←All People
Bill Anderson
Office history
https://ballotpedia.org/Bill_Anderson_Jr._(Tennessee)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-anderson-39748930/
Bill Anderson Jr. currently serves as the judge presiding over Division 7 of the Shelby County General Sessions Court in Tennessee, a position he has held since assuming office on September 1, 2010. His current term is set to conclude on September 1, 2030.
In the recent general election held on August 4, 2022, Anderson sought re-election for the Division 7 judge position and emerged victorious, securing another term to continue his role in administering justice for the community.
Education
Memphis State University - BA in Criminal Justice
Memphis State University - JD
Retirement (March 2025)
Judge Anderson submitted his retirement letter to Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris in early 2025, with his last day on the bench set for March 1, 2025, ending a 14-year career as a Shelby County General Sessions Court judge (Fox13 Memphis, WREG). In his letter, Anderson wrote: "At the age of seventy-one, my work is done."
The retirement followed sustained public criticism over his use of release-on-own-recognizance (ROR) bonds, and complaints filed with the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct by Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor. Senator Taylor publicly responded to the retirement announcement, writing that he was "pleased about Judge Anderson's decision to retire March 1 following my complaints to the Board of Judicial Conduct" (Fox13 Memphis).
The Shelby County Commission appointed Taylor E. Bachelor, a former Shelby County Assistant District Attorney, to fill the seat. The commission's vote took place on February 24, 2025 (Action News 5, Fox13 Memphis).
Controversies
Reprimand
Judge Anderson was reprimanded by Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct on two occasions. One reprimand stated that he ""publicly expressed animosity" toward the law governing the bail system while at a Shelby County Commission meeting." The reprimand also quoted Anderson as saying that "bail bond companies don't do anything except collect money from poor people" and that Anderson said "I detest the bail bond system in Shelby County. I detest it across the state."
Shooting suspect released without bond
Judge Anderson released a shooting suspect without bond despite objections by the Distrct Attorney, Steve Mulroy. https://www.actionnews5.com/video/2024/08/27/district-attorney-releases-statement-after-railgarten-shooting-suspect-released-without-bond/
There have been other complaints about Judge Anderson's decisions to release defendants without bail: https://wreg.com/news/local/commissioner-calls-for-shelby-co-judge-to-resign-over-release-of-defendants/
https://www.reddit.com/r/memphis/comments/1h5p8yl/judge_anderson_about_bail_decisions_you_cant/
Public filings
Candidates and officeholders are required by law to file campaign finance reports and statements of economic interest. The sites below don't support direct links to an individual record — search by last name on each.
Tennessee — campaign finance (search)
- State offices (Governor, US Senate, US Rep, TN Senate, TN House, State Executive Committee) — Tennessee Registry of Election Finance. Click Search for Candidates and PACs, enter last name, and submit.
- County and municipal offices (County Mayor, Commissioner, Sheriff, School Board, court clerks, municipal alderman, etc.) — most major TN counties use the EasyVote portal. Select the relevant county and search by candidate name.
Tennessee — statement of interest
- Required for state and local officials and candidates — Tennessee Ethics Commission Conflict of Interest Search. Enter last nameand, if needed, select the applicable position.