The 26th District Attorney General, Jody Pickens, has been elected by fellow members of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference (TNDAGC) to serve on the organization’s Executive Committee. In this new role, Gen. Pickens will play a pivotal role in guiding the overall administration of justice in Tennessee.
“It is an honor to be chosen by my fellow Tennessee District Attorneys to serve as a member of the Executive Committee,” Gen. Pickens said, “I am thankful for the opportunity to represent my district, while also working on important policies that will have an impact across Tennessee.”
“The Conference was created to support Tennessee’s elected District Attorneys in their constitutional duty to seek justice and protect our citizens. The Executive Committee guides that work,” said Guy R. Jones, the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference’s newly elected Executive Director, “District Attorneys have a unique role that reaches beyond prosecuting criminal acts. Seeking justice requires difficult choices, new approaches, and a commitment to protecting victims and their rights. General Pickens’ leadership will be vital as we continue in this mission.”
Gen. Pickens served as Assistant District Attorney General from 1996 to 2017, when he was appointed District Attorney General by Gov. Bill Haslam. He was elected the following year without opposition. He has served on a number of committees during his professional career, including the Justice and Professional Committee, Audit and Finance Committee, Executive Committee, Legislative Committee, and Technology Committee. Gen. Pickens was also appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court to the Board of Professional Responsibility and appointed to the Governor’s Council on Judicial Appointments by Gov. Bill Lee.
He is a recipient of numerous awards, including the 2019 Outstanding Lambuth Alumnus; the “Friend of the Family” Award from the American Family Association for prosecution of illegal adult entertainment in Jackson, Tenn.; and the “Champion of Victims’ Rights” award from The Trauma, Faith and Resilience Initiative of the Center for Just and Caring Communities at Union University. Gen. Pickens has also been recognized for his outstanding service to the City Court of Jackson, Tenn., and by West Tennessee Legal Services for outstanding service to the victims of violent crime. Outside of work, Gen. Pickens is a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he serves as an elder. He and his wife, Linsey, reside in Jackson, Tenn., with their three young children: Stone, 8, Sarah Tucker, 6, and Elizabeth, 4.
(PHOTO: Jody Pickens)
