Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy announced his office would not pursue a previous diversion plan for felons in possession of firearms after Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) said that he intends to file a Senate Joint Resolution immediately following the November election requiring the removal of Mulroy.
Last week, Mulroy (pictured above, left) announced that his office was considering an “alternative approach” for felons charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by offering diversion to such defendants.
The diversion program was immediately condemned by Republican leaders, including Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) who said such a program would “make Memphis even more unsafe.”
General Mulroy’s decision to offer diversion to felons in possession of firearms is a serious misjudgment. His actions will make Memphis even more unsafe and is another step in kowtowing to criminals. He is doing everything he can to keep criminals on the street instead of… https://t.co/zCsMyuSRiz
— Speaker Cameron Sexton (@CSexton25) June 14, 2024
Mulroy initially said the new approach would “address racial disparities,” but he backtracked his decision to pursue the program on Monday, saying such an initiative would do much to “help with racial disparities.”
“Asked about racial disparities at a forum last week, I said we were considering an as-yet-unformed alternative approach for nonviolent felons charged with possession of a weapon. It wasn’t a formal program or policy, but just allowing prosecutors case-by-case discretion for nonviolent defendants who’d never used a gun and who seemed reformable,” Mulroy said in a statement on Monday.
“However, after looking at the number of cases that qualify, I realize it would only be a handful of cases—not enough to help with racial disparities,” Mulroy added. “In light of that, and the concern I’ve heard from some (though by no means all) members of the public, I’ve decided not to pursue this idea. We’ll continue to work on ways to address racial disparities and continue to focus on violent crime.”
🚨 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Senator Taylor gives notice of intent to remove D.A. Mulroy.
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Dear Lt. Governor Randy McNally,Please allow this letter to serve as notice that pursuant to the Tennessee State Constitution, Article VI, Section VI, I plan to file a Senate Joint… pic.twitter.com/qUxyPUHxJy
— Senator Brent Taylor (@SenBrentTaylor) June 17, 2024
Mulroy’s decision to drop the diversion program came hours after Taylor (pictured above, right) sent a notice of intent to Lt. Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) announcing his intent to file a Senate Joint Resolution requiring the removal of Mulroy.
“Public welfare demanding it, causes for such removal will be set forth in the Senate Joint Resolution, but shall include “dereliction of duty” for failing to properly prosecute convicted felons in possession of a firearm,” Taylor said in his notice to McNally.
Despite Mulroy’s decision to no longer pursue the diversion program for felons in possession of firearms, Taylor confirmed that his decision to seek the removal of the district attorney has not changed.
Tennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition applauded Taylor’s decision to seek Mulroy’s removal. The organization said it was “proud” of the state senator’s leadership.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Steve Mulroy” by Shelby County District Attorney’s Office. Photo “Brent Taylor” by Brent Taylor. Background Photo “Shelby County Courthouse” by Thomas R Machnitzki. CC BY 3.0.
