Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Well we are back with the pulse. I am Stormy
with you, keeping our fingertips on the pulse of our community.
And hello to you and you and yes you too,
Come on in to the conversation. Bring Mamma and m
and the kids in so we can talk to you. Today.
We've got something that you know, people have been wondering
about in our community. How does the bail system work,
(00:23):
What is really going on? What we need to know
that we don't know? Okay, So today I've asked a
young lady to come in and share this information with us.
So let her. I'm gonna let her introduce herself to
you all. Tell everybody who you are and what it
is you do.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Yes, ma'am, Hello everyone, Miss Stormy and everyone is Shelby County.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Hello.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
My name is Serena Gray, and I'm a judicial commissioner. Okay,
And I realize that when I say judicial commissioner, a
lot of people don't know what that means. What it
is that we do. So we're magistrates. We're members of
the judicial Uh, we're judicial officials.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
So members. Does that mean you're a judge?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
We're magistrates, yes, so we're we are guided by the
same canons as the judges. Okay, so we're a magistrate
judge if you will, But you're members of the we're appointed.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Okay, so you're not elected, No, we're not. Positions are appointed.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Yes, by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Okay, And so how does your job work?
Speaker 2 (01:27):
I like to think of us as the front lines
of the judicial system. HM. We do a lot. So
from the very beginning, when you have officers that are
investigating cases, they actually submit search warrants or application of
search warrants to us to see if there's probable calls
to issue a search warrant. So we signed search warrants subpoenas.
(01:49):
The investigations essentially starts with us granting a search warrant
or subpoena.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Let me ask you this, are judicial commissioners everywhere or
are you just in in Tennessee, because I'm thinking this
is not just a Memphis Shelby County thing.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
No it's not. They're judicial commissioners and other jurisdictions as well.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Okay, all over the country or.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yes, and all over the country and different Because I
was wondering, I always thought the judge was the person
that they in the movies.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Honey, that's what they that's who they go to.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Now the judges can sign the search warrants and rest
warrants as well. Okay, here within our jurisdiction because we
are a larger metropolitan area. In order to be a
judicial commissioner, you have to be a license attorney. Oh
so they're thirteen of us, and we are all license
attorneys with many, many years of practice. We come from
different backgrounds. You have former public defenders, former prosecutors, a
(02:42):
former MPD attorney Okay, former persons who were part of
civil practice, private practice. So it's a nice group, which
is great for balancing, especially since we have to be
fair and impartial. To have people with those various backgrounds
I think as a whole makes such stronger.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Okay. Okay, now, miss Gray, now you told me something
I did. So you have to be an attorney to
have this position. So how long have you been? Are
you from Memphis?
Speaker 2 (03:09):
I am from Memphis born and raised.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Okay? What school did you go to?
Speaker 2 (03:12):
White Station High School of the Spartan.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Okay, a White Station up in Hill okay, Spartans Okay,
and so who who dj J you prompt.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Mister Stan Bell the man himself in nineteen ninety eight.
I thought that was pertinent to the coming project graduation.
I know he DJ'ed that for a fact we had
project graduation, and.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
He probably remembers you the all of that. Yeah, But
at any rate, so your home bred you you you
know Memphis, and so when it comes to a lot
of the things that you have to do, and you've
been an attorney for how long.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
I've been an attorney. I was licensed in twenty thirteen.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Okay, okay, so yes, yeah, so well, congratulations to you,
because it sounds like a judicial commissioner. Is that like
a promotion.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
It's a step up, Yes, step up. We can sit
for the elected judges as well in their absence when
they're not able to take to the bench. We sit
there and we run the docket for the elected judges.
We run a bail hearing room, the order of protection
hearing room. When people make application for order protection, they
come to the hearing room that's manned by a judicial commissioner.
We also do preliminary hearings and so forth. We signed
(04:23):
the arrest warrants as well. For instance, last year alone,
we signed twelve thousand and thirty nine arrest warrants just
the judicial commissioner. So the majority of cases twelve thousand
and so the majority of last year alone, last year alone,
how many even sign this year so far? I don't
have that stet yet, but I'm sure the number may
(04:45):
not be quite up there at this point, but I'm
sure it is pretty high.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Okay, Okay, But now I wanted to dig into the
fact that you were the bail system. Yes, and kind
of understand. You know the bail system. A lot of
people in the community probably know somebody that's had to
deal with you know, somebody's relative, you know what I'm saying,
We know somebody that's needed to get bailed out. Okay,
(05:13):
So right now we have a cashless bell system. Is
that what's working in Shelby County?
