Image Credit: Senator Brent Taylor / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
A Tennessee state senator is looking for answers after a Shelby County judge allowed an 18-year-old who was charged with first-degree murder to be released from jail without bond.
In an open letter, State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis-District 31) asked Michelle Long to investigate the judicial decisions and practices of Judge Bill Anderson, Jr. Long is the administrative director for the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Court.
Specifically, Taylor wants to know Anderson’s reason for releasing 18-year-old Edio White without bond on November 27. White is facing a first-degree murder charge, in addition to charges for other crimes, for the fatal shooting of a teen during a robbery in the Binghampton area.
According to Memphis police, White and another 15-year-old teen were charged with first-degree murder committed during the perpetration of robbery, criminal attempt especially aggravated robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Court records show that White was released on his own recognizance on November 27.
The letter references statements made by Anderson to the Shelby County Commission on September 18.
“Who’s going to enforce [bail]? Not me. Not the bail bond companies,” Anderson said to the Commission. “They don’t do anything but collect money from poor people. I detest the bail system in Shelby County.”
Taylor referred to White’s release as “disturbing” and stated that Anderson’s decision placed those Taylor represents at risk of further danger.
Taylor also accuses Anderson of “corrupting” other judges’ bail decisions, proven, he says, by the “continued setting of low bail amounts.” Anderson currently serves as the supervising judge for Shelby County’s judicial commissioner program.
Taylor also took to social media, asking others to demand that Anderson be held accountable for his actions. Taylor says he is a “rogue official” in the courts.
“Our criminal justice system under our District Attorney and Judge Anderson choose to coddle criminals under so-called ‘restorative justice’ rather than protect the law-abiding,” Taylor continued.
The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office simply responded that “the judge made the ROR decision.” Anderson’s office refused to comment on this specific case but told ABC24 that he would discuss the issue of bail reform.
One Response
I’m delighted that Sen. Taylor sounded off in a clear and meaningful way. This Judge, Anderson, is unfit to preside over a toad race. Not to mention a criminal case.
He must be impeached without delay. There is no excuse for such conduct.