Recently, questions and comments have been raised about my decision to challenge two new state laws targeting the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office. I’ve explained this in a Commercial Appeal guest editorial published yesterday, but here’s the gist.
First, this lawsuit’s not about avoiding transparency. We’re already providing the data reports required under the new law. Since it took effect, our office has submitted those reports every 10 business days, as required. And a separate state law already requires all Tennessee district attorneys to report case-outcome data. We comply with that law, too. We’ve been transparent since the day I took Office.
So why challenge these laws?
Because they’re unconstitutional. They unfairly and unconstitutionally single out Shelby County and give the state extraordinary oversight over an office elected by the people of Shelby County.
The first law requires our office—and only our office—to provide additional reports on cases connected to the federal task force. That means manually identifying and separating those cases and compiling reports every two weeks. It’s unnecessary, burdensome and takes staff time away from the work they should be doing: prosecuting cases and protecting public safety.
But there’s more at stake here than data reporting.
The second law goes much further. It gives the unelected Tennessee Attorney General the power to 2nd-guess prosecutorial decisions made by this office, access sensitive information and potentially turn that information over to state lawmakers. It also allows the Attorney General to ask the Tennessee Supreme Court to appoint an unelected shadow DA.
This is about more than me or who happens to be DA today. It’s about whether the state can override the authority of a locally elected DA and, in doing so, override the decision Shelby County voters made at the ballot box.
The federal task force is part of this conversation, too. I welcome our federal partners, but we should not simplify Memphis’ crime reduction as primarily the result of the task force. Crime was already declining roughly two years before it arrived. Our local law enforcement professionals deserve credit for that progress, and suggesting otherwise diminishes the work they were already doing to make Memphis safer.
People are free to disagree with me and with this lawsuit. But those disagreements should be based on the facts and not half the story.
Defendant Sentenced to 20 Years, 11 Months and 29 Days Following Voluntary Manslaughter Conviction: Kordelro Harris was sentenced today to 20 years, 11 months and 29 days in prison following his conviction on six counts, including Voluntary Manslaughter and Employing a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony. The victim’s family expressed satisfaction with the sentence.
Chief Prosecutor Monica Timmerman and Assistant District Attorney Jack Gould prosecuted the case, securing guilty verdicts on all six counts following a jury trial.
The case stems from a December 2023 domestic dispute in which Harris shot and killed his girlfriend, 32-year-old Jasmine Eason, inside a home. Harris initially told police that masked intruders had entered the residence, but investigators presented evidence that contradicted his account. Harris later admitted to shooting Eason during an argument as she attempted to leave. Eason was transported to the hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
Judge Lee V. Coffee presided over the sentencing in Shelby County Criminal Court Division 7.
Chief Prosecutor Monica Timmerman & ADA Jack Gould handled the case.
Probable Cause Found in Murder and Attempted Murder Case: Assistant District Attorney Alexia Crump successfully handled the preliminary hearing for Carlos Burnom, who was held to state as charged, meaning the judge found probable cause for the charges and sent the case forward to the Grand Jury on First-Degree Murder, Criminal Attempt First-Degree Murder, Aggravated Robbery, and Employing a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony. His bond was maintained at $1.5 million.
The case stems from the killing of Carreon Hearns, who was shot and killed one day after his 20th birthday. Hearns’ cousin, Marques Jones, was also shot and suffered serious injuries, including a gunshot wound to his ankle that ultimately resulted in an amputation below the knee. Jones also suffered an arm injury that required surgery and spent nearly a month hospitalized. He testified at the preliminary hearing.
Burnom’s co-defendant, Brandon Coleman, remains wanted on an outstanding warrant and faces the same charges. Authorities continue to search for Coleman.
ADA Alexia Crump handled the hearing.
DA Mulroy Discusses Common Misconceptions on The Antonio Parkinson Project
 DA Steve Mulroy recently joined The Antonio Parkinson Project, a regular radio show hosted by State Representative Antonio “2-Shay” Parkinson, to discuss the work of the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office and clear up common misconceptions about the role of prosecutors and the criminal justice system.
The conversation provided an opportunity for DA Mulroy to answer questions and give listeners a better understanding of the work our office does each day.
Watch the full interview here: Watch the interview
"What he doesn’t mention is that our office has been providing the exact case disposition reports at issue, on the schedule at issue (every 10 business days), like clockwork, since the effective date of that statute." |Brent Taylor's latest attack is politics, not public safety | Opinion| via The Tennessean
"The Shelby County District Attorney's Office has recused itself from the case, Director of Public Affairs Erica Williams confirmed to The Commercial Appeal." |Shelby County Commissioner Sugarmon pleads not guilty in vandalism case| via The Commercial Appeal
"Prosecutors said that the case stems from a December 2023 domestic dispute, and the victim was identified as 32-year-old Jasmine Eason. The district attorney’s office said they proved Harris shot and killed the victim during the incident." |Man gets nearly 21 years in fatal domestic shooting| via WREG3
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