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Well, we have cash bills or bailable shorties. Pretty much
what happens is pursuing to TCA forty eleven, Dash one fifteen,
if a person does not present themselves to be a
danger to the community or a flight risk, we have
to assess the danger to the community component first. That's
by law by statute. If they do not present themselves
(05:41):
to be a danger to the community or flight risk,
which means they won't try to bail out and not
show for court. Then they can be released on their
own recognisants. And that may happen for some of the
low level offenses. However, for violent offenses pursuing to TCA team,
the commissioner or the judge can set a monetary bond
(06:05):
based on a number of factors within that law.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Now, when that happens, can a judge that's over you
overrule your suggestion or whatever it is that you have advised,
be the bill or not bill, or can they overrule you?
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Well, what happens is if a person is still in custody,
they'll have a bill hearing. They'll either have it in
the bell hearing room or in one of the divisions
in which the elected judges sit at that point in time. Initially,
when we get the bill, we're just reading from the affidavit.
We get information regarding the criminal history, the ties to
(06:44):
the community, the risk, the non appearances a defendant may
have had in the past if they didn't show for court.
We consider the nature of the offense and the apparent
probability that they will be convicted in the likely sentence
that is to come therefrom Most recently they signed into
law that took effect this year, where we can actually
take a look at the juvenile history as well. I
(07:06):
considered that also, But there are a number of factors
that are statutory factors that we take a look at
and use that to determine the bill when we first
get it. Now, after the person has the bill, and
if they're not able to build out or post bond,
they can have a bell hearing again by one of
(07:26):
us or one of the elected judges. At that point
in time, the defendant is represented by an attorney. Yeah,
the state of Tennessee is represented by the prosecutor, and
they will make their arguments regarding those factors that I
just went over.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
And that attorney could possibly be a public defender.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
It could be a public defender, or it could be
someone from the private bar. Or if there's a conflict
on a case, then they will the defendant will be
appointed an attorney from the private bar.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Okay, if it's a.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Conflict for the public defender's office. So we appoint attorneys
as well as judicial commissioners. At that point in time.
Usually the defendant is asking that the bill is belowered
and then the state is asking that it remains the same,
or maybe that it's raised. It's up to the court,
based on the factors and what they've heard, to determine
(08:15):
if the bill will be lowered, stay as it is,
or a judge could raise the bill if the arguments
are made and the court sees fit to raise the bill.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
So which side suggests the bill is it? Is that
something that comes from the District attorney's office, the prosecutors,
or is that something that comes from who you all
or the defendant, I mean the defendant's attorney, who gets
to decide, you know, where the bill is going to
be or stay.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Well. For the cases that are presented to the judicial commissioners,
we decide bill okay. At that point, once that bell
is set, the defendant can bail out or they may
remain in custom. If they do remain in custody because
they cannot afford the bill, then that's when they can
go on to a bell hearing. At the bell hearing,
(09:07):
it's up to the state to make the argument for
what they believe is appropriate for bill. It's up to
the defense attorney to make the argument to the court
for what they believe is appropriate for bill. Was commiserated
with the case.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
Okay, So maybe I'm digging too fond this because I
don't want to lose nobody out fail. I don't want
to get lost myself. Right. So when you said the state,
is that d Moulroy's office.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
That's the prosecutor.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Yes, Okay.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Now let's say we set a bell and a person
bonds out. Yeah, any party that's defense or the state,
pursuant to TCA forty eleven three can ask for a
modification of bill. Okay, can ask the court to take
(09:58):
another look at the bill.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
At that point in time, a hearing is set. Whoever
wants to bring that motion has to do so in writing.
A hearing is set, both parties are apprized by that
motion of what the reasoning may be as far as
for the modification of bill, and they go further into
those arguments when they have that hearing. So, based on
(10:23):
that motion and the hearing, the court then makes a
decision what they think will be or what it excuse
me thinks will be an appropriate bell in that particular case.
So the parties can always make that motion and make
their arguments to the court for a change of bill,
either to lower it or to raise it. So that
(10:45):
makes sense. It does.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
It makes sense a lot of moving parts and a
lot of it is it sounds like a lot of
moving parts. And I imagine for those people that you know, unfortunately,
there will be some people that are listening that will
have a family member or will you know, need that
information themselves. Nobody wants to be in a situation like that.
