After two years as chief deputy prosecutor, James T. Roberts is returning to his post as attorney for the town of Nashville.
The Nashville Town Council hired Roberts Dec. 29 to take over for Andy Szakaly, who is replacing Roberts as chief deputy prosecutor.
Szakaly and Roberts both have history in their new jobs.
Roberts served 12 years as town attorney, starting in 2003.
Szakaly was a deputy town attorney in the late 1970s, back when Roberts was the county prosecutor and Szakaly was a deputy prosecutor.
Szakaly began his career as an intern at the Brown County Prosecutor’s Office under Roberts, according to a a press release from current Prosecutor Ted Adams. Szakaly was also eventually elected to the prosecutor job, serving from 1987 to 1990.
Roberts was one of three applicants for town attorney. The others were Nashville resident Jacob Moore, a public defender and private practice lawyer for about seven years; and Greg Bowes, an Indianapolis lawyer with more than 30 years of experience who’s also a former elected official.
Bowes admitted his fee quote was probably the highest and offered to come down in price; so did Moore.
The three members of the council who were present at the meeting — Jane Gore, “Buzz” King and Alisha Gredy — unanimously chose Roberts. Gore said it was because of his familiarity with the town and his experience level.
Roberts has been practicing law for almost 50 years and grew up in Nashville. King reminisced about going to Saturday night square dances in the park with him in the ‘60s.
Roberts said he’s stepping back from his private practice and from the chief deputy prosecutor job because he can at this point in his career, and now, he’s only taking cases that he has a real interest in.
“I have a real interest in this town,” he said.
The council and Nashville Clerk-Treasurer Brenda Young thanked Szakaly for serving. He said he looked forward to attending meetings from the audience.
