TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Sep 24, 2025

Federal prosecutors are seeking to overturn a decision last month that granted a new trial to three former Memphis police officers charged in connection with the 2023 death of Tyre Nichols. The Daily Memphian reports that prosecutors are asking the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals to decide whether Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith should remain convicted of the charges they were found guilty of last year or face a jury again. U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman granted the three men a new trial in August after unsealing court records that revealed U.S. District Judge Mark Norris made disparaging comments about the Memphis Police Department and suggested one of the defendants was connected to the shooting of his law clerk just days after the trial ended. Norris has recused himself from the case. Bean, Haley and Smith are free on bond pending a new trial date.