Slow grand jury proceedings ‘a travesty,’ says top public defender
Because cases can take so long, defendants often opt for a plea deal rather than continue to stay in custody, said Phyllis Aluko, chief public defender for the Shelby County Public Defender’s Office. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)
Leaders discuss ongoing juvenile court problems and grand jury delays during Thursday’s County Commission public safety meeting.
Topics
Shelby County Grand Jury Phyllis Aluko Shelby County Public Defender's Office Shelby County District Attorney's office Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk's Office Mick Wright Ernest Brooks Shelby County Juvenile CourtAarron Fleming
Once an intern, he never left, joining the staff full-time in 2022 as an education reporter. He moved to public safety in 2023, where he covered some of the city’s biggest court cases, including the criminal trials for those charged in the deaths of Tyré Nichols and rapper Young Dolph. He also chronicled the Shelby County Jail and the deaths that have occurred at the facility.
He now provides suburban coverage, focusing on DeSoto County and the surrounding municipalities.
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