Shelby County gets its first female chief public defender
Phyllis Aluko will become Shelby County’s first female chief public defender after the Shelby County Commission voted unanimously to confirm her Monday afternoon.
“If confirmed today, I promise to do my best to continue to promote the kind of client-centered representation that is critical to ensuring due process for every client, for every case,” Aluko said before the vote. Dozens of people attended the Shelby County Commission meeting Monday, raising their hands when Chairman Van Turner asked if they were there to support Aluko.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris nominated Aluko to the role last week. She will replace Shelby County Public Defender Stephen Bush, who retired in February. Since then, the deputy assistant public defender has served as acting chief public defender.
Aluko was also the first woman and first African-american to serve as supervisor of the appellate team in the Shelby County Public Defender’s Office. She began in the office as a volunteer before working in the trial division for 10 years, then progressing to serve as division leader in the trial division before transferring to the appellate division, according to a news release.
“For over 25 years, I have dedicated my career to protecting the rights of indigent people who have been charged with committing a criminal offense,” Aluko said in the release. “I care about improving our indigent defense system, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve residents of Shelby County as the new public defender.”
Aluko graduated from Whitehaven High School before earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She is on the board of directors for the Memphis Bar Association and is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association.
Paul Morris, co-chair of the mayor’s transition team, led the search and interview process for a new public defender.
“I worked with the mayor to identify someone who is ethical, hard-working, and respected by their peers and community,” Morris said in the release. “Ms. Aluko is dedicated to Shelby County and will be an exceptional leader of the Public Defender’s Office.”
Katherine Burgess covers county government and the suburbs. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@ commercialappeal.com.