KNOXVILLE - Eric Lutton has been appointed to be Knox County’s Public Defender effective Nov. 1. The interim appointment, for Tennessee’s 6th Judicial District, was made by Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday.

“It is an honor to be selected for this position by Governor Lee,” Lutton said. “I believe that the Community Law Office is one of the finest Public Defender Offices in the Country and I look forward to building on the excellent leadership of outgoing Public Defender Mark Stephens.”

From left to right: Outgoing Public Defender Mark Stephens, incoming Public Defender Eric Lutton, Judge Steve Sword. This photo was taken after Lutton was sworn in as deputy public defender in August.

Lutton will be sworn in 9 a.m. Nov. 1 as the District Public Defender by the Honorable Steven Sword in Criminal Court Division 1.

Lutton will remain public defender until a 2020 special election is held to fill the remaining term vacated by outgoing Public Defender Mark Stephens. Stephens announced in August he would resign from his office at the end of October. His last day is Thursday.

Lutton joined the Community Law Office in 2013. He is an alumnus of Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana where he graduated summa cum laude, and The University of Tennessee College of Law, where he graduated cum laude. After law school Lutton established his own practice, focusing on indigent defense, until he joined the Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office. While at the CLO, Lutton has served as an attorney, team leader, and as the Deputy District Public Defender. In addition to his duties as the Deputy Public Defender, he is on the Board of Directors for Metro Drug Coalition and is also a member of the staffing team for Recovery Court and Veteran’s Court, and serves as the liaison to those programs for the office.