MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Shelby county judge Bill Anderson has been reprimanded by The Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct for two separate situations.
One for his comments on the Tennessee's bail system during a commissioners meeting. The other was when he raised his voice at a police officer in his courtroom. Reprimand in this context equates to a claim that the judge has violated the code of judicial conduct.
The Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct made the decision Tuesday in a letter to Anderson, making him the third county judge to be publicly reprimanded by the board since the 2022 election.
The public letter from G. Andrew Bingham, a board chair of the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct, states that a Memphis Police Sergeant named Benjamin O'Brien appeared in court on March 16, 2023 for a bond hearing at Anderson's request. During this hearing, Anderson reportedly raised his voice at O'Brien and "became sarcastic about a warrant" that O'Brien prepared.
O'Brien left the courtroom "feeling embarrassed and harassed," according to the letter. Anderson indicated that he had no personal recollection of this interaction, but court records reflected a dismissal of the case, according to the letter.
"Judges are expected to maintain the highest standard of conduct and dignity of judicial office at all times," the letter reads. "This obligation includes the specific responsibility of being patient, dignified and courteous to those with whom the judge deals in an official capacity."
"Yelling of making injudicious comments in court is neither dignified nor courteous and sets a poor example for everyone present," the letter continues. "In addition, a party who is the subject of overly harsh or intemperate words may reasonably perceive that the judge is biased. Nor do such comments inspire confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary."
The letter said that on Sept. 18, 2023 judge Anderson "publicly expressed animosity" toward the law governing the bail system while at a Shelby County Commission meeting.
The letter said that Anderson stated that "bail bond companies don't do anything except collect money from poor people" and that Anderson said "I detest the bail bond system in Shelby County. I detest it across the state."
The letter said that in a response, Anderson admitted to making the extrajudicial comments at issue and said that he follows the law regardless of his personal views.
"It is one thing for a judge to appear publicly and explain specific problems in an area of the law in which the judge has expertise," Brigham said in the letter. "It is quite another for a judge to publicly declare that he or she 'detests' the law that the judge is charged with applying. Statements of the type in the latter category can undermine public perception and confidence that the judge will approach his or her cases fairly and impartially, as well as undermine public confidence in the judiciary."
"In addition, extrajudicial comments like those at issue can raise reasonable questions about a judge's willingness to follow the law," the letter continued. "Such comments can also lead to disqualification issues for the judge."
The letter states that the panel has considered that Anderson has been cooperative and taken full responsibility for the reprimand. The board reportedly trusts that this reprimand will result in "an elevated consciousness about how to approach similar situations going forward."