About one-third of prosecutor's new hires are defense lawyers
Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk worked more than 25 years as a criminal defense lawyer before taking office in September. Now, many of his new hires come from the same background.
Funk has hired 23 lawyers, and eight of them most recently represented criminal defendants as public defenders or in private practice, the Tennessean reports. Four others worked as defense lawyers at some point in their past. Five have experience working for both sides, as prosecutors and defense lawyers.
Funk has also hired a judge, a military lawyer, a legislative assistant, attorneys for governments in Guam and Mexico, and a legal secretary for a coalition to end domestic and sexual violence, the story says.
“I believe that people who have a variety of experience are great additions to the District Attorney’s office,” Funk told the newspaper. Funk was a prosecutor himself before becoming a criminal defense lawyer.
The story refers to “continuing turnover” since Funk took office and says at least 19 assistant district attorneys have left.
