In last week's newsletter, I shared that I’d filed a lawsuit challenging two recently enacted state laws that I believe violate the Tennessee Constitution. Those laws single Shelby County out for worse treatment. One imposes burdensome reporting requirements for information we’re already reporting. The other lets the unelected Attorney General audit our prosecutors’ decisions and seek to take federal task force cases away from the elected DA by appointing a shadow DA not answerable to Shelby County voters. In my view, they interfere with the authority granted to locally elected district attorneys recognized by over 100 years of Tennessee Supreme Court precedent.
Days after the lawsuit was filed, the Tennessee Attorney General's Office asked the court to dismiss the case before those constitutional questions could receive full consideration. Over the weekend, my attorneys filed a response opposing the Attorney General's request and urging the court to allow the case to proceed on its merits. Their response argues that TN law and prior court decisions support my ability to have these issues heard by the court.
More troublingly, the Attorney General wrote to the lawyers who’ve agreed to pursue this case free of charge, demanding that they withdraw from representing me and abandon the case or else risk legal ethics complaints. Their position is that only the A.G. can represent me in this matter—even though I am suing the A.G. in this case, and they’d previously refused to provide me any legal guidance on the matter. Under their view, no court could ever evaluate whether these laws are constitutional.
My office is, and has always been, committed to transparency and accountability because we believe the public should know what is happening in our courtrooms. Tennessee law already requires district attorneys to report case outcomes to the state, and our office goes beyond those requirements by regularly sharing information about cases and outcomes with the public.
The laws challenged here aren’t really about transparency. Rather, they impose on Shelby County (alone) new, additional reporting requirements that duplicate information we already provide pursuant to state law. I believe our time and resources are better spent serving the people of Shelby County, supporting victims, and pursuing justice than complying with unnecessary layers of reporting. Even more important, unelected state officials shouldn’t be allowed to essentially overrule Shelby County voters by appointing a shadow DA not answerable to Shelby voters. That’s why I’m bringing these issues to the attention of the courts.
At day’s end, the lawsuit is about who decides who serves as the DA in Shelby County: Shelby County voters, or politicians in Nashville.
The case remains pending, and I will continue to provide updates as it progresses.
Jury Finds Defendant Guilty of Murder in 2021 Homicide Case: A Shelby County jury found Jeffery Boyle guilty of Second-Degree Murder and Tampering with Evidence on May 29, for the shooting death of 30-year-old Reginald Palmer Jr. Assistant District Attorneys JD Hamblen, Sarah Poe, and Dijahanua Jones secured the verdict. Sentencing is scheduled for July 22.
Hamblen, Poe, and Jones presented the State's proof during the four-day jury trial, including testimony from multiple witnesses. The victim's girlfriend, who was present during the shooting, identified Boyle as the shooter. The jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts.
The case stems from an April 12, 2021 planned meeting in Southeast Shelby County during which prosecutors proved Boyle shot Palmer. After being wounded, Palmer drove away from the scene and instructed his girlfriend, who was in the vehicle, to call 911. He was later pronounced dead. Prosecutors presented witness testimony and evidence linking Boyle to the homicide and subsequent tampering with evidence.
ADAs JD Hamblen, Sarah Poe, and Dijahanua Jones handled the case.
$1 Million Bond Remains in Place In Shooting: Joshua "FullyNation" Fifer appeared in court on June 2, where his $1 million bond remained in place. Co-defendant Marterio Bush also appeared in court, and his bond remains set at $499,000. Assistant District Attorney Cody Tolbert successfully argued for both defendants' bonds to remain unchanged.
The case stems from a May incident in which prosecutors allege Fifer and Bush fired shots toward a crowd and at a pursuing officer from a moving vehicle before fleeing the scene. Prosecutors allege Fifer drove the vehicle during the pursuit, while Bush later took the wheel and continued fleeing before crashing.
ADA Cody Tolbert handled the hearing.
Defendant Sentenced to 14 Years in Fatal Vehicular Homicide Of Good Samaritan: Assistant District Attorney Shannon Mason successfully handled the case of Michael King, who pleaded guilty to Vehicular Homicide by Intoxication and received the State's recommended sentence of 14 years at 100%.
Mason secured the guilty plea and sentence in connection with the death of 19-year-old Halie Jade Herron Ramirez. The case stems from a May 28, 2023 crash in which King drove under the influence of alcohol and methamphetamine and struck and killed Ramirez. At the time of the collision, Ramirez had stopped to check on the occupants of another wrecked vehicle and was on the phone with 911 when King struck her. A grand jury later indicted King on a Class B Felony charge of Vehicular Homicide by Intoxication.
ADA Shannon Mason handled the case.
DA Mulroy attended the annual Mental Health Court Gala, an event supporting the court’s ongoing rehabilitative efforts for individuals involved in the justice system. The gala helped raise funds to further programs focused on treatment, recovery, and reducing recidivism through a therapeutic approach to justice. Attendees wore green to help raise awareness for Mental Health Court and its mission.
 (Pictured L-R): Criminal Court Judge Ray Lepone, Mental Health Court Judge Sheila Renfroe and DA Steve Mulroy at the Mental Health Court Gala.
DA Mulroy Supports Local Businesses
 DA Mulroy cutting the ribbon at Café Raymah. County Mayor Lee Harris is on his right.
DA Mulroy recently joined community leaders and residents in celebrating two local business milestones. He attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Cafe Raymah, a new coffee shop and bakery on Hacks Cross Road featuring coffees from around the world. The event brought together members of the Yemeni and Muslim communities, along with Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, to welcome the new business to the community.
DA Mulroy also participated in the fourth anniversary celebration of Ginger’s Bread Bakery in Midtown, where he was a specially invited celebrity karaoke performer at the bakery’s Cabaret event. Both gatherings highlighted the important role local businesses play in strengthening and connecting the Memphis community.
DA Mulroy was a specially invited celebrity karaoke performer at the Cabaret hosted by the Ginger’s Bread Bakery in Midtown to celebrate its 4th anniversary.
Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy said, “We have to break down silos, build systems that can communicate with one another, and report consistent, uniform metrics that the public can easily understand.” |Historic First Will Allow Criminal Cases to be Tracked from Start to Finish| via The Memphis Flyer
“I think that ICE has actually been counterproductive,” Mulroy said. “It has been worse than useless because what it has done is created a climate of terror in the Latino and immigrant community and in people that are close to those communities... "That makes it less likely that people in those communities would cooperate with law enforcement in the way that we need to continue this downward trend in crime.” |With Memphis as a ‘model city,’ feds offer other towns money to fight crime| via The Daily Memphian
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