Public Defender's Office

Melanie Totty Cagle is the first elected Public Defender for the 32nd Judicial District. She was sworn in on September 1st, 2022 by Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Jeff Bivins. Prior to her election, Melanie was a private attorney for 25 years serving the Middle Tennessee area including representing Hickman County as the County Attorney, City of Hohenwald and the Town of Centerville as Municipal City Attorney as well as owning and operating a private law office. Melanie routinely took appointed criminal cases and served as a part-time Assistant Public Defender for the 21st Judicial District. Melanie opened the first 32nd PD office on the Historic Centerville Public Square. Her office fully supports alternates to incarceration including drug court, rehabilitation and other community based programs for non-violent offenders. Melanie has earned an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Sociology from Tennessee Technological University in 1995 and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1997. After graduating law school, Melanie returned to Centerville where she later married Skip. They have two children, Olivia Madison and Caleb Jackson, a beloved cat named Zoie, rescue dog, named Bingo and an alley cat, named Firecracker.