A Shelby County judge who was suspended in May allegedly has possessed and used illegal drugs since her August 2022 election, new documents reveal.

That information was revealed in a letter officially referring Shelby County Criminal Court Division 9 Judge Melissa Boyd to the Tennessee General Assembly for “further action,” including potential removal.

Boyd entered into a negotiated suspension agreement with the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct May 22 after allegations she had possessed and used both cocaine and marijuana while she was a sitting judge, according to a Nov. 6 letter the board sent to state elected officials.

Public reprimand triggers potential disciplinary action for Shelby County judge

The letter was sent to state Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, chairman of the state Senate Judiciary Committee and state Rep. Andrew Farmer, R-Sevierville, chairman of the House Civil Justice Committee. 

In the document, the board acknowledged the seriousness of referring Boyd to the General Assembly, the only body that has the power to remove a sitting judge. State law requires the board to notify the General Assembly after a judge has received a second public reprimand while on the bench.

Letter reveals new details about Boyd’s suspension

Boyd told The Daily Memphian in October she had been suspended after multiple complaints had been filed against her, including by her former campaign manager Lashanta Rudd.

She also said Rudd filed an order of protection against her. That order appears to have been lifted as Boyd’s record has been expunged, according to the Shelby County General Sessions Criminal Court Clerk’s office.

Boyd’s suspension agreement said the board notified her April 27 it was expanding its investigation into her conduct “based on additional allegations that Judge Boyd admitted to having a substance-abuse problem.”

The November letter reveals new details the extent of that problem. 

On Dec. 16, while at Boyd’s house to take her to a doctor’s appointment, Rudd found what appeared to be cocaine in the residence, according to the complaint. 

After the appointment, Boyd admitted it was cocaine, the letter said.

“During this conversation, Judge Boyd admitted that it was cocaine. During this conversation, Judge Boyd admitted that she has used cocaine off and on for the last year and that she used cocaine once during the week of Dec. 12, 2022,” it reads.

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The letter also says Rudd had observed Boyd smoking marijuana multiple times since being elected. 

The board said in a response May 5 Boyd did not deny the allegations of drug use.

“She requested ‘the opportunity to take time to receive treatment for her illnesses,’” the board wrote.

Despite being given the opportunity to do so, it was “to no avail,” the board said. 

Boyd said the allegations from Rudd are “false.” She also said that she plans to appeal the board’s referral to the Legislature to the Tennessee Supreme Court. 

The law Boyd cited that gives her the power to do so, however, references the right for judges to appeal decisions made by the board after a hearing on formal charges that were filed against them.

Formal charges were never filed against Boyd because the board went straight to the legislature after it issued her second reprimand. 

Allegations of intimidation

Outside of the allegations of drug use, Rudd also lodged other complaints against Boyd, including accusing her of behavior that she found “very disturbing.” 

Boyd allegedly texted Rudd in January with photos of Rudd’s prior marriage license and divorce information.

Exclusive: Reprimanded judge talks why she’s been away from the bench

Rudd also accused Boyd of sitting outside of her home Jan. 21, taking pictures of her vehicles and sending them to her.

“I woke up and discovered that Judge Boyd was sitting outside of my house in her car and taking pictures of my property. Judge Boyd texted me a picture of my vehicles while sitting outside of my house and accused me of having someone in my home,” Rudd wrote.

Rudd also said Boyd asked her to withdraw her complaints to the board “several times.” 

The board said, however, Boyd asked Rudd to withdraw the complaints at least one time through a text message. 

“Although I fear retaliation from her, I have not given in to Judge Boyd’s efforts to intimidate me by showing up in the middle of the night at my house, taking pictures, demanding to know who is in my house, and texting me my divorce history,” Rudd wrote.

She also said she has continued to encourage Boyd to seek treatment but “to no avail.”

Boyd’s first reprimand came in May

Boyd has been gone from the bench since May when she allegedly stepped down because of an undisclosed illness, according to her judicial colleagues at the time.

The Daily Memphian first reported Oct. 16 that Boyd was actually suspended by the board after admitting to that fact in an interview.

“I woke up and discovered that Judge Boyd was sitting outside of my house in her car and taking pictures of my property. Judge Boyd texted me a picture of my vehicles while sitting outside of my house and accused me of having someone in my home.”

Lashanta Rudd

Shortly after on Oct. 31, the board issued Boyd a public reprimand — the second one she had received since being elected — for failing to comply with the terms of the suspension, namely that she would undergo a physical, mental health and/or substance abuse evaluation before returning. 

Boyd told The Daily Memphian that she had not done so nor planned to but that she would return to the bench regardless on Nov. 1.

The board then issued the reprimand that stated Boyd was still suspended. She did not return to the bench Nov. 1 and still has yet to do so.

Boyd’s first public reprimand came May 8 for allegedly soliciting resources and cash donations on Facebook to benefit a school.