Let me say that, Yes, but I guess the bail
(11:10):
system has been such a conversation, especially last year when
so many people were released on what we heard the
phrase coined r R, released on their own recognizance. Yes,
so it became one of those things where a lot
of us are you know, started to talk about it,
(11:31):
and probably more than ever before. I don't remember a
time in you know that, at least for me talking about,
you know, why was the bail not you know, lower,
or why was the bail not higher usually higher? And
how did they get out on r R? And I
know you've probably heard questions about that as well, right
(11:54):
and I have.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
So let me say this, when we set bell, we
do so in accordance with the law. So ordinarily it's
the lower level offenses in which somebody will be released
on their own recognizance. Are Now, what happens is when
a person gets out. Unfortunately, we can't predict what it
(12:19):
is a person would do, right, and so if that
person is rearrested, if they're out on RR, then the
law in that case, and that's pursuing to forty eleven,
says that if you're released on bond, and that's including
r R, and while you're out, if you are rearrested
(12:41):
for another criminal offense, then the magistrate or whoever sets
that bell shall double the amount they were customarily set
in that instant case in which you were arrested. So
let's say you were ror for a misdemeanor theft, and
then you get out, and while you're out on that
misdemeanor theft, you pick up a new case where you're
(13:04):
rearrested for a new case. Now if it's a violent offense,
because there are some bills that are some offenses excuse me,
that just require a high bond, So whatever I would
normally set. And let's say if that person that committed
a theft got out, they were rearrested for aggravated assault.
So now we're looking at a seafelony. Whatever I would
(13:24):
customily set in that aggravated assault, that new case, I
have to double that amount. So the law has mandated,
and they have factors that sort of guide our reasoning
when we're setting bail.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
I don't know if I can ask you this question,
but I want to ask why is it that sometimes
it doesn't seem in some cases that this is happening,
you know what I'm saying. And maybe you can't answer that,
but and I don't mean to put you in a
position where you, you know, are stumped, but I'm asking
(14:02):
that for some of the listeners because it has seemed
that in some instances that the bill should have been
higher for folks that have committed violent offenses, and it
was not. But I know, you know, there's only so
far you can go.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Well, I can't comment on any pending cases, but I
can try to delve a little more into it. Okay,
So remember I told you pursuing to TCA forty eleven
eighteen that says that if you don't pretty much believe
a person should be released on their own recognizance or
or ART or even r RT with conditions, then you
have to set a bond a monetary bond rather and so,
(14:49):
and I'm going to read from you because I believe
in receipts the law. This is not what I'm making up.
So when you look at TCA forty eleven eighteen.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Talking to that microphone so we can make sure we hear.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Yes, ma'am. It says that the defendant shall be released
from custody subject to the conditions of the Bell Bond
bill must be set as low as the court determines
its necessary to reasonably ensure the safety of the community
and the appearance of the defendant as required. Now that's
TCA sub Section A two and so there are a
(15:22):
number of factors. So sometimes when some people are arrested
for a violent offense, it may be their first time
being arrested for that offense. Because there are a number
of categories we look at, and again pursuant to that
(15:44):
particular TCA, we have to look at the defendant's length
of residency in the community. We look at their employment
status and history and financial conditions. We look at the
defendant's family ties and relationship, at their reputation and character
and mental health. We look at their prior criminal record,
(16:05):
which that can be indicative of if you have someone
that has a history of committing violent offenses, then the
chances that they will commit another violent offense, well, that
may you have that prone to consider when you're looking
at the safety of the community. So if you have
someone that has a number of violent offenses in which
they've been convicted, then that may be a telltale sign,
(16:27):
especially if they're before the court with another violent offense,
that this person may present themselves to be a danger
to the community. You have to look at the nature
of the instant offense that's before the court and the
parent probability that that person will be convicted in the
likely sentence. What happens is when you all hear about
(16:48):
the cases, you're hearing about what's happened in black and
white on that piece of paper or the affidavit.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
But when it.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Comes to court and people have bail hearings, there's a
lot more that comes out out that the public may
not be privy to because now you have an attorney
that's representing a defendant. Now you have the state that's
representing the state of Tennessee. So things that you may
hear this on the news because they're usually reading from
(17:15):
the affidavit of complaint. The case is always much more
than that, and we get to hear that in court.
