PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Rita Roberts-Turner is a winning state and federal trial attorney whose practice areas include labor and employment, civil rights, and government services from contracting to legislation. She has successfully tried cases before the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Davidson County Chancery Court, and Tennessee Criminal Courts, as well as arguing before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. And as a Rule 31-listed Mediator, Rita understands how to help clients navigate unique and often complex issues outside of the courtroom.
Prior to joining KSM in 2022, Rita enjoyed a long career in public service in Nashville. Rita began as an Assistant Public Defender in 1998. She then served as an Assistant Metropolitan Attorney before serving as the first African American female Chief of Staff for Mayor Karl Dean.
Rita then took on the role of Metro’s Director of Human Resources. After a stint as Chief of Staff for Vanderbilt’s Office of General Counsel, Rita joined WeGo Public Transit (Nashville MTA) in May 2016 as the agency’s first African American female Chief Administrative Officer. During her tenure, she led WeGo’s legal work and community engagement for development of the first North Nashville Neighborhood Transit Center project, among other important projects.
In 2018, Rita was recognized by NashvilleBusiness.net as one of the city’s 100 Leading African Americans.
While her practice focuses on employment law and government services, Rita is excited about the opportunity to provide quality legal services to churches and other religious and nonprofit organizations.
Rita earned her law degree from Temple University and holds a bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Western Kentucky University, where she recently served as a member of the University Alumni Association Board.
Honors, Memberships, and Interests:
- 100 Leading African Americans, NashvilleBusiness.net, 2018
- Napier-Looby Bar Foundation President’s Award, 2013
Education:
- Temple University, JD
- Western Kentucky University, BA
- Trinity College of the Bible/Theological Seminary, Graduate certification in Christian Education
- Lipscomb University Institute of Conflict Management, Rule 31 Mediation Training
PERSONAL BACKGROUND
With a passion for writing, Rita started her career as a journalist for the Nashville Banner before attending law school. She has been a frequent contributor to the Nashville Bar Journal and has published two novels, God’s Daughters and Their Almost Happily Ever Afters and Cora’s Crystal Stair. Her work was also featured in the 2018 nationally-released anthology All The Women in My Family Sing.
Rita is a proud wife and mother of two sons. In her spare time, she enjoys attending her sons’ sporting events and cheering on the Tennessee Titans and her favorite NBA basketball teams, the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies.