Shelby County General Sessions Clerk Tami Sawyer was suspended from her position on Wednesday, just days after the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee unsealed a federal grand jury indictment in a “significant” public corruption case that could land the Memphis Democrat behind bars for up to 20 years if she is convicted of all charges.
A court order first reported by NewsChannel 3 showed Sawyer was suspended from her office for 60 days by the General Sessions Court for Shelby County, effective on Wednesday, in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) 18-1-302.
Sawyer was notably suspended with pay despite the statute appearing to suggest her compensation should be allocated to her temporary replacement. According to TCA 18-1-302:
Immediately upon indictment found against any clerk for a felony or misdemeanor in office, the court of which the clerk is clerk may suspend the clerk from office and appoint a clerk pro tempore, until a final decision can be had, who shall be entitled to the fees and perquisites of office during the suspension.”
Aggregated public records show Sawyer receives about $173,000 annually for her position as General Sessions Court Clerk. Unless the court modifies the terms of the suspension, the order raises the possibility taxpayers will be responsible for paying this salary to her temporary replacement, Edward Stanton Jr., as well as to Sawyer.
Stanton, who reportedly worked in the Shelby County General Sessions and Criminal Courts for nearly 30 years prior to his retirement in 2000, is no stranger to the assignment. He was previously tapped as the interim General Sessions Clerk in 2011, when former Clerk Otis Jackson was indicted on felony charges.
Jackson eventually accepted a one-year pretrial diversion in 2013, but reporting indicates Shelby County taxpayers footed the bill to pay his salary, as well as Stanton’s, until December 31, 2011. Stanton was later elected to the position and held it consecutively until his retirement in 2020.
Sawyer is accused of using Shelby County procurement cards, which are used like a credit or bank card, to steal or misdirect almost $45,000 for her personal use. She allegedly spent the money on food and alcohol, at hotels and car rental services, and for purchases involving the Memphis Tigers and FedExForum.
She is additionally alleged to have involved a co-conspirator, who she sent county funds using PayPal. Directed to keep some of the money, Sawyer’s co-conspirator allegedly sent the majority back to the public official using CashApp.
During her appearance in federal court on Monday, Sawyer pleaded not guilty and was granted a recognizance bond. The case has been assigned to Chief U.S. District Judge Sheryl Halle Lipman, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2013.
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
Photos “Tamara Sawyer” and Shelby County at Work” by Shelby County General Sessions.
