Soon after passing the bar in 1990, and spending a brief time with a private law firm, Judge Slone was appointed as Assistant District Attorney General and Drug Trafficking Prosecutor for the Fourth Judicial District, which is comprised of Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson, and Sevier Counties. He distinguished himself in the nearly three years he served in that capacity by maintaining a 99% conviction rate of the hundreds of cases he prosecuted. After serving as Drug Prosecutor, he entered the private practice of law, maintaining offices in Jefferson and Sevier Counties. In 1998, Judge Slone ran for, and was elected, Circuit Court Judge for the Fourth Judicial District and has been re-elected in each subsequent election. Judge Slone serves on the Tennessee Judicial Conference Legislative Committee and is Chairman of the Problem-Solving Courts Committee.

   Over the past several years, Judge Slone has addressed one of the most serious problems in his community by establishing the Drug Recovery Court for the Fourth Judicial District. This Court offers individuals in the criminal justice system the opportunity to address their drug and alcohol addictions and co-occurring mental health issues through a program of therapy, supervision, and accountability, providing them with the tools to break the cycle of addiction and crime. He presides over the Drug Recovery Court several times per month and there has been much success for these individuals in becoming law-abiding, responsible citizens once again. 

   Additionally, Judge Slone is a strong voice addressing the Opioid Driven Addiction Crisis and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome speaking at venues large and small across the nation about the plight of the unborn and newborn dependent on opioids, and of the hope of effective intervention strategies. He was instrumental in establishing a safe home in his rural district for opioid addicted pregnant women to live while in recovery. The safe home or “Recovery Cabin” was featured on NBC’s Today with Megyn Kelly show March 2, 2018. 

   Judge Slone currently serves as chairman of the Tennessee Judicial Conference Problem Solving Committee, the Tennessee Judicial Opioid Initiative and 8 state Regional Judicial Opioid Initiatives. Both Initiatives are comprised of members of multiple disciplines, departments and branches of government. The Regional Judicial Opioid Initiative includes the member states of Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Judge Slone is also a working group member of the National Judicial Opioid Task Force. In 2015 the Tennessee Public Health Association awarded Judge Slone with its only state-wide award given to someone outside of the health field, the annual “Partners and Leadership Award” as a result of his leadership in addressing drug addiction and addiction drivers such as mental illness and adverse childhood trauma, & neonatal abstinence syndrome. In further recognition of these efforts in 2016 Judge Slone was given the Tennessee Public Health Association’s “Visionary Award”, the Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug and other Addiction Services “Voice of Recovery Award” and “Jefferson Countian of the Year. In 2017 Judge Slone was awarded the “Judges Making a Difference Award by the Tennessee Association of Recovery Court Professionals.

   Outside of the courtroom, Judge Slone was instrumental in establishing the Boys & Girls Club of Dumplin Valley. Because of his leadership, many volunteer hours and tireless support, the Club has grown and has prospered with sites now in Jefferson City, White Pine and Strawberry Plains and Newport, Cocke County. He has served on the Board of Directors since the year 2000. He and his family attend True Life Church in Jefferson City, Tennessee where Judge Slone serves as Honduras Ministries Coordinator. 

   Judge Slone and his wife, Gretchen, are the parents of three adopted children, one of whom was born suffering from neonatal abstinence syndrome. He is the oldest of three siblings, one of whom suffers from a serious mental disorder and the consequences of inhaling paint as an adolescent.