Thu. Nov 14th, 2024
Governor Lee signs bill that removes two judges from Shelby County

Governor Lee signs bill that removes two judges from Shelby County

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Criminal trials and civil cases could take even longer in Shelby County with a new law signed by Governor Bill Lee.

FOX13 told you about the legislation that removes two judges from the county and moves the positions to judicial districts in other parts of the state.

For the last year, there’s been judges filling in on Criminal Court Division 9 or we’ve had cases transferred out of it. “I have several cases in that division now. One of those cases has already been transferred,” said Andre Wharton, a criminal defense attorney in Memphis.

This move cuts down Shelby County criminal courts to nine divisions instead of 10. “I think it’s going to have some kind of impact. Now what degree of impact is left to be seen. I think it’s going to pass some pressure on to the other divisions,” said Wharton.

Criminal Court Division 9 is just one Shelby County courtroom that will soon be inactive. The other is circuit court Division 7, currently held by Judge Mary Wagner.

Wagner was appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court and starts her new job September 1.

Boyd was elected to the bench in fall 2022, but was suspended in May 2023 for alleged drug use.

Since then, she was criminally charged and resigned from the bench. Losing her courtroom has many leaders worried the thousands of cases waiting to go to trial will now be delayed even more.

Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) said this all began when Judge Wagner was appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court and Boyd’s bench was essentially vacant for months while she was suspended.

“They [the General Assembly] saw two vacancies in Shelby County armed with a weighted case study that said Shelby County is over judged anyway. Those two things combined, the General Assembly then moved those to judgeships elsewhere in the state,” said Taylor.

Dockets for each courtroom show Wagner’s courtroom is still active.

Boyd’s courtroom still has scheduled hearings through the next week, but it’s unclear whether Judge Mark Ward, who was appointed to take on some of her cases, will be presiding over them or if they’ll be transferred.

According to the law, criminal courts has until July 1 to transfer all the cases out of Division 9.

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