TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Dec 12, 2025

The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday it will not pursue criminal charges against General Sessions Court Clerk Tami Sawyer following an October dispute with Shelby County sheriff’s deputies. Deputies and Sawyer clashed verbally over whether her private security guard could carry a firearm inside the D’Army Bailey Shelby County Courthouse, according to the Daily Memphian. Video of the encounter circulated on social media, prompting calls for Sawyer’s resignation from Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Eads, and other Memphis leaders. Taylor alleged Sawyer tried to facilitate bringing a gun into the courthouse, while Sawyer said her security guard had previously been allowed inside with a permitted weapon. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office conducted its own review before referring the matter to District Attorney General Steve Mulroy. “There is simply no evidence that Clerk Sawyer solicited, aided or directed her security guard to bypass courthouse security,” the DA’s office said in a statement.