Shelby County's legal battles over bail reform may soon to be taking a costly turn for taxpayers, as local officials brace for the financial impact of a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a new state law that prohibits judges from considering a person's financial circumstances when setting bail. Presiding Judge Bill Anderson, a defendant in the federal lawsuit, has predicted a loss for the county which could result in "extreme" fiscal consequences. In a statement obtained by Action News 5, Anderson warned, "The damages, if we are found at fault, are extreme."

This lawsuit was sparked by the passage of a law, sponsored by State Sen. Brent Taylor and State Rep. John Gillespie, which critics argue will disproportionately affect the less financially fortunate defendants, essentially detaining them on the basis of wealth. Josh Spickler, the executive director of Just City, the justice reform nonprofit filing the lawsuit in conjunction with the ACLU, said, "This law results in the unnecessary detention of people who pose no risk to public safety because they can't afford to pay an arbitrary bail amount," in a conversation with Action News 5. Sen. Taylor has countered, stating the importance of public safety and criticizing the plaintiffs for advocating the release of more criminals.

The current system of bail reform in Shelby County was originally part of an agreement with Just City and the ACLU designed to consider the defendant's ability to pay, a provision included to avert previous legal threats. Judge Anderson and others named in the suit had worked for over a year to reform the bail system, which, until the new state law, questioned defendants about how much they could afford for bail. But now, according to a WREG.com report, the local community must again strap in for a legal storm that Anderson believes could significantly draw funds from important community initiatives and further strain the county's budget.

Judge Anderson has emphasized the broad implications of the lawsuit not just for Shelby County but also as a potential national example. "Make no mistake about it. The plaintiffs are coming at us with everything they've got," Anderson told FOX13 Memphis. It's now up to the federal court system to determine whether this new law, which some have praised for its commitment to equality but others have criticized for its potential to discriminate against the poor, will stand. Rep. Gillespie holds that the new law is a matter of equal treatment before the law, regardless of financial status, as noted by FOX13 Memphis.

Despite the polarized viewpoints, the practical consequences of the law and subsequent legal challenge will play out in real-time, with a worried Anderson forecasting a tremendous impact on the county. With the wheels of justice set in motion, the county remains on the cusp of a potentially precedent-setting legal battle with millions of dollars and the balance of equity and public safety at stake. Anderson, who has stated he is compelled to follow state law despite his beliefs about its constitutionality, now faces the difficult task of navigating these legal waters, as both a judge and a taxpayer within the community.