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Shelby County commission backs Memphis referendum effort, asks county attorney to file amicus brief
Summary
By recorded vote the county commission approved a resolution supporting the Memphis City Council's referendum and asked the county attorney to file an amicus curiae brief in the council's litigation over whether the referendum may appear on the November ballot.
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted to support the Memphis City Council's referendum ordinance on gun-violence measures and directed the county attorney to file an amicus curiae brief in the city's lawsuit challenging the Shelby County Election Commission's decision not to place the referendum on the November ballot.
County attorneys presented a draft brief and outlined next steps: if the resolution passed the county attorney's office would file the draft document in the chancery court proceeding. Commissioner Erica Sugarman and other sponsors argued the county must allow voters to decide locally; opponents cautioned that litigation might risk relationships with the state and could affect state funding requests. Commissioner Wright reported hearing from Gov. Bill Lee and warned against antagonizing state officials who control significant funding priorities.
The commission approved the measure: the clerk reported 8 ayes, 3 noes and 1 abstention. County attorneys said if directed they would file the draft brief and take no further action unless the court requested additional input.