There may be witnesses that's presented or that may be
questioned at a bell hearing. The factors that I just discussed.
Now that person has someone speaking for them, They have
an attorney that can convey to the court what's going
(17:37):
on with the case. Maybe the attorney has talked to witnesses.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Let me put a pause because I want to tell
people that I'm talking to Serena Gray, who is a
judicial commissioner in Shelby County, and thank you for being
on the show. I am Stormy. It is the pulse.
You're trying to explain to us how this works. We
don't get it, and but I appreciate you doing that
(18:02):
because I think having you here lets us see a
little bit on the inside of what you do. But
I guess for a lot of us, and I know
again there you know, there's some things I would like
to ask that I know you can't answer, because I'm
I'm I think about for most of us, the Ezekiel
(18:24):
Kelly case and a few others that we heard about,
you know, and I know I know you know you
may hear, you know, snippets of what happens, but you
don't hear it all. And can we come to hearings
of people? Is the public invited to come to sit
(18:46):
in court to see?
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Yes, it's an open and public tribunal. Anybody that goes
to court, Yes, it's open and public tribunal. Others have
come to court and sat in court just to watch
they were having I mean you're hustle. Yeah, yes, it's
open to It is open to the public. If there's
room in the court then and the deputy says a
(19:08):
person from the public can come in and sit, they can't.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
And do you let me ask you this as a
judicial commissioner, do you suggest that we come to more
court hearings so we can hear what's actually happening in
the courtroom.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
If you're interested and you want to see how it works,
then go and see the system and how it works.
Like I said, it's always more to a case. Yeah,
then the snippets that we get on the news. The
(19:48):
duty of the court and of judicial commissioners is to
be fair and impartial, to be neutral and detached. Right,
and so Bill is it's not meant to be punitive,
but it is meant to protect the safety of the
community and reassure the fact that someone will come back
(20:09):
to court. I guess that's the best way to summon up.
And it's not just one particular thing that we're looking
at or we're assessing. When we set bail in this country,
you're innocent unless proven otherwise. However, again, when you look
at those factors and weigh them, there are just some
cases that simply need a high bond. It warrants a
(20:30):
high bond.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
And.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
That's what they get. They get a high bond. And
we're looking at a number of those factors and not
just one single factor I'm determining bond.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
I have noticed lately there are more people getting higher bonds.
I haven't heard a lot of people being released on
our at least controversial situations that have happened. I've not
heard them. Doesn't mean that you know, I have not
heard them. It seems like more you hear more now
(21:04):
of people getting real bonds, you know. And I don't
know if you have something to do with that or
how all of that ties in, because I understand from
what listening to you as a judicial commissioner that you
can set the bond, yes, but then the attorney can
come back want hearing to lower the bond, and the
(21:27):
judge could say okay.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
But we consider those same factors. So it's not as
simple as okay, because you have two attorneys there that
are advocating on the behalf of the state of Tennessee
and the defense attorney. So just like you weigh it
before you get to the bail hearing phase, you weigh
it when you're in the courtroom. And we actually there's
complete transparency in our reasoning for setting the bonds. And
(21:55):
when I say that, we have written forms or mail
screening forms do we fill out and we highlight why
it is we set the bond that we set. That
is also part of public record in which people can see.
So there is transparency in the system.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
But we just don't know about it.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Just don't know about it.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
But you know, now, So if we wanted to go
look at a case and see what a bond was set,
are you telling us it's possible to do that?
Speaker 2 (22:27):
Yes, it should be on the public portal for the
criminal Shelby County Criminal Justice Portal.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Oh wow, yes, ma'am. Okay, So it's oh so we
can go. I just wonder, now that you have armed
us with this information and the people that are listening,
are you planning to use it, because honey, I'm looking.
I'm a Finna. Look for that website in a second. No,
I just want to see it, just to see, you know,
(22:56):
what's there and maybe how it works, and so that
if there is something I want to say, see you
know in the future. With what I do for a living,
with talking to the public and reading news and sharing information,
I just want to see, you know how, I'm curious.
I should have been a lawyer. I should have been
you know what I'm saying, just so I could actually
(23:18):
be a part of it. And all of us we
are probably watching a little bit too much TV because
we see how things work on TV and these judging
lawyer shows, and they don't always get it right.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
It never works like it like we see on TV.
