Shelby County, Tennessee, has experienced several notable cases involving judicial misconduct and corruption. Here are some significant instances:
1. Judge Melissa Boyd – Criminal Charges and Resignation
Elected in 2022, Criminal Court Judge Melissa Boyd faced multiple allegations, including:Local Memphis+9AP News+9AP News+9
- Coercion of a Witness and Harassment: Accused of attempting to influence her former campaign manager, Lashanta Rudd, to provide false testimony.The Commercial Appeal+5AP News+5AP News+5
- Substance Abuse Violations: Tested positive for cocaine while on bond, leading to her bond revocation and subsequent jailing.The Commercial Appeal+3AP News+3AP News+3
- Ethical Violations: Received two public reprimands for soliciting money while wearing her judicial robe and for other misconduct.Wikipedia+12AP News+12AP News+12
In March 2024, the Tennessee General Assembly voted unanimously to remove her from office. She resigned shortly thereafter, and her trial was scheduled for April 24, 2024. https://www.actionnews5.comAP News+1AP News+1
2. Judge James Jones Jr. – Public Reprimand for Misuse of Office
In August 2023, Judge James Jones Jr. received a public reprimand from the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct for:The Commercial Appeal
- Improper Advocacy: Writing letters on official court stationery to a Florida court, requesting leniency for two individuals convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.The Commercial Appeal
- Conflict of Interest: Failing to disclose that his wife was a co-defendant in a related civil case, which could create an appearance of impropriety.The Commercial Appeal
The board noted that his actions lent the prestige of his judicial office for the personal benefit of others. The Commercial Appeal+1Tennessee Courts+1
3. Judge Bill Anderson – Reprimand and Calls for Investigation
Judge Bill Anderson faced scrutiny for:Local Memphis+1Local Memphis+1
- Judicial Misconduct: Receiving a reprimand from the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct for two separate incidents, details of which were not specified in the public report.Local Memphis
- Controversial Bail Decision: Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor called for an investigation after Judge Anderson allegedly misstated the law on bail conditions, leading to the release of a shooting suspect. Local Memphis
4. Judge Joe Brown – Contempt of Court
In 2014, former Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Joe Brown was arrested and charged with five counts of contempt of court after a courtroom outburst during a child support case. He was sentenced to five days in jail, which he served in 2015. Brown compared his arrest to those of civil rights activists, a comparison that drew criticism. Wikipedia+1AP News+1
5. Judge Camille Kelley – Historical Corruption Case
Serving from 1920 to 1950, Judge Camille Kelley was implicated in a scandal involving the Tennessee Children’s Home Society:Wikipedia
- Illegal Adoptions: Kelley was found to have used her position to facilitate illegal adoptions orchestrated by Georgia Tann, stripping parental rights without due process.Wikipedia
- Resignation: She resigned in 1950 following the investigation but was never prosecuted. Wikipedia
These cases highlight the importance of judicial accountability and the mechanisms in place to address misconduct. For journalists seeking to cover such stories, resources like the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct and local court records can provide valuable information.Local Memphis+7The Commercial Appeal+7The Commercial Appeal+7
The Memphis Times
https://memphistimes.org
Published: April 16, 2025, Wednesday, 04/16/2025, at 5:31PM.
Reference:
“You are an invetigative reporter in the journalism for 30 years. Please, give me any information about the corruption or crime which were made by judges in Shelby County, Tennessee. I want to cover such stories as a journalist.”, https://chatgpt.com, Retrieved April 16, 2025, Wednesday, 04/16/2025, at 5:31PM.