Eden appoints a new attorney

By Miranda Baines

Published: December 1, 2008

The Eden City Council appointed a new city attorney at a called meeting Monday evening.

Erin Burnette Gilley will assume her responsibilities Jan. 5. Gilley is the daughter of City Councilman Jim Burnette. Burnette declined to vote at the meeting. The rest of the council voted to appoint Gilley.

Gilley will take the place of Tom Medlin, current city attorney and owner of Medlin Law Office. She has been working in Medlin’s office and will continue to work there until she assumes her role as city attorney.

“The types of responsibilities will be unchanged,“ said Eden City Manager Brad Corcoran. “She’ll be preparing ordinances and resolutions, collecting nuisance abatement fees.“

According to Corcoran, the only difference is that Gilley will be able to devote herself fully to the role of city attorney, while Medlin juggled his role as city attorney and running his law office.

Gilley has a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She attended the University of Richmond Law School and passed the North Carolina Bar Exam in February 2006. Gilley is an Eden native and a graduate of Morehead High School, where her husband, Jamie, is a teacher.

• Staff writer Miranda Baines can be reached at or 349-4331, ext. 35.