It never works like yeah, okay. There are a lot
of procedures and protocol that we have to follow. And
let me say this for me, at the bell hearings,
it's not just the attorney coming in and AXT for
a lower bond. Again, remember there's someone there representing the
state of Tennessee and those attorneys, those prosecutors, they're bringing
(23:54):
in witnesses. So just like I said, you can see
that there's more to the case. Sometimes there could be
much more to the case than we know that than
you know about. So just like the defense attorney can
ask for a lower bond, again, the state can come
in there and zealously advocate to keep that bond the
way it is or raising and these are the reasons
(24:17):
why judge and then they give their their spill as
to why it is according to the factors. When you
look at factor number two, this person has this criminal history,
they have this number of failure to appears of coming
to court, and the court takes that into consideration. It
says this bond that sat now is commiserate with the case.
And if they're arguing for a higher bond, then the
(24:38):
court can say, you know what, I do agree that
this bond should be higher. So it's just based on
the evidence that's presented to the court at that particular time.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Well, I really appreciate you clearing that up for us, because,
like I said, I think there are too many of
us that look at case is based off what we
see on TV. And now that we know that that's
not the real deal and there are legitimate things that
happen that we know nothing about. Sometimes when we get
(25:13):
a news story and I get it, you know, some
of the news people that you know, they're trying to
give us as much information as they can in one minute,
and sometimes that is probably a very difficult job. Yeah. So,
and you empowering us to show up for court if
we want to, Yes, because I believe there's probably a
lot of people that don't know that they can go
(25:34):
and sit in on a case that they're interested in.
Because a lot of people have been talking about certain
cases that have happened recently, and maybe they didn't know
that they could go down there and sit and hear
what's going on in the courtroom for themselves.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
Yeah. Judicial Commissioner Serena Gray is here, you guys, I
am stormy. It is the Pulse. And let me say
thank you again for agreeing to come. I know you're
not you're not a politician. You're not you know, there
are certain things that you cannot say and you kind
of have to follow the law with even sharing the
information that you're sharing with me. I just want to
(26:12):
make that clear, because I don't want people thinking, well,
she should tell you, you know. No, she can only tell
me what she can tell me. But you've told me
a lot, a lot more than I think I understood it,
and I feel like I understand it a little bit
better now.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
Yes, ma'am, I appreciate you inviting me here to explain it,
because I do realize that people don't know how the
bail system works.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
We don't have a clue, and I bet you the
criminals know better than we do.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
I think those that maybe have been through the system
a few times have an understanding because they're there to listen.
They listen to the arguments, they listen to their attorney,
they listen to the prosecutor, so they're apprised more so
on what's going on and how the system works.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
Yeah. Wow, So is it tough having your position? And
I'm sure you've probably well, I guess you have to
recuse yourself if there's a case with somebody you know, yes,
you say, I'm not touching this.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
I have to maintain that fairness and that impartiality, okay,
and I have to remain neutral and detached. So if
it's someone that I formally represented when I was practicing. Yeah,
I recuse myself. If it's someone that I've known or
a student that I've taught or coached in the past,
I have to recuse myself because I am ethically bound
(27:48):
to maintain that impartiality and their fairness. Yeah, and so
to get ahead of all of that, I recused myself yesterday.
Speaker 1 (27:56):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
Yeah, public of court sort of public opinion generally is
not as kind as you're innocent until proven guilty, because
the public of court opinion often.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
We have somebody guilty before we even know all the facts. Yes,
but it's good to know that we have people doing
the job that you do and it's it has standards.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Yes, yeah, yes, ma'am. Like I said, all of the
judicial commissioners and even the elected judges, we are all attorneys.
We've done the work. This work that the attorneys that
stand before us are doing trying to argue their cases.
We've done the work, so we know what to look for.
(28:49):
We're just on the other side now doing it. So
you don't have people that's sitting there and making decisions
that are not well versed in the law. We're all
well versed with many, many years of experience.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
Okay, Well, I wish you the best in what you do.
I know that a lot of people have said things
about two oh one popula and the people in the
judicial system and all that, and you know, and I
know it's tough for you to hear some of the
things people say having to be on the inside. Do
(29:23):
you often feel like, how do I want to ask
this because I want you to, you know, get into
no trouble or anything like that. But do you often
feel like you're on an island?
