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Judge Thomas A. Varlan
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On April 5, 2003, Thomas A. Varlan was sworn in as United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Mr. Varlan was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate by a vote of 97-0 on March 13, 2003. Mr. Varlan was recommended for his position by current U.S. Senator and Majority Leader Bill Frist and former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson.
Mr. Varlan is only the 21st Eastern District judge in the history of the Eastern District. He is also the first person of Greek descent to be appointed to the federal judiciary in Tennessee and the first native of Knoxville appointed as an Eastern District judge in over 60 years.
Prior to becoming a judge, Mr. Varlan was a partner in the Knoxville, Tennessee office of the law firm of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC, where his practice areas included governmental relations, civil litigation, and labor and employment law. Previously, Mr. Varlan served as Law Director for the City of Knoxville, Tennessee for 10 years where he oversaw all of the City's legal, risk management, and medical services functions. Prior to his public service as Law Director, Mr. Varlan practiced law with the Atlanta law firm of Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan with particular emphasis on employment issues, school law, and business litigation matters.
Mr. Varlan is a 1978 graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (B.A. in Political Science and Economics) and a 1981 graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Law (J.D., Order of the Coif, Managing Editor, Vanderbilt Law Review).
Mr. Varlan has been involved in a range of bar and other professional activities. He is a past president of the Tennessee Municipal Attorneys Association, a past Regional Vice President and Litigation and Risk Management Section Chair of the International Municipal Lawyers Association, and past chair of the Tennessee Bar's Section of Litigation. He is also a member of the Hamilton Burnett Inn, American Inns of Court and a past member of the Tennessee Advisory Commission for Intergovernmental Relations.
Mr. Varlan is also active in his community. He currently serves or has previously served on numerous organizations and boards, including the Board of Directors of the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership, the Board of Directors of the Dogwood Arts Festival, the Board of Visitors of the University of Tennessee College of Arts and Sciences, and the Junior League of Knoxville Community Advisory Board.
Mr. Varlan and his wife, Danni, have four children. They are all active members of the St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Knoxville, where Mr. Varlan has served as Parish Council President and Chair of the Stewardship Committee. Mr. Varlan currently serves as president of Knoxville's AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association) Chapter No. 346 and previously was a member and secretary of Atlanta Chapter No. 1.
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