There are 30 article(s) tagged Shelby County District Attorney:

• August 2024

  • Opinion: Lieutenant governor says DA Mulroy ‘needs to go’

    “Steve Mulroy is neither a dictator, nor is he a free agent. He is subject to the same Constitution and laws we all are. And the Constitution says he has a job to do.”

    By Randy McNally August 22, 2024

  • Opinion: Arguments about justice system ‘shouldn’t be a competition’

    A longtime former prosecutor argues improvements in bail setting “has more to do with good advocacy on the part of local prosecutors, good decisions by local judges and less to do with changes in the law.”

    By Kevin Rardin August 22, 2024

  • DA touts Special Victims Unit’s work

    The unit has taken 18 cases to trial this year, resulting in 15 guilty verdicts. It’s seen an additional 12 guilty pleas from defendants. 

    By Aarron Fleming August 21, 2024

• June 2024

  • Taylor threatens Shelby County DA, judge ouster as Mulroy drops diversion program

    Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy is dropping the diversion program that raised State Sen. Brent Taylor’s ire, but the Eads Republican is still pushing for Mulroy’s ouster.

    By Aarron Fleming June 17, 2024

• April 2024

  • MPD officer killed by friendly fire, DA’s office says

    The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office also announced its intention to seek transfer of the sole surviving suspect from juvenile to adult court.

    By Aarron Fleming April 18, 2024

• January 2023

  • Opinion: Memphians are sick and tired of excuses about crime

    The case for building a bigger local jail, adding more judges and courtrooms, and changing how bail is handled.

    By Shep Fargotstein January 05, 2023

• December 2022

  • NAACP wants attempted murder charges for alleged assault at Whitehaven golf course

    According to authorities, Mark Coleman said he was assaulted by Wesley Caldwell while playing golf at the Links at Whitehaven. 

    By Julia Baker December 16, 2022

• October 2022

  • 500 days in jail: Shelby County routinely keeps people locked up, without trial, for more than a year

    Despite the U.S. Constitution’s sixth amendment guaranteeing a right to a speedy trial, Shelby County’s legal system can leave defendants in limbo for years. And it comes at a cost of millions and millions of dollars. 

    By Ben Wheeler, Shera Avi-Yonah October 09, 2022

• September 2022

  • Weirich pushes back on criticism of 2020 Kelly plea deal

    Former Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich talked to The Daily Memphian about the 2020 plea deal for Ezekiel Kelly that Gov. Bill Lee called an example of “soft-on-crime plea deals.”

    Related story:

    Gov. Lee calls for changes in plea deals during Memphis visit

    By Bill Dries September 14, 2022

• August 2022

  • Opinion: We need a third option for handling violent juveniles

    A new sentencing system should emphasize enhanced services and appropriate treatment designed to reduce the likelihood of a juvenile becoming a repeat offender.

    By Bill Gibbons August 17, 2022

  • Steve Mulroy defeats Amy Weirich in District Attorney race

    Democrat Steve Mulroy declared victory over incumbent Republican Amy Weirich late Thursday evening in the race for Shelby County District Attorney, but Weirich had not conceded defeat.

    By Julia Baker, Alicia Davidson August 05, 2022

• July 2022

  • Guest column: The DA’s authority over abortion laws and other issues define the race

    ACLU-TN poll shows residents’ priorities for district attorneys on abortion, jail time, cash bail, and other issues.

    By Lindsay Kee July 29, 2022

  • Opinion: How and why some juveniles are transferred to adult court

    Former district attorney explains the laws, guidelines and considerations that officials make when assessing juveniles accused of violent crime.

    By Bill Gibbons July 21, 2022

• June 2022

  • Weirich elected to lead state district attorneys

    Amy Weirich has been elected to serve on the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference’s Executive Committee.

    By Julia Baker June 22, 2022

  • Two law-enforcement unions endorse Amy Weirich for district attorney

    Weirich, a Republican who has been in office since 2011, is running for reelection. She faces Democrat Steve Mulroy in the August county general election.

    By Julia Baker June 14, 2022

• April 2022

  • Democratic DA candidates debate approaches to criminal justice reform

    Steve Mulroy, Linda Harris and Janika White are contending for the Democratic nomination for the district attorney’s office and the right to challenge District Attorney General Amy Weirich in the August general election. 

    By Julia Baker April 29, 2022

  • DA dismisses voting case against Pamela Moses

    In January, Moses was sentenced to six years in prison for illegally registering to vote in 2019. 

    By Julia Baker April 22, 2022

• March 2022

  • Sanford: DA should drop politically charged case over fraudulent voting

    A local race that already had the makings of an intense battle has gotten more interesting. All because of our polar opposite political views on voting rights. Let’s continue that debate.

    By Otis Sanford March 03, 2022

• November 2021

  • Peppertree apartments declared a public nuisance

    Over the past 20 months, the complex has been the scene of more than 1,600 calls for police services, ranging from violent crime to drugs.

    By Yolanda Jones November 23, 2021

• August 2021

  • Judge in Pervis Payne case tells state to finish evaluation or hire new expert

    “If you don’t have time to do it, I’m sorry. I need someone else who can do it,” Judge Paula Skahan tells psychologist.

    By Yolanda Jones August 06, 2021

• July 2021

  • Pervis Payne appears in court for first time in 14 years

    Pervis Payne, a death row inmate for 33 years, appeared in court for the first time in 14 years Friday for a hearing on access to records in determining his mental competency. 

    By Yolanda Jones July 16, 2021

• May 2021

  • New evidence surfaces in 16-year-old murder case

    Vern Braswell, a former elementary school principal, has been in prison for 16 years after being convicted of killing his wife. New evidence has surfaced that his supporters hope is enough to get him released or a new trial. 

    By Yolanda Jones May 03, 2021

• March 2021

  • Law enforcement, advocates react to passage of permitless carry bill

    Law enforcement, advocates and others react to the passage of permitless carry legislation approved by lawmakers that will allow handguns to be carried, either openly or concealed, without a permit as of July 1. 

    By Yolanda Jones March 30, 2021

• July 2020

  • Weirich speaks out after protesters gather outside her home

    The Shelby County district attorney general said she believed in free speech, but “free speech does not give anyone the right to steal my flags and burn them on my property or to harass and intimidate my husband, children and neighbors.”

    By Yolanda Jones July 06, 2020

• June 2020

  • District Attorney launches community justice program

    Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich's office is launching a restorative justice initiative called the Community Justice Program. 

    By Yolanda Jones June 25, 2020