partner of his own firm, will serve him and the citizens of Coffee County well in this important role.”
Nicoll is a 1999 magna cum laude graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law and 1996 magna cum laude graduate of Furman University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bben ton@timesfreepress.com or twitter.com/Ben Benton or www.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.