Attorney Christopher Harper "Chris" Steger was sworn in Friday in a private ceremony as a new federal magistrate for Chattanooga.
He takes the place of Magistrate Bill Carter, whose last day will be Wednesday.
Magistrate Steger's first day on the job will be Thursday.
The judges of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the selection after being given a list of five names from a selection committee.
Susan Kerr Lee is the other federal magistrate for Chattanooga.
Magistrate Steger began practicing law in 1983 after gaining his law degree from Baylor University.
He was with the Fleissner firm in Chattanooga before joining Miller and Martin. He became general counsel for Coca-Cola Enterprises. When that firm was acquired by Coca-Cola, he became the chief litigator for Coca-Cola in Atlanta.