Changing teams: Public defenders drawn to prosecution
“I’m not poaching, but we advertise to the world that we have vacancies,” Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy (middle) said. “It’s pretty obvious that I think that public defenders have the requisite experience.” (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)
Experts say it’s common for attorneys to start in the public defender’s office and venture into other, potentially higher-paying jobs, like the district attorney’s office. It is also common for public defenders to make the move when a progressive district attorney, such as Steve Mulroy, is elected.
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Shelby County District Attorney’s Office District Attorney General Steve Mulroy Shelby County Criminal Court Division VII Judge Lee Coffee Malia Brink Chris Santirojprapai Subscriber OnlyThank you for supporting local journalism.
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Julia Baker
A lifelong Memphian, Julia Baker graduated from the University of Memphis in 2021. Other publications and organizations she has written for include Chalkbeat, Memphis Flyer, Memphis Parent magazine and Memphis magazine.
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