Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp has publicly announced his pick for the next county attorney, Janie Varnell.
Wamp made the announcement Monday, after a private meet-and-greet with members of the county commission last week became controversial, with Chair Jeff Eversole declining to attend, citing Tennessee open meetings laws.
Varnell is a private-practice criminal defense attorney with Davis & Hoss and the daughter of former Chattanooga Police Chief Steve Parks. She is the lawyer for the local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police and the Police Benevolent Association.
She would replace Rheubin Taylor, whose term ends in June. When Wamp took office in September 2022, he attempted unsuccessfully to fire Taylor, but a judge ruled Taylor could serve out his term. Wamp cited Taylor’s handling of public records and his work on non-county legal business.
Taylor, 76, has been county attorney since 1993, previously serving for 15 years as a county commissioner.
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Wamp’s announcement of his nomination of Varnell indicates she will “join county government in January to begin building relationships.”
“During the transition, it is most important that trust is developed and that the county’s ongoing legal cases are handled appropriately,” Wamp said in a news release. “Our goal is to strengthen and modernize the County Attorney’s office as we work together to serve the people of Hamilton County.”
Varnell, 38, graduated Auburn University and then Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. In addition to criminal defense, she has represented plaintiffs in lawsuits — including at least one against the county. In 2023, the family of the late Carol White sued Hamilton County, claiming medical neglect at the jail. Varnell represented the family in the lawsuit, which sought $10 million in compensatory damages and another $10 million in punitive damages.
Her appointment by Wamp requires approval by the county commission. Wamp’s news release says his transition plan for the county attorney will be discussed at Wednesday’s commission meeting.