MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The state of Tennessee publicly reprimanded Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Paula Skahan for alleged bias during Courtney Anderson's appeal, seeing his 163-year prison sentence reduced to time served in 2022, in a letter sent on Feb. 14.
Tennessee describes a public reprimand as a letter that points out findings of judicial misconduct and explains the reasons why the conduct is inappropriate and a discredit to the judiciary.
The letter was sent to Skahan in response to comments the judge made in relation to Anderson's case in 2023. This letter does not change the outcome of the case, but it does call out Skahan alleged bias.
The public reprimand points out to Skahan's comments during the proceedings, which the state suggests indicate Skahan's had already predetermined the outcome of the case.
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Courtney Anderson's case started in the late 1990s.
Anderson, now 55, was arrested in 1997 and sentenced to nearly 163 years in prison in 2000 on multiple counts of theft and forgery. As a repeat offender, the judge gave the maximum amount of time on each conviction and required the sentences to be served consecutively.
In April 2022, the defendant filed a pro se motion in Criminal court to “correct an illegal sentence.” Skahan reviewed the motion and asked the Shelby County D.A.’s office if it could investigate what, if anything, could be done. Skahan believed the sentence was technically a ‘legal’ sentence but was excessive. The D.A.’s office and defense counsel researched and found a legal ground for reopening the case.
On December 13, 2022, Skahan reduced Anderson’s sentence to 15 years, effectively a time-served sentence.
The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals took issue with Shakan's ruling, stating she didn't have the proper jurisdiction to reduce Anderson's sentence.
Anderson was ordered to go back to prison. But according to TDOC, he is currently not behind bars.
