Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-8-205: Acting as attorney or security prohibited - Attorney as deputy

(a) No sheriff or deputy sheriff shall appear in any court as attorney or counsel for any party, nor become security for any party in any civil suit or criminal proceeding.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the sheriff shall be permitted to appoint a duly licensed attorney as a special deputy sheriff, reserve deputy sheriff, or as a deputy sheriff.