In the meantime, the County Commission in a special session on Tuesday will name Chief Deputy Law Director Joe Jarret as the interim director – a job Jarret intends to seek on a permanent basis.

In a letter to Knox County Administrator of Elections Greg Mackay, Mark Goins, state coordinator of elections, said that the county charter “does not authorize an election to fill the vacancy.” Nor is the law director’s replacement covered by state law on special elections.

The state’s top election official says Knox County’s charter does not allow for a special election to fill the vacancy created by County Law Director Bill Lockett’s resignation.

The opinion from Mark Goins, state coordinator of elections, stated in a letter to Greg Mackay, Knox County administrator of elections, that “the charter does not authorize an election to fill the vacancy.” The law director’s position also is not covered by state law on special elections.

Former Knox County Law Director Bill Lockett’s license to practice law has been suspended by the Tennessee Supreme Court pending further action.

The order, filed April 13, came at the recommendation of the Board of Professional Responsibility and will be in effect until his final punishment is decided.

State rules allow for a lawyer to be summarily suspended pending a hearing if they plead guilty to certain crimes involving honesty or the administration of justice, including theft, Chief Disciplinary Counsel Nancy Jones said Monday.

Knox County Chief Deputy Law Director Joe Jarret on Friday requested a “full financial audit” of the office following the resignation of his predecessor, Bill Lockett.

Lockett, 55, stepped down Thursday just before pleading guilty to taking thousands of dollars in client fees while employed by his old law firm.

Jarret, who is overseeing operations until Lockett’s replacement is named, said he didn’t make the request of the county Audit Committee because of any specific worries or problems.