The federal sentencing hearings for five former Memphis police officers charged in the 2023 death of Tyré Nichols were canceled following U.S. District Judge Mark Norris' recusal from the case. The hearings were expected this week, but now a status conference has been scheduled for June 20 before U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman, who is now overseeing the case. It’s still unclear why Norris recused himself; several case documents filed on June 13, before his recusal, are sealed.

The Memphis City Council struck a compromise last week to award city employees 3% pay raises as it approved a city operating budget for fiscal year 2026, which starts July 1. The other addition to Mayor Paul Young’s second city budget was an agreement with council members to keep Memphis Area Transit Authority funding at $30 million, but put half of the amount in a restricted fund. “I feel good about the budget,” Young said after the council’s 8-2 vote in favor of the 3% pay raise — a compromise by council member Pearl Walker. “It’s going to allow us to do the things that we need to do to keep government moving and keep innovating on new solutions on how to serve our community.”

Also Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk Heidi Kuhn made her bid for Shelby County mayor official; the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s crime lab in Jackson, Tennessee, will have two scientists dedicated to DNA and ballistics testing exclusively for the Memphis Police Department; and a new study, published last week shows potential locations for a new jail if Shelby County were to move its existing facility from 201 Poplar Avenue in Downtown Memphis.

— Metro editor Jane Donahoe

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The U.S. District judge handling the case recused himself last week, though it’s still unclear why. 

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