TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Suzanne Robertson on Mar 3, 2022

The issue of juvenile transfer to adult court is central to the race for district attorney general in Shelby County. Incumbent District Attorney General Amy Weirich, a Republican, is seeking reelection and three Democratic candidates are vying for the nomination to challenge her. The issue is one that sets the Democratic candidates apart from Weirich: All three believe that under the status quo, too many juveniles are transferred to adult court. In contrast, Weirich says Shelby County has more juvenile transfers than any other county in Tennessee simply because it has more people and thus more crime. The Commercial Appeal also looks at Weirich's advocacy for “truth in sentencing” laws.