On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, Fox 13 reported that Shelby County Judge Melissa Boyd had her bond revoked and was remanded into custody. Judge Boyd had previously been charged in December with coercion of a witness and harassment. She had been suspended from the bench in May and later failed several court-ordered drug tests, violating her bond conditions.
When she was first released on bond for the December charges, Judge Boyd was ordered to complete a drug treatment program and provide regular drug screening results. She completed treatment in February but subsequently failed screens in March that detected cocaine and alcohol in her system. Judge Boyd also missed her last three scheduled drug tests.
At the bond revocation hearing, prosecutors argued that Judge Boyd’s cocaine use was severe and that she was at risk of harming herself if she continued abusing drugs outside of custody. They noted she had also failed to comply with the requirement to participate in weekly check-in calls. Judge Boyd’s defense attorneys countered that jail was not the appropriate place for her situation and that she required long-term inpatient treatment for her drug addiction.
After hearing from both sides, Judge Roy Morgan determined that all other options to support Judge Boyd’s recovery had been exhausted. He revoked her bond, citing the need for her to receive intensive treatment, which could not take place if she was not in custody. Judge Boyd was transferred to the same jail where she had previously sentenced defendants. She will be detained pending either a plea deal or her scheduled trial beginning on April 24.
Separately, a legislative committee recently voted unanimously to remove Judge Boyd from the bench through the standard process for an elected official. The full legislature is set to vote on this matter by April 4.
Source: Fox 13
