Fickling Elected President

The Tennessee District Public Defenders Conference has elected Craig Fickling to serve as the President of the Conference for fiscal year 2020-2021. The Public Defenders Conference is a statewide system of District Public Defenders from each of Tennessee’s thirty-one judicial districts.  Public defenders represent those who are charged with crimes and cannot afford to hire an attorney.  The Executive Committee of the Public Defenders Conference is the decision-making body of the Conference. The Committee helps Public Defenders across the State discharge their official duties, and assists with the enactment of laws and rules of procedure necessary for the effective administration of justice.  As President, Mr. Fickling is the principal executive officer responsible for supervising and controlling the business and affairs of the Conference, as well as assisting the Conference in advising the General Assembly regarding legislation to improve the criminal justice system.

Mr. Fickling is the District Public Defender for the 13th Judicial District, a position he was elected to and has held since 2014, which serves Cumberland, Clay, DeKalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam and White counties. In 2019, his office handled 6,802 cases.

Before his election, Fickling practiced law with his wife Melaney. He has successfully argued cases before the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, Tennessee Supreme Court, and the United States Circuit Court for the Sixth Circuit.  He has tried several jury trials in State and Federal courts.

Fickling  is  a  graduate  of  Millsaps  College.  He  received  his  Doctor  of

Jurisprudence from the University of Memphis.