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Criminal court clerk asks commission to fund software upgrades to equalize access for private defense attorneys
Summary
Criminal court clerk Heidi **** asked the commission for $132,370 to buy research, a public analytics dashboard and redaction software; commissioners deferred the request to the Sept. 17 committee to allow funding questions to be answered and to explore DP (dedicated fees) options.
Criminal court clerk Heidi **** returned to the Shelby County Commission seeking $132,370 to upgrade three technology systems: elevated research access to the case management system, a public-facing court analytics dashboard, and redaction software to speed the processing of filings.
Clerk **** told the commission private criminal defense attorneys currently lack the elevated access used by the public defender and other county offices; she and outside legal advocates argued the gap creates inequity and inefficiency for counsel and court operations. "Private and appointed private counsel cannot view information necessary to the representation of their clients," one lawyer said during public comment.
Finance officials and several commissioners raised questions about funding. Deputy CFO Michael Thompson said any draw on fund balance would reduce the county's percentage (preliminary fund balance cited at about 14%) and suggested repurposing some nonessential grant allocations as an alternative. Clerk **** said her DP (dedicated) fee balance was not a practical long‑term funding source because past DP receipts were already committed to security cameras, mobile apps, and other items; she said DP collections in recent years were limited.
Commission debate focused on timing and alternatives: several commissioners asked whether partial funding would allow the priority work (research access and analytics) to proceed while deferring redaction. Clerk **** said yes; general sessions court clerk would share part of the cost for the research and analytics tools.
Outcome: Commissioners voted to send the item back to the Law Enforcement, Corrections and Courts committee (to meet Sept. 17) for additional information on funding sources and timing. The clerk said she would collaborate with general sessions to split costs and seek alternatives to a general‑fund appropriation where feasible.
Ending: The clerk said she would work with finance to provide detailed options for Sept. 17; commissioners emphasized the equity case for giving private counsel access comparable to public defender and DA offices to help move cases efficiently.
