TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Julia Wilburn on Jan 6, 2026

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris has named Jerri Green, his deputy chief of staff, as the county’s interim chief public defender. Phyllis Aluko, the current chief public defender, will retire at the end of January. The Daily Memphian reports that Green will begin transitioning to the new role on Jan. 12. Green holds a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and worked in the public defender’s office in 2009 and 2010. She currently serves on the Memphis City Council and is a Democratic candidate for governor. In a statement Green said, “My passion has always been public service, and I carry the lessons I’ve learned from Washington D.C. to Nashville to Shelby County, and everywhere in between, as I work to ensure fairness, dignity, and strong representation for every client we serve.”