Speaker 2 (29:37):
Well, let me say this. We should expect a certain
amount of scrutiny that comes with our job. There are
two sides to a case, and someone's going to lose.
Someone's not going to get what it is that they
(30:00):
are asking for. Sometimes in a case, you have a
decision to make, and we know that the judge the
job is tall, tough, excuse me. But for the most part,
or for every part of it, we try our best
to make decisions that will ensure the safety of the community.
We try our best to make decisions that will ensure
(30:22):
that the people will come back to court to so
that justice is served. So we're trying to administer justice
all while being fair and impartial, and we can't emotionally
get wrapped up even though we're human, we can't emotionally
get wrapped up.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
And the case because that makes it unfair, right and
partial exactly.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
So I realize that when the public hears the allegations
in cases that oftentimes they're speaking from a place that's emotional,
and we have to keep a level head. A judge
has to be quick to listen and slow to anger.
(31:08):
You get what I'm saying. Our job is to listen
and not become emotionally tied within the case. So that's
the only way that we can administer justice fairly. We're
human and we're trying to get it right because you
(31:29):
have to remember, we're part of the community too. We
have family in the community. Also, we have friends and
loved ones in the community. So the decisions that we're making,
of course, we're trying to ensure the safety of the community.
All why being fair and impartial.
Speaker 1 (31:46):
I got it. Well. Thank you for joining me for
the show, everyone that's listening, and thank you Judicial Commissioner
Serena grayfer Coming. I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
No problem, thank you for having me, and thank you
for trying to go that's up to educate the public
because as a judge, that's also one of our roles.
We can't get involved in the politics of everything, but
we're obligated to ensure that those that are within the
community understand how the system works.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
Yeah, I'm Stormy. It's the pulse. We keep our fingertips
on the pulse of our community. I hope you enjoy
today's show and you can definitely share with me your
thoughts Stormy Tea at iHeartMedia dot com if you'd like
to do that. All right, thank you again. Judicial Commissioner
Serena Gray. It is the pulse. Thank you again for coming,
(32:40):
keeping our fingertips on the pulse of our community. We'll
see you next week, same time, same station. God bless
you have a great week.
Well we are back with the pulse. I am Stormy
with you, keeping our fingertips on the pulse of our community.
And hello to you and you and yes you too,
Come on in to the conversation. Bring Mamma and m
and the kids in so we can talk to you. Today.
We've got something that you know, people have been wondering
about in our community. How does the bail system work,
(00:23):
What is really going on? What we need to know
that we don't know? Okay, So today I've asked a
young lady to come in and share this information with us.
So let her. I'm gonna let her introduce herself to
you all. Tell everybody who you are and what it
is you do.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Yes, ma'am, Hello everyone, Miss Stormy and everyone is Shelby County.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Hello.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
My name is Serena Gray, and I'm a judicial commissioner. Okay,
And I realize that when I say judicial commissioner, a
lot of people don't know what that means. What it
is that we do. So we're magistrates. We're members of
the judicial Uh, we're judicial officials.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
So members. Does that mean you're a judge?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
We're magistrates, yes, so we're we are guided by the
same canons as the judges. Okay, so we're a magistrate
judge if you will, But you're members of the we're appointed.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Okay, so you're not elected, No, we're not. Positions are appointed.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Yes, by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Okay, And so how does your job work?
Speaker 2 (01:27):
I like to think of us as the front lines
of the judicial system. HM. We do a lot. So
from the very beginning, when you have officers that are
investigating cases, they actually submit search warrants or application of
search warrants to us to see if there's probable calls
to issue a search warrant. So we signed search warrants subpoenas.
(01:49):
The investigations essentially starts with us granting a search warrant
or subpoena.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Let me ask you this, are judicial commissioners everywhere or
are you just in in Tennessee, because I'm thinking this
is not just a Memphis Shelby County thing.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
No it's not. They're judicial commissioners and other jurisdictions as well.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Okay, all over the country or.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yes, and all over the country and different Because I
was wondering, I always thought the judge was the person
that they in the movies.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Honey, that's what they that's who they go to.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Now the judges can sign the search warrants and rest
warrants as well. Okay, here within our jurisdiction because we
are a larger metropolitan area. In order to be a
judicial commissioner, you have to be a license attorney. Oh
so they're thirteen of us, and we are all license
attorneys with many, many years of practice. We come from
different backgrounds. You have former public defenders, former prosecutors, a
(02:42):
former MPD attorney Okay, former persons who were part of
civil practice, private practice. So it's a nice group, which
is great for balancing, especially since we have to be
fair and impartial. To have people with those various backgrounds
I think as a whole makes such stronger.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Okay. Okay, now, miss Gray, now you told me something
I did. So you have to be an attorney to
have this position. So how long have you been? Are
you from Memphis?
