Shelby County DA Sues Tennessee Over Laws Targeting His Office
District Attorney Steve Mulroy challenges two new state laws he says unconstitutionally interfere with his office and target Shelby County for disparate treatment.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE — Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy filed an emergency lawsuit against the state of Tennessee on Tuesday, challenging two recently enacted laws that he claims interfere with his office’s operations and prosecutorial independence.
The Democratic district attorney filed the suit in Chancery Court in Memphis, targeting legislation signed into law May 7 by Republican Governor Bill Lee. Both measures relate to cases handled by the federal Memphis Safe Task Force, which was ordered by President Donald Trump last fall.
Laws Target Prosecutorial Independence
Mulroy contends the legislation violates the state Constitution and established principles of prosecutorial independence by micromanaging his office and granting the state attorney general authority to seek his replacement. According to his statement, both laws interfere with the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office and target Shelby County for disparate treatment.
The Memphis Safe Task Force Accountability Act, sponsored by Shelby County Republicans Representative John Gillespie and Senator Brent Taylor, requires the DA’s office to submit reports every 10 days regarding the dismissal or settlement of charges filed by the federal task force. Taylor, a congressional candidate who has criticized Mulroy as “soft on crime,” co-sponsored the legislation.
Reporting Requirements Despite Task Force Issues
In his court filing, Mulroy argued his office faces reporting requirements even though the task force fails to provide important information on arrests. He noted that Memphis crime decreased after he took office and before the task force began operations.
The second measure, the Audit and Pro Tem Act, was sponsored by Taylor and Republican Representative Andrew Farmer of Sevierville. This law authorizes Tennessee’s attorney general to review the Shelby County DA’s office’s internal files, share them with state lawmakers, and audit the reasoning behind prosecutorial decisions stemming from task force cases.
Attorney General Powers Expanded
The Audit and Pro Tem Act also permits the state attorney general to petition the Tennessee Supreme Court to appoint an unelected prosecutor to handle specific cases. This provision represents a significant expansion of state oversight into local prosecutorial decisions.
The lawsuit marks the latest conflict between Mulroy’s office and state Republican leadership over criminal justice policies in Tennessee’s most populous county. Shelby County, which includes Memphis, has been a frequent target of state legislation in recent years.
Mulroy’s legal challenge argues that the new laws constitute an unprecedented intrusion into local prosecutorial authority and violate constitutional principles governing the separation of powers. The emergency nature of the filing seeks immediate court intervention to prevent the laws from taking effect.
The federal Memphis Safe Task Force was established as part of broader federal law enforcement initiatives in major cities. The task force’s operations and coordination with local prosecutors have become points of political contention in Tennessee.
