Edward M. Yarbrough
On October 10, 2007, following confirmation by the United States Senate, President George W. Bush appointed Edward M. Yarbrough to be United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee for a term of four years.
Mr. Yarbrough was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee and educated in public schools there. He received a B.A. degree from Rhodes College in 1967 and a J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School in 1972. Prior to graduation from law school, he served as an infantry officer in the United States Army, first as a ceremonial platoon leader in the Old Guard at Arlington Cemetery and then as a member of a mobile advisor team to Vietnamese regional forces in Au Xuyen Province, Republic of Vietnam.
For his service in the Vietnam War, Mr. Yarbrough received the Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement and Vietnam service and campaign medals.
In 1973 Mr. Yarbrough was appointed Assistant District Attorney General for the Tenth Judicial Circuit (Nashville) of Tennessee. As a state prosecutor, he tried scores of felony jury cases, including charges of first degree murder, rape, armed robbery and narcotics offenses.
In 1976, Mr. Yarbrough was asked to join the newly organized firm of Hollins and Wagster, which for 2 years shared offices with former Watergate prosecutor James F. Neal in Nashville. In 1978 the firm name was changed to Hollins, Wagster & Yarbrough and separate offices were established. That firm grew to ten lawyers before Mr. Yarbrough’s departure in 2007 to become United States Attorney.
Mr. Yarbrough has been active in the Nashville Bar Association for over 30 years, having served as President in 1983, board member (1981 – 83, 2007 – present), committee chair (Administrator of Justice, 1991; Criminal Justice, 1980, 2003 – 2004, 2006). He is also a fellow of the Nashville and Tennessee Bar Foundations.