Knox County
Sheriff's Office

Knox County Sheriff Legal Unit

The KCSO Legal Unit is responsible with overseeing any legal litigation responsibilities and concerns involving KCSO.

With over 80 years of combined legal experience.

Mike Ruble

Chief Mike Ruble has been with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office since September 1, 1990. An attorney by profession, Chief Ruble brings extensive experience in both government and law to his position as Chief.

Chief Ruble graduated from the University of Tennessee, with honors, in 1981 with a degree in Biology. In 1984, he graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee, College of Law.

In 1986 Chief Ruble was appointed as the Deputy Law Director for the Knox County Law Department. His primary responsibility involved the defense of Sheriff’s Office personnel against civil rights litigation instituted by inmates and citizens.

In 1990. Chief Ruble was appointed to serve as the Chief of Administration of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Ruble supplies legal advice and consultation to the Sheriff and is responsible for training officers in the myriad of legal issues that affect the operation of the Sheriff’s Office.

Special Counsel Houston Havasy moved from Newport, Tennessee to Knoxville to attend the University of Tennessee where he completed both his undergraduate and law school degrees. Houston joined the Knox County Sheriff’s Office in January 2024, after working in the Knox County Law Director’s office since 2017. Prior to that, he engaged in private practice in local law firms as well as operated his own private practice. During his career, he has enjoyed working on a variety of litigation ranging from simple legal matters to complex jury and non-jury trials in the Tennessee and Federal courts with a concentration on governmental law and civil rights.

In his time away from work, Houston enjoys spending time with his wife and two children at their Knox County home. He is honored to serve Knox County and is grateful for its exceptional community.

Bar Admissions

Tennessee
United States District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee
United States District Court, Middle District of Tennessee
United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
United States Supreme Court

Education

University of Tennessee – Knoxville, B.A.
University of Tennessee – College of Law, J.D.

Houston Havasy

Carleton Bryant

Special Counsel Carleton Bryant has been with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office since January 1995. As a Practicing attorney, Mr. Bryant has extensive experience in the law as it relates to police officers.

Carleton Bryant completed his undergraduate education at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. He graduated with high honors in 1981 earning a degree in American Studies. Mr. Bryant then received a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1984.

Mr Bryant maintained a law practice from 1984 until 1993 when he was appointed Judicial Commissioner for Knox County where he was responsible for reviewing and approving arrest and search warrants.

In 1995, Carleton Bryant began his employment with KCSO. As Special Counsel, he is on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week to advise officers in the performance of their law enforcement duties. Mr. Bryant is responsible for training Knox County officers in the various legal issues they confront. Mr. Bryant is also on the Crash Reconstruction Team.

Carleton Bryant is certified by IPTM in the instruction of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and is certified by Taser International to teach classes in the proper use of the Taser.

Mr. Bryant has been on various planning panels and working groups sponsored by the National Institute of Justice through the Department of Justice and has assisted in writing training manuals for police officers in the area of digital evidence, including search and seizure and forensics.

Carleton Bryant assists at the annual International Association of Arson Investigators Convention in the certification of expert witnesses.

Randy Nichols

Randy Nichols was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in September 1973. In February 1976 he was sworn in as an assistant district attorney for Knox County where he remained until he re-entered private practice. He practiced with the firm of Harwell and Nichols in the area of criminal defense until he was appointed Judge of Criminal Court Division 1 for Knox County in June 1988. He left the Bench in August 1992 to become District Attorney General for Knox County where he served for 22 years before retiring. He has been with the Sheriff’s office as special counsel for the past 5 years.