Speaker 2 (03:09):
I am from Memphis born and raised.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Okay? What school did you go to?
Speaker 2 (03:12):
White Station High School of the Spartan.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Okay, a White Station up in Hill okay, Spartans Okay,
and so who who dj J you prompt.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Mister Stan Bell the man himself in nineteen ninety eight.
I thought that was pertinent to the coming project graduation.
I know he DJ'ed that for a fact we had
project graduation, and.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
He probably remembers you the all of that. Yeah, But
at any rate, so your home bred you you you
know Memphis, and so when it comes to a lot
of the things that you have to do, and you've
been an attorney for how long.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
I've been an attorney. I was licensed in twenty thirteen.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Okay, okay, so yes, yeah, so well, congratulations to you,
because it sounds like a judicial commissioner. Is that like
a promotion.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
It's a step up, Yes, step up. We can sit
for the elected judges as well in their absence when
they're not able to take to the bench. We sit
there and we run the docket for the elected judges.
We run a bail hearing room, the order of protection
hearing room. When people make application for order protection, they
come to the hearing room that's manned by a judicial commissioner.
We also do preliminary hearings and so forth. We signed
(04:23):
the arrest warrants as well. For instance, last year alone,
we signed twelve thousand and thirty nine arrest warrants just
the judicial commissioner. So the majority of cases twelve thousand
and so the majority of last year alone, last year alone,
how many even sign this year so far? I don't
have that stet yet, but I'm sure the number may
(04:45):
not be quite up there at this point, but I'm
sure it is pretty high.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Okay, Okay, But now I wanted to dig into the
fact that you were the bail system. Yes, and kind
of understand. You know the bail system. A lot of
people in the community probably know somebody that's had to
deal with you know, somebody's relative, you know what I'm saying,
We know somebody that's needed to get bailed out. Okay,
(05:13):
So right now we have a cashless bell system. Is
that what's working in Shelby County?
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Well, we have cash bills or bailable shorties. Pretty much
what happens is pursuing to TCA forty eleven, Dash one fifteen,
if a person does not present themselves to be a
danger to the community or a flight risk, we have
to assess the danger to the community component first. That's
by law by statute. If they do not present themselves
(05:41):
to be a danger to the community or flight risk,
which means they won't try to bail out and not
show for court. Then they can be released on their
own recognisants. And that may happen for some of the
low level offenses. However, for violent offenses pursuing to TCA team,
the commissioner or the judge can set a monetary bond
(06:05):
based on a number of factors within that law.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Now, when that happens, can a judge that's over you
overrule your suggestion or whatever it is that you have advised,
be the bill or not bill, or can they overrule you?
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Well, what happens is if a person is still in custody,
they'll have a bill hearing. They'll either have it in
the bell hearing room or in one of the divisions
in which the elected judges sit at that point in time. Initially,
when we get the bill, we're just reading from the affidavit.
We get information regarding the criminal history, the ties to
(06:44):
the community, the risk, the non appearances a defendant may
have had in the past if they didn't show for court.
We consider the nature of the offense and the apparent
probability that they will be convicted in the likely sentence
that is to come therefrom Most recently they signed into
law that took effect this year, where we can actually
take a look at the juvenile history as well. I
(07:06):
considered that also, But there are a number of factors
that are statutory factors that we take a look at
and use that to determine the bill when we first
get it. Now, after the person has the bill, and
if they're not able to build out or post bond,
they can have a bell hearing again by one of
(07:26):
us or one of the elected judges. At that point
in time, the defendant is represented by an attorney. Yeah,
the state of Tennessee is represented by the prosecutor, and
they will make their arguments regarding those factors that I
just went over.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
And that attorney could possibly be a public defender.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
It could be a public defender, or it could be
someone from the private bar. Or if there's a conflict
on a case, then they will the defendant will be
appointed an attorney from the private bar.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Okay, if it's a.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Conflict for the public defender's office. So we appoint attorneys
as well as judicial commissioners. At that point in time.
