In Announcing Retirement, Nashville DA Endorses Possible Successor

In launching his campaign, Rob McGuire is touting his effectiveness as a prosecutor. In the more than 30 first degree murder cases he’s tried, he says all but one ended in a guilty verdict. McGuire has also worked with Metro Police’s gang unit. Image: Tennessee Bar Association

Torry Johnson has endorsed one of the top prosecutors in his office to succeed him as Davidson County District Attorney. Rob McGuire graduated from Vanderbilt Law School in 2001 and went straight to work as an assistant DA. He says a career prosecutor like himself is the ideal candidate to succeed Johnson, both in his experience in trying cases and the respect he’s earned from colleagues in the District Attorney’s office.

“They know that I’m here late, that I get here early. When I’m in trial, I’m averaging three to four hours of sleep a night. They know when I hang a picture of a victim in my office that’s a case I’m taking home with me every night. And that’s something that you can’t conjure and you can’t teach. And you either have it or you don’t. “

McGuire wasted no time in starting his campaign. An official website and Twitter account went live, hours after Johnson announced his retirement Wednesday. So far, he’s the only announced candidate for Davidson County DA. McGuire is running as Democrat in the May 6^th primary. The general election is August 7.