Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Paul Summers of Somerville was selected Thursday by the Tennessee Supreme Court to succeed state Attorney General John Knox Walkup, who announced in August he would not seek reappointment to the office.
Under the Tennessee Constitution, the state’s chief legal officer is appointed by the Supreme Court to an eight-year term. The attorney general’s office is independent of the three branches of government. Walkup was sworn in Feb.14, 1997, to fill an unexpired term which ended Sept. 1, 1998. He agreed to serve in the position until a new attorney general is appointed and takes the oath of office.
“The selection of an attorney general is a responsibility the court takes very seriously,” Chief Justice Riley Anderson said. “We conducted an open selection process to attract an outstanding and diverse pool of applicants from which to choose a successor to General Walkup. Four very capable individuals sought the position, making the court’s decision difficult. After reviewing the applications, conducting a public hearing and interviewing each applicant, we believe Judge Summers is best qualified to serve the citizens of Tennessee as attorney general. He has the legal and administrative experience and abilities to ensure that the tradition of excellence continues in the Office of Tennessee Attorney General.”
Summers, 48, earned his undergraduate degree from Mississippi State University and a law degree from the University of Tennessee. He also graduated with distinction in 1986 from the Army Command and General Staff College. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and Reserves and is a colonel in the Tennessee Army National Guard. Summers was district attorney general for the 25th Judicial District from 1982-1990, during which time he served as president of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference. In 1990, he was appointed to the Court of Criminal Appeals. He was elected to the court in 1992 and in 1998.
As attorney general, Summers will represent the state in civil litigation and prosecute criminal cases in the appellate courts. The attorney general also provides legal advice to state agencies and the Tennessee General Assembly.