TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Julia Wilburn on Nov 13, 2023

The Shelby County Public Defender’s Office is struggling to handle first-degree murder cases, citing staff shortages and an excessive workload. A July email from Chief Public Defender Phyllis Aluko asked all Shelby County General Sessions Criminal Court judges to stop appointing her office on first-degree murder cases. The Daily Memphian reports that most cases, including first-degree murders, start in Shelby County General Sessions Criminal Court, and judges typically only appoint private attorneys instead of public defenders if there is a conflict of interest.