NEWS from the Shelby County Mayor’s Office
Lee Harris, Mayor
Vasco A. Smith, Jr., Administration Building
11th Floor, 160 North Main, Memphis, Tennessee 38103
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 7, 2019
Lauren Lee
Public Information Officer
Office: 901.222.2322
Mobile: 901.481.3422
SHELBY COUNTY MAYOR LEE HARRIS ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF JUVENILE COURT ATTORNEY PANEL COORDINATOR
Experienced Juvenile Court Attorney Dorothy Miller has been appointed as independent panel coordinator.
Memphis, TN - Dorothy Miller has been appointed by Mayor Lee Harris as the Juvenile Court Attorney Panel Coordinator. Attorney Miller has more than 15 years of experience in Juvenile Court and family law matters. She has an extensive background in managing cases impacting children and families, both in private practice and as an attorney on the Juvenile Defense Panel.
“The appointment of Dorothy Miller helps resolve the issue of the panel attorney structure which was strongly challenged by the DOJ’s former Court Monitor’s report,” says Mayor Harris. “It’s important to keep in mind that everyone involved in this journey, the Sheriff, the Juvenile Court Judge, the County Attorney and our Office take these reports and issues very seriously. We have read the reports thoroughly, discussed the identified matters at length, and we’re moving together to remedy concerns like this one.”
“I am looking forward to this opportunity and being a part of continuing this important work,” says Attorney Miller. “The children of Shelby County deserve our best efforts and an ongoing commitment to service to help them meet the challenges that some of them face in their everyday lives.”
In late 2018, Mayor Harris and Memphis & Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Dan Michael agreed to remove the duties of selecting defense attorneys for juvenile defendants from a staff member working at the Juvenile Court to someone appointed by the Mayor. The former Due Process Monitor has stated that this kind of change would satisfy the need for a more independent process. Ms. Miller is expected to begin March 15th.
(end of release)