New leader named for board that sets bail amounts

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — There’s a changing of the guard for judges who set bail for criminal defendants.

Effective July 1, Judge Lee Wilson has taken over as the new administrator for the Shelby County Judicial Commission, replacing embattled Judge Bill Anderson.

Shelby County Commissioner Charlie Caswell says that the move was about accountability.

“I can tell you I have been unhappy with some of the cases I have seen in the news where individuals have went in and they turned around and re-offended in some type of way and caused some type of ill in our community,” Caswell said. “So that tells us something needs to happen.”

The change comes after a rotating system was established that calls for a new leader each year.

In the past, others had questioned Judge Anderson’s leadership and the role of the leadership commission because they said too many criminal defendants were being released back onto the streets of Memphis.

Back in April, Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright told WREG that Judge Anderson should step down because of low bails and too many citizens were becoming victims of crime.

“They (Memphians) are seeing friends and neighbors assaulted and harmed by all the crime and people are crying out and want to see something different from our justice system,” Wright said.

A push to reform the bail system was approved by the Tennessee General Assembly in an attempt to keep the state safe from increasing crime.

“Yet at the same time if there’s any criticism from the state, the legislators at the state level have the capacity to make those laws and make them stronger if need be, for individuals getting in and out of the system,” Caswell said.

With Judge Wilson assuming the new role, Caswell said he is hopeful that improvements will be made.

“I see somebody who is in that seat who sees root causes of issues,” Caswell said. “(He sees) that you just can’t lock individuals up and not address the issues that many of them (criminal defendants) are coming in there with if you want to see change in our community. So, I feel good that Judge Lee Wilson is going to do the right thing.”

Wright also expressed his support for the change in leadership.

“I welcome the selection of new management for the judicial commissioners,” Wright said. “I hope that this results in less pressure on JCs (judicial commissioners) to meet an imaginary ROR (released on own recognizance) quota dreamed up by Bill Anderson. Public safety is and should be their first consideration.”

WREG has reached out to Judge Wilson, but he hasn’t responded yet.

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