There are 8 article(s) tagged Shelby County Public Defender's Office:

• February 2024

  • Public defender’s office also faces pay-disparity problem

    Last year, the Tennessee General Assembly gave a 20% raise to most of state prosecutors and state public defenders. But the raise for Shelby County is capped at 5%. 

    By Aarron Fleming February 05, 2024

• December 2023

  • Amid rebuke, public defender recused from another murder case

    The office’s Major Cases Team has slowly dwindled. Over the last few months, four of its attorneys have resigned, one of whom was replaced with an existing employee.

    By Julia Baker December 21, 2023

• November 2023

  • Public defender’s office struggling to handle first-degree murder cases

    The Shelby County Public Defender’s Office is struggling to handle first-degree murder cases, according to an email sent out to Shelby County General Sessions Criminal Court judges in July and a recent filing in a first-degree murder case.

    By Julia Baker, Aarron Fleming November 13, 2023

• July 2023

  • Slow grand jury proceedings ‘a travesty,’ says top public defender

    Leaders discuss ongoing juvenile court problems and grand jury delays during Thursday’s County Commission public safety meeting.

    By Aarron Fleming July 28, 2023

• June 2023

  • Local public defender’s office faces uphill hiring battle

    Hiring challenges and overwhelming caseloads for public defenders aren’t new. The local office is doing what it can to incentivize new recruits.

    By Aarron Fleming, Julia Baker June 13, 2023

• November 2019

  • Member of ‘Exonerated Five’ to speak at Mississippi Boulevard

    Raymond Santana – one of the members of the Exonerated Five, formerly known as the Central Park Five – will speak at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis Saturday, Nov. 16.

    By Yolanda Jones November 11, 2019

• April 2019

  • New chief public defender’s vision built around ‘client-centered representation’

    Phyllis Aluko is the first woman to lead the Shelby County Public Defender's Office in its 102-year history. She was sworn in Tuesday.

    By Omer Yusuf April 16, 2019

• March 2019

  • Phyllis Aluko named new chief public defender

    Assistant Public Defender Phyllis Aluko has been chosen by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris to be the chief public defender, a job recently vacated with the retirement last month of long-time Public Defender Stephen Bush.

    By Yolanda Jones March 19, 2019