Bill Anderson Reprimanded Retired

Bill Anderson, a Shelby County, Tennessee General Sessions Court judge, was publicly reprimanded by the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct on February 6, 2024, over two separate incidents. In the first, dated March 16, 2023, Anderson raised his voice at Memphis Police Sergeant Benjamin O'Brien during a bond hearing and became sarcastic about a warrant O'Brien had prepared, leaving the officer "feeling embarrassed and harassed," according to the Board's findings.

In the second, during a Shelby County Commission meeting on September 18, 2023, Anderson made public remarks dismissing bail bond companies and stating he "detests" the bail law he is charged with applying on the bench — comments the Board found crossed the line the judicial role requires, noting it is one thing to have a personal view and another for a sitting judge to publicly declare contempt for a law he must enforce.