Image Credit: Sen. Brent Taylor / Facebook & scdag.com
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
Senator Brent Taylor (R- Memphis-District 31) has been very vocal in his criticisms toward Democrat Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy for his seeming willingness to work with liberal justice reform groups to allow dangerous criminals to remain free by eliminating bail, even filing ethics complaints with The Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee.
On Feb. 5, the Board dismissed the complaint finding that it “lacked merit”. The complaint was reportedly an accumulation of four distinct allegations, though a fifth complaint filed by Taylor is still under review by the Board.
The dismissed complaint was filed by the Senator in December of 2023 after a man sentenced to 162 years in prison on felony theft and forgery charges was released after serving only 25 years, according to Fox 13’s reporting. An appeals court ultimately overturned that decision, ordering the offender back to prison.
In a statement released after the dismissal, Mulroy stated, “I do believe it was a distraction from the work that I’m supposed to do here, in the DA’s office. I thought it was counterproductive and didn’t really help to make Shelby County safer that I had to spend time responding to those things.”
Taylor has alleged that Mulroy is “weak” on crime in part due to his partnerships with groups like Justice Innovation Lab, Vera Institute, and Just City, all organizations that focus on restorative justice and work to “eliminate state bail”, according to Taylor.
He has previously said of Mulroy, “What we have in Shelby County, unfortunately, is a progressive DA. But what we need is an aggressive DA. We need someone who is serious about prosecuting these people who are committing these crimes and incarcerating them. That’s the only way we’re going to send a message that there are true consequences to their actions.”
Taylor has also presented a resolution to the legislature that could set the stage for Mulroy’s removal by appointing a committee which would authorize the Speakers of the House and Senate to appoint another committee to consider the removal.
He stated in the resolution that Mulroy has committed “serious ethical violations” and calls for removal based on four factors, including “illegal commutation of a criminal sentence”, mismanagement of fiscal responsibility and employment practices, not upholding the proper rights of crime victims, and infringing on the legislative authority of the General Assembly.
SJR0026 currently awaits a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee after passing on second consideration in late January.
Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Hope he succeeds in getting lucifer’s dimmercrap gone. Sounds like The Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility is irresponsible.