Mayor O’Connell appoints Tyler Yarbro to be next Director of Law following retirement of current Director Wallace Dietz

Today, Mayor Freddie O'Connell announced the appointment of Tyler Yarbro to serve as the next Director of the Metropolitan Government's Department of Law following the decision by current Director of Law Wallace "Wally" Dietz to retire from the position in July 2026.

"Wally Dietz has been a staunch defender of Nashville's right to self-govern, expertly navigating unprecedented legal battles against both state and federal unconstitutional overreach," said Mayor Freddie O'Connell. "Beyond the courtroom, Wally has been a critical counselor to me and many others in Metro government, providing steady, indispensable counsel on a wide range of issues that shape the city's future. Tyler Yarbro is an exceptional choice to follow Wally as the Director of Law. She has the management experience, legal talent, and tireless commitment to justice that will make her both a formidable defender our Nashville's rights and a trusted counselor to Metro."

Dietz has served as the Director of Law for Metro Nashville since 2021. Prior to joining Metro, Dietz spent nearly four decades at Nashville law firm Bass, Berry & Sims, where he chaired the Compliance & Government Investigations Practice Group. Early in his career, he served as a legislative and media aide to U.S. Senator Jim Sasser and as a judicial clerk for U.S. District Judge Thomas A. Wiseman, Jr. He received the Nashville Bar Association's Liberty Bell Award in 2002 for his pro bono work in international human rights.

"Words fail to convey the depth of my gratitude for having this opportunity to serve the Metropolitan Government," Director Dietz said. "It has been an honor to work with two Mayors and their staffs, the talented and resourceful attorneys and staff in the law department, and the dedicated department heads across Metro. I was surprised when Mayor Cooper offered me this position and appreciate my friend Mayor O'Connell asking me to stay, because I still had work to do."

Dietz has been at the forefront of numerous lawsuits challenging state and federal actions that violate the state and/or U.S. constitution:

• In 2023, Dietz secured a unanimous ruling that blocked the state's attempt to take over appointments to the Metropolitan Sports Authority Board, and in a separate lawsuit, secured a win against a state law that would have lowered the number of votes needed to ease demolition at The Nashville Fairgrounds, effectively protecting the city's local control.
• In 2024, Metro Legal won a pivotal case when a three-judge panel ruled that a state law aiming to cut the Metro Council from 40 to 20 members was unconstitutional.
• In 2025, Dietz's team successfully defended the legal process behind the "Choose How You Move" transit improvement program.
• And in August 2025, Metro Legal notched a win in federal court against the withholding of millions in grant funds. The court affirmed that the federal administration's attempt to impose political conditions on Congressional funds was "arbitrary and capricious."

The Metro Department of Law under Dietz's leadership continues to defend Nashville's rights:

• He is currently leading the legal fight against another state law seeking to force the Metro Council to shrink from 40 to 20 members.
• Another case currently before the Tennessee Supreme Court involves the state's attempt to take over the appointment of members to Nashville's Airport Authority.
• In May 2026, Dietz filed motions in Circuit Court to compel the Tennessee Department of Correction to take custody of state-sentenced inmates who are currently causing overcrowding in local jails.
• Nashville is part of a coalition of more than 80 cities led by the Public Rights Project suing to prevent the unlawful impoundment of nearly $279 million in at-risk grants and recently joined a multi-city lawsuit led by the Southern Environmental Law Center challenging major federal cuts to environmental and climate programs.
• Following the termination of $11 billion in nationwide CDC funding in March 2025, Dietz announced the city's intent to sue to protect local public health jobs and vaccination programs.
• In 2026, Nashville joined two amicus briefs filed by the Public Rights Project before the United States Supreme Court. The first brief challenges the executive order seeking to eliminate automatic birthright citizenship for certain children, and the second challenges the recent ruling over access to the drug mifepristone via mail or in pharmacies nationwide.

"Our Metro Legal team remains undefeated in defending the rights of Nashville and Nashvillians," Dietz added. "I will miss doing this work but could not be more pleased with the selection of Tyler Yarbro. Her experience, judgment, and intellect will serve Metro and Nashvillians well."

"I'm grateful for the leadership and standard set by Wally Dietz, and thankful for his years of service to our city," said Yarbro. "My career has been rooted in public service and courtroom advocacy, and I look forward to partnering with Metro departments, the Council, and the Mayor's Office to help Nashville meet this moment."

Yarbro is a seasoned and respected attorney who currently serves as managing partner of Dodson Parker Behm and Caparella, PC where she focuses on employment, probate, business, and appellate matters, and regularly supports a number of nonprofit organizations and government clients. She and her law partner, Margaret Behm, also founded and built the Tennessee Freedom Circle, an organization that has played a key role in advancing reproductive healthcare policy, including efforts to pass Tennessee's IVF protections legislation and expanded access to abortion care for women facing medical emergencies. Before entering private practice, she served as a Metro Nashville Public Defender for more than six years.

Mayor O'Connell's appointment of Yarbro to be the Director of Law will move to the Metro Council for confirmation in June. Dietz will remain in the role of Director of Law through July 16 as Yarbro winds down her private practice and initiates the Council confirmation process.