Melanie Cagle

Melanie Totty Cagle is the first Public Defender for the newly created 32nd Judicial District serving Hickman, Lewis, and Perry Counties. Melanie was elected to this position and 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 as Municipal City Attorney and the Town of Centerville as Municipal City Attorney. In addition to 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. After becoming the first Public Defender for the 32nd Judicial District, Melanie opened the first office on the Historic Centerville Public Square. Melanie and her office vigorously represent clients to ensure proper bonds are set, court dates are set, and trials are timely held. 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 and a rescue dog, named Bingo.