John Medearis, of Chattanooga, was sworn in Tuesday as clerk of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee by Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas A. Varlan.
Medearis, who has served as chief deputy clerk of the district for the past 17 years, was appointed in January. The Eastern District of Tennessee covers 41 counties in this region of the state, and the court has offices in Chattanooga, Knoxville and Greeneville.
He succeeds Debbie Poplin, who was appointed a U.S. magistrate judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee. She succeeds the retiring Magistrate Judge Clifford Shirley.
Medearis has been active in the Chattanooga chapter of the Federal Bar Association and formerly served as president of the organization and as a member of its board of directors. He received the chapter's Outstanding Service Award in 2013 and is a frequent speaker on federal practice and procedure.