Image Credit: Judge Bill Anderson Jr. / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A “rogue” Shelby County judge has chosen to retire rather than possibly be kicked off the bench for his bail decisions that sparked controversy.
In a social media post on Monday, Senator Brent Taylor thanked “God and Greyhound” that “Rogue Judge Anderson is gone.”
Saying he was pleased that Judge Bill Anderson had decided to retire, the Memphis lawmaker surmised that the judge had clearly seen “the writing on the wall” following Taylor’s complaints about Anderson’s frequent decisions to set dangerous criminals free on their own recognizance.
Taylor had criticized Anderson for misapplying a law that the Tennessee General Assembly had passed that requires judges to consider first the safety of the community when setting bail.
In an October 2024 case, Anderson released a suspect charged with attempted second-degree murder, employment of a firearm, reckless endangerment, and vandalism after reducing the bond amount from $200,000 to zero.
Last November, House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville-District 25) announced his plan to review all of the criminal cases that had been covered by Anderson.
Calling Anderson’s approach to crime as “softer than jello,” Sexton stated that the judge’s decisions made Memphis unsafe.
“He stands with violent criminals rather than law enforcement, victims, families, and protecting Memphis,” Sexton said.
Taylor was so concerned about the safety of his constituents that he wrote to the state’s Board of Judicial Conduct at the beginning of last December to ask that the judge be suspended pending their investigation.
“Memphis and Shelby County are in increasing danger the longer he remains on the bench without guidance as to how to appropriately apply state law,” wrote Taylor.
On December 26th, 2024, State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis-District 31) received word from Disciplinary Counsel, Marshall L. Davidson III, about the outcome of the investigation into Anderson.
In that communication, Davidson wrote that the investigation had been concluded and that the board anticipated “an announcement in the coming days that will prevent additional issues from arising in the future.”
Four days later, Anderson resigned.
Citing a decision made with his wife three years ago for the couple to retire together in 2025, Anderson wrote in his resignation letter to County Mayor Lee Harris that he is retiring from his judicial position in General Sessions Criminal Court Division 7, effective March 1st, 2025.
“I will not ever run for, or accept an appointment as a Judge in the future,” wrote Anderson. “At age seventy-one, my work is done.”
Speaking to FOX13 in November 2023, Anderson stated that the bail system was “broken” and not needed. Over a year later, Anderson clarified from the bench that he was following Tennessee law by considering releasing suspects “on a form of bond called recognizance, which is the number one form of bond that our law requires us to consider.” Anderson was later reprimanded by the Tennessee State Board of Judicial Conduct for his comments, and also for yelling at a Memphis Police officer during a bond hearing.
The Shelby County Commission is responsible for appointing a new judge to the bench to replace Anderson when he officially steps down on March 1st.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
