Former judge expected to enter plea in court

UPDATE: A plea hearing for former judge Melissa Boyd is set for Friday in Shelby County Criminal Court

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Melissa Boyd, who is facing criminal charges and a possible removal from the bench, submitted a letter of resignation Tuesday, effective immediately.

Gov. Bill Lee’s office accepted Boyd’s resignation.

The move comes two days before the state General Assembly is set to vote on removing Boyd from her seat. A bipartisan legislative committee already has voted unanimously to recommend her removal.

“Accordingly, please treat this letter as Judge Boyd’s indication that she is resigning from her position as a Criminal Court Judge for the 30th Judicial District at Memphis effective
immediately,” attorney Brian Faughn wrote Tuesday.

Bond revoked for Judge Melissa Boyd after drug test

Shelby County court records show she is scheduled for trial on criminal charges of harassment and coercion of a witness April 24.

Last week, Boyd was jailed after her bond was revoked in a criminal case on charges of harassment and coercion of a witness because she allegedly failed a drug test that showed cocaine and alcohol in her system.

The Tennessee General Assembly has a vote scheduled this month on her possible removal from the bench.

Judge Melissa Boyd: What led to her possible removal

Boyd was elected in 2022 to the 30th Judicial District, but has been suspended most of that time. She has continued to collect her paycheck of $17,000 a month following her suspension.

In a hearing in Nashville last month, Sen. Raumesh Akbari said that to her understanding, based on Boyd’s previous service as an attorney and her judicial service, she would be eligible for retirement at the end of May.

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