Nashville U.S. Attorney just a signature and oath away

'Unexpected' career move for a man whose fate's been up-in-the-air for a year

Email | Print By Milt Capps

Ed Yarbrough

UPDATED 3:55 P.M. - Williamson County Sheriff Headley, mentioned below, was arrested by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation this morning, after being indicted.

As originally reported:

This morning, a year after first reports of his imminent nomination, Ed Yarbrough awaits only President Bush's signature and his swearing-in before a local judge, before he begins a four-year term behind the U.S. Attorney's desk at 110 9th Avenue South.

As reported by NashvillePost.com, Yarbrough learned Thursday morning that his presidential nomination sailed through the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday morning, but didn't learn til Friday, while traveling, that the Senate had voted approval that same day.

Yarbrough said today's Columbus Day holiday may mean the presidential signature marking his commissioning may come later this week, at which point there'll be a quick swearing-in by a local judge. A more formal ceremony will be held, later.

Yarbrough told NashvillePost.com yesterday the career change is "a complete — I don't want to say it's an 'anomaly' — but it's unexpected."

He said he had long expected to finish his career at Hollins, Wagster Yarbrough & Raybin, the Church Street law firm. Then, he received a call more than a year ago from the staff of U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, asking whether he'd take the post if nominated.

Now, Yarbrough and Linda Coe, his administrative assistant of nearly 25 years, will return to law enforcement, prosecuting criminal and civil cases and overseeing 31 assistant U.S. attorneys here.

Yarbrough succeeds Jim Vines. Vines resigned from the post 13 months ago, amid allegations of age discrimination; complaints the office was not as aggressive in prosecutions as it should be; and, concerns the office did not work well in harness with other law-enforcement agencies.

Since Vines' departure, two interim successors — Craig Morton and Paul O'Brien — began addressing those issues, but neither interim appointee has claimed victory.

Yarbrough said yesterday he is poised to assume his duties, quickly. He has for some time been wrapping-up his defense assignments.

His largest open matter, defense counsel for Williamson County Sheriff Ricky Headley, will probably be transferred to fellow Hollins attorney David Raybin. Headley was arrested in January on charges flowing from an investigation of illegal sales of prescription drugs. He remains in office.