Willie Lane, Assistant District Attorney General
Knox County District Attorney General’s Office, Domestic Violence Unit
Willie Lane is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law and a member of the Tennessee Bar. After her graduation from law school, Willie joined the office of the Knox County District Attorney General. She is an Assistant District Attorney General in that office, where she prosecutes domestic violence cases. A passionate advocate, both in and out of the courtroom, Willie is an inspiration to her colleagues and to those interdisciplinary professionals who work with her to not only help victims but to hold defendants responsible.
Joe Welker, Assistant District Attorney General
Knox County District Attorney General’s Office, Domestic Violence Unit
Assistant District Attorney General Joe Welker obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree with a Business Major and Political Science Minor from Wake Forest University. He then earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee. Prior to beginning his prosecutorial career, he worked at various places, including Duke Energy, the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Baker Donelson, and the U.S. House of Representatives on Capitol Hill. General Welker is also licensed to practice law in Illinois. Noted as a highlight of his career thus far, he led the prosecution of 35-year-old Steven Steelman Jr. who was convicted of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide. Steelman, drunk on moonshine, caused a car crash that killed his son. In addition to his prosecutorial duties, General Welker has also been appointed as our Office’s Intern/Extern Coordinator. He enjoys coaching baseball with his co-workers and takes credit for starting our Office’s kickball team.
Danielle Jones, Assistant District Attorney General
Knox County District Attorney General’s Office, Domestic Violence Unit
Assistant District Attorney Danielle Jones is a graduate of Belmont University College of Law. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Tennessee. Prior to joining the District Attorney’s office, she worked at a small civil law firm, Meadows & Wall, PLLC, where she assisted with family law matters and employment law. She started her prosecutorial career in the DUI Sessions Unit in 2015. She has been in the Domestic Violence unit for the last five years.
