MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Prosecutors say they want the court to revoke bond for Shelby County Judge A. Melissa Boyd after she reportedly failed a drug screening.
Boyd appeared in court Friday, March 15 as she faces charges of coercion of a witness and harassment. In court, prosecutors said Boyd tested positive for marijuana on Jan. 3, then went into treatment. They said she was released Feb. 29, but then tested positive for cocaine and alcohol on March 12. They are pushing for the court to revoke her $5,000 bond for failing her bond conditions.
Prosecutors also told ABC24 they could offer Boyd a plea deal by a March 27 deadline, but if an agreement isn't reached, her case will go to trial in April.
This comes after a Tennessee General Assembly Joint Ad Hoc committee voted unanimously Thursday to remove Boyd from office. The Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct recommended the removal in December after Boyd’s suspension nearly a year ago after the Board said Boyd reportedly admitted to using cocaine while on the job.
Boyd has been suspended from her job since May of 2023 and has had two public reprimands. Her current term ends in August of 2030.
Boyd, who was appointed Criminal Court Division 9 Judge in August 2022, was indicted for allegedly coercing her former campaign manager to "testify falsely or withhold truthful testimony" between Nov. 2022 and March 2023, court records said.
At the time, Boyd was being investigated by the Board of Judicial Conduct, but it is unclear what proceeding the former campaign manager was testifying in.
Boyd was also charged with harassment, which supposedly occurred between Jan. 2023 and March 2023. According to court records, Boyd allegedly communicated with someone “without lawful purpose,” and the grand jury deemed her intent was to “annoy, offend, alarm or frighten” this person.
Boyd was booked into jail in December then released after paying a $5,000 bond, according to jail records.
In a release Dec. 14, the Board of Judicial Conduct said it would place Boyd on interim suspension effective immediately. She was prohibited from holding court, issuing subpoenas, setting cases, issuing warrants, setting or changing bonds, administering oaths or issuing rulings.