Image Credit: tncourts.gov & Senator Brent Taylor / Facebook & Canva
The Tennessee Conservative [By David Seal] –
A state senator has been pressing a sessions court judge to abide by state law when it comes to setting bail for suspects arrested for crimes in Shelby County, Tennessee, especially high-level crimes like murder.
Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) wants Judge Bill Anderson to use a standard recently codified by the Tennessee General Assembly that requires judges to first consider “safety of the community” when setting the amount of bail.
When Anderson was interviewed by a local news media outlet on Monday December 2, 2024, he pushed back stating in part “You can’t consider the facts of that [open] case to decide public safety to the community…”
Apparently Judge Anderson did not get the memo.
Senator Taylor is not the only legislator barking up Anderson’s tree. Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Cameron Sexton referred to Anderson as “softer than Jello” on criminals and vowed to investigate his judicial record.
Because of Judge Anderson’s defiance, Senator Taylor is now asking the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct (TBJC) to suspend Judge Anderson from the bench until he can be properly investigated by TBJC.
It was Taylor that first called out the judge for his liberal approach in releasing dangerous criminals on low bond amounts. Now he wants Anderson suspended from the bench for the safety of Shelby County citizens.
In a case in October 2024, Anderson was reported to have released a suspect charged with attempted second-degree murder, employment of a firearm, reckless endangerment, and vandalism. Anderson reduced the bond amount from $200,000.00 to zero.
The suspect is now on the streets of Memphis on his “own recognizance.”
Taylor is gravely worried about the safety of his constituents in Shelby County.
A copy of Taylor’s letter to the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct is pictured below.
Judge Bill Anderson’s court webpage address is provided here.
About the Author: David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and current Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a citizen lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level. David is also a 2024 winner of The Tennessee Conservative Flame Award & has received an accolade from the Institute For Justice for successfully lobbing the TN legislature to protect property rights. David can be reached at david@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Lucifer’s Memphis dimmercraps must love him.
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https://ballotpedia.org/Bill_Anderson_Jr._(Tennessee)
Bill Anderson Jr. (Nonpartisan) 72.1 82,891
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Handel Durham (Nonpartisan) 27.9 32,073