Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) on Wednesday sent a letter to Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy requesting his office file an appeal of the recent decision by General Session Court Judge Bill Anderson to release a man accused of shooting a FedEx worker from jail without bail.
Despite 18-year-old Tyreese Earnest reportedly waiving his Miranda rights and admitting to his role in the shooting of a FedEx worker, Anderson released him on his own recognizance without any bail with the opposition of District Attorney Steve Mulroy, who NewsChannel 3 reported said he disagreed with the judge’s decision but would respect it.
“The details of the alleged crime, the fact the victim was ambushed, and the violent nature of it convinces us that this suspect is a threat to public safety,” Mulroy stated, according to the outlet. “I respect the court’s decision but disagree with it.”
Taylor argued Mulroy should file a Write of Certiorari to appeal Anderson’s decision.
“DA Mulroy may respect the decision, but he doesn’t have to accept it as final,” wrote Taylor in his letter, which he posted to the social media platform X. “While Judge Anderson has the authority to make this decision that we honor under the law, only the district attorney has the ability to file a Writ of Certiorari to have a Criminal Court Judge overrule a General Sessions Judge like Bill Anderson and fix such an injustice.”
In his letter, Taylor told Mulroy harbors “the highest regard for our system of justice,” but told the district attorney, “this is one case in which I do not respect the elected judge because of his history of gross leniency for defendants who are a threat to our community.”
🚨 This morning I sent a letter to DA Mulroy requesting he file a Writ of Certiorari in the matter of Tyreese Earnest who was released without bail on his own recognizance despite a judicial commissioner labeling Earnest as a danger to the community.
In a statement given to the… pic.twitter.com/6FylzwfDGb
— Senator Brent Taylor (@SenBrentTaylor) November 13, 2024
Taylor accused Anderson of violating a new Tennessee law that mandates judges consider the implications of releasing defendants without bond when he released another shooting suspect in September. In February, he was reprimanded by the state body overseeing judges and prosecutors after disparaging Tennessee’s bail system.
Soon after, Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright called for Anderson to resign.
“The number one important thing for a judge is to be impartial, and I know he has already been reprimanded with regard to his statements on the bail bond industry,” said Wright in April.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
