Commissioners, Harris move on juvenile court oversight
Most agree US Department of Justice should continue its role
New commissioners and a new mayor for Shelby County took office just last month, but both are moving rapidly to change the course of the juvenile court. On his first day in office, Mayor Lee Harris began the process of choosing a new overseer of the agreement between the county, juvenile court and the U.S. Department of Justice.
And on their third committee meeting, commissioners voted on a resolution that would rescind the previous mayor’s second request that the Department of Justice end its oversight of juvenile court. The resolution, which left committee on an 8-4 vote and will be voted on at their next meeting, prompted a strong exchange between commissioners. The vote fell largely along partisan lines.
Republican commissioners Brandon Morrison, Mick Wright, Amber Mills and Mark Billingsley voted against the resolution, while Commissioner David Bradford was the lone Republican to vote in favor.
Most commissioners spoke Wednesday in favor of continuing oversight, including those who opposed this particular resolution.
Morrison was the only one to say that, typically, such agreements do have a sunset provision and that the money spent on oversight could be directed toward things like detention alternatives.
Harris said he also favors oversight continuing — something he signaled by replacing Judge Paul Summers, the previous settlement coordinator. In a report