Harris announces leadership change for Juvenile Court agreement
Mayor Lee Harris announced Monday that Shelby County is contracting with a new attorney to act as settlement coordinator regarding the agreement between the county, Juvenile Court and the U.S. Department of Justice.
This could signal a change from previous Mayor Mark Luttrell’s administration, which twice asked to be released from the agreement’s remaining requirements.
Judge Paul Summers’ contract as settlement coordinator will end in October, according to a news release. He will be replaced by Herman Morris, a Memphis attorney.
“One of the mandates that came out of this election was that we take a fresh approach to some of our challenges, like juvenile justice, which have endured for years,” Harris said in a news release. “Citizens expect a thorough, sober review of the challenges in our juvenile justice system. They expect Shelby County Government to rehabilitate as many young lives as possible. It’s time to put our heads down, wipe our eyes clear, and get to the task.”
The memorandum of agreement with the Department of Justice came after a report released in 2012 following a DOJ investigation found systemic discrimination against African-American children, unsafe confinement conditions and failures to provide due process to youth appearing for proceedings at the court. While the DOJ has ended portions of the agreement, a federal monitor said in June that problems remain.
Morris has nearly 40 years of legal experience and has previously served as president, chief executive officer and general counsel for Memphis, Light, Gas and Water, the city’s public utility company. He has also worked as attorney for the City of Memphis. He is founder and principal attorney at The Morris Law Firm.
Morris said he was happy to hear the Harris administration is moving forward with hiring him, but that it would be premature to comment further.
In the 1980s, Morris worked as a Juvenile Court referee, he said.
Interim County Attorney Marlinee Iverson, who Harris appointed earlier this month, is finalizing the contract between Morris and Shelby County Government, according to the news release.
Summers, a former Tennessee Attorney General and judge, became settlement coordinator after retiring as senior judge.
He drew sharp criticism in May when he wrote in a report that there was no race problem in “Shelby County, Washington, D.C., or Chicago.”
Summers’ report, which was attached to the letter requesting that oversight be ended, also said that Juvenile Court and the county “have been, and are in, compliance or substantial compliance ... in every major aspect of” the memorandum of agreement.
Van Turner, chairman of the Shelby County Commission, said he believes Morris will be a “welcome change,” although he could only speak for himself since Harris hasn’t yet presented to the entire commission.
Turner opposed Luttrell’s request for the Department of Justice oversight to end. He said he believes Harris has a “different perspective.”
“I’m hopeful that Mayor Harris will walk back at least the second letter that was sent out,” Turner said. “My assumption is that he’s supportive of oversight during this period while we still have to make improvements and ensure that the changes which have been made stay.”