A federal judge order a new trial for the three Memphis Police Department (MPD) officers previously convicted in the beating death of Tyré Nichols in 2023.
U.S. Chief District Judge Sheryl Lipman ruled Thursday that the new trial was warranted after U.S. District Judge Mark Norris, the judge in the case, was alleged to have made disparaging remarks against the MPD.
Norris allegedly said that the MPD was “infiltrated to the top with gang members.” The remarks allegedly came days after verdicts against the police officers were issued and immediately after one of Norris’ law clerks had been shot in the chest in a carjacking.
The new trial is yet another twist in the case. Even though the circumstances of the killing seem plain — especially given the release of the gruesome videos showing the officers’ actions that night — the legal maneuvers confound many. This is especially true of the not-guilty verdicts in the state case against the officers.
While the three — Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith — were convicted on federal charges, they had not yet been sentenced. That job fell to Norris, who recused himself from the case in June. U.S. Chief District Judge Cheryl Lipman ordered a new trial on Thursday, even though she said she found no evidence of bias in Norris’ rulings during the trial. But Norris’ alleged comments about MPD gang infiltration were enough to cause Lipman to order a new trial. “What is required is ‘not only an absence of actual bias, but an absence of even the appearance of judicial bias,'” she said.
Here are what some Memphians think of the latest development:
State Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) used the moment to take aim at a familiar target: Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy.
“The shooting of a federal clerk during a home invasion, while working on one of Memphis’s most high-profile federal cases, is unacceptable,” Taylor said on X. “This young professional was serving our community when attacked.
“Where does the DA’s office stand on prosecuting this attempted murder? Have convictions been secured? DA Mulroy failed to secure convictions in his Tyre Nichols cases, and we expect better in this case involving a federal law clerk targeted by violent criminals.
“To #MakeMemphisMatter, we must demand accountability and action. Solving our crime crisis isn’t rocket science—rocket science is rocket science.
“Let’s keep the pressure on. Our city’s future depends on it.
“Trusted. Conservative. Leadership.”
Black Lives Matter said the new trial feels like yet another delay for justice.
“Another trial. Another delay. Another wound reopened for Tyre Nichols’ family.
“We can’t keep running circles around ‘accountability’ while the root cause rots untouched. Policing is killing. It will keep killing until we defund it, dismantle it, and build something that keeps us alive. #SayHisName”
