Former Judge A. Melissa Boyd Dies
Former Shelby County Criminal Court judge A. Melissa Boyd has died, according to her church and family, and funeral details have not yet been announced.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Criminal Justice
Former Shelby County Criminal Court Judge A. Melissa Boyd has died. The Cathedral of Praise Church of Memphis announced her death in a Facebook post on Saturday, November 7, and her niece, Andrea McKee, confirmed it.
Why it matters
Boyd served on the Shelby County Criminal Court bench after being elected to Division 9 in 2022 before resigning in April 2024 amid disciplinary proceedings and criminal charges. Her death closes that chapter in a case that had drawn attention to judicial conduct in Memphis.
Boyd resigned in April 2024 after facing criminal charges involving allegations of witness coercion and harassment, and she had pleaded not guilty before stepping down. Her death ends the proceedings, though the Tennessee General Assembly hearing on her removal was already scheduled before her resignation.
The players
A. Melissa Boyd
A former Shelby County Criminal Court judge and military veteran who was elected to Division 9 in 2022 and resigned in April 2024 amid criminal charges.
Torrey Harris
A Tennessee state representative who shared a tribute to Boyd on Facebook.
Cathedral of Praise Church of Memphis
The Memphis church that announced Boyd's death on Facebook.
The details
Boyd, a military veteran, was elected to Shelby County Criminal Court Division 9 in 2022. State Rep. Torrey Harris shared a tribute on Facebook, noting an encounter with Boyd at the Glenview Community Center while waiting to vote the previous week.
Timeline
2022: Boyd elected to Shelby County Criminal Court Division 9.
April 2024: Boyd resigns from the bench.
Previous week: Harris encounters Boyd at Glenview Community Center.
Saturday, November 7: Cathedral of Praise announces Boyd's death.
Legal Context
Boyd's case was brought through the Tennessee General Assembly's removal process for judges, a legislative route for holding sitting officials accountable outside the courts. Her resignation came ahead of that scheduled hearing, so the removal question was never decided.
Residents seeking details on funeral or memorial arrangements should watch for announcements from the Cathedral of Praise Church of Memphis or the family. The Shelby County Criminal Court bench has one fewer judge following Boyd's resignation, which may affect case assignments in Division 9.
The takeaway
Judicial resignations that come before a scheduled removal hearing can leave questions about misconduct unresolved on the record. Readers following Shelby County court news can track how Division 9 is staffed going forward.
Further reading
For related coverage of court proceedings, see Criminal Justice in Memphis.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fox13.