Usually the defendant is asking that the bill is belowered
and then the state is asking that it remains the same,
or maybe that it's raised. It's up to the court,
based on the factors and what they've heard, to determine
(08:15):
if the bill will be lowered, stay as it is,
or a judge could raise the bill if the arguments
are made and the court sees fit to raise the bill.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
So which side suggests the bill is it? Is that
something that comes from the District attorney's office, the prosecutors,
or is that something that comes from who you all
or the defendant, I mean the defendant's attorney, who gets
to decide, you know, where the bill is going to
be or stay.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Well. For the cases that are presented to the judicial commissioners,
we decide bill okay. At that point, once that bell
is set, the defendant can bail out or they may
remain in custom. If they do remain in custody because
they cannot afford the bill, then that's when they can
go on to a bell hearing. At the bell hearing,
(09:07):
it's up to the state to make the argument for
what they believe is appropriate for bill. It's up to
the defense attorney to make the argument to the court
for what they believe is appropriate for bill. Was commiserated
with the case.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
Okay, So maybe I'm digging too fond this because I
don't want to lose nobody out fail. I don't want
to get lost myself. Right. So when you said the state,
is that d Moulroy's office.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
That's the prosecutor.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Yes, Okay.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Now let's say we set a bell and a person
bonds out. Yeah, any party that's defense or the state,
pursuant to TCA forty eleven three can ask for a
modification of bill. Okay, can ask the court to take
(09:58):
another look at the bill.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
At that point in time, a hearing is set. Whoever
wants to bring that motion has to do so in writing.
A hearing is set, both parties are apprized by that
motion of what the reasoning may be as far as
for the modification of bill, and they go further into
those arguments when they have that hearing. So, based on
(10:23):
that motion and the hearing, the court then makes a
decision what they think will be or what it excuse
me thinks will be an appropriate bell in that particular case.
So the parties can always make that motion and make
their arguments to the court for a change of bill,
either to lower it or to raise it. So that
(10:45):
makes sense. It does.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
It makes sense a lot of moving parts and a
lot of it is it sounds like a lot of
moving parts. And I imagine for those people that you know, unfortunately,
there will be some people that are listening that will
have a family member or will you know, need that
information themselves. Nobody wants to be in a situation like that.
Let me say that, Yes, but I guess the bail
(11:10):
system has been such a conversation, especially last year when
so many people were released on what we heard the
phrase coined r R, released on their own recognizance. Yes,
so it became one of those things where a lot
of us are you know, started to talk about it,
(11:31):
and probably more than ever before. I don't remember a
time in you know that, at least for me talking about,
you know, why was the bail not you know, lower,
or why was the bail not higher usually higher? And
how did they get out on r R? And I
know you've probably heard questions about that as well, right
(11:54):
and I have.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
So let me say this, when we set bell, we
do so in accordance with the law. So ordinarily it's
the lower level offenses in which somebody will be released
on their own recognizance. Are Now, what happens is when
a person gets out. Unfortunately, we can't predict what it
(12:19):
is a person would do, right, and so if that
person is rearrested, if they're out on RR, then the
law in that case, and that's pursuing to forty eleven,
says that if you're released on bond, and that's including
r R, and while you're out, if you are rearrested
(12:41):
for another criminal offense, then the magistrate or whoever sets
that bell shall double the amount they were customarily set
in that instant case in which you were arrested. So
let's say you were ror for a misdemeanor theft, and
then you get out, and while you're out on that
misdemeanor theft, you pick up a new case where you're
(13:04):
rearrested for a new case. Now if it's a violent offense,
because there are some bills that are some offenses excuse me,
that just require a high bond, So whatever I would
normally set. And let's say if that person that committed
a theft got out, they were rearrested for aggravated assault.
So now we're looking at a seafelony. Whatever I would
(13:24):
customily set in that aggravated assault, that new case, I
have to double that amount. So the law has mandated,
and they have factors that sort of guide our reasoning
when we're setting bail.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
I don't know if I can ask you this question,
but I want to ask why is it that sometimes
it doesn't seem in some cases that this is happening,
you know what I'm saying. And maybe you can't answer that,
but and I don't mean to put you in a
position where you, you know, are stumped, but I'm asking
(14:02):
that for some of the listeners because it has seemed
that in some instances that the bill should have been
higher for folks that have committed violent offenses, and it
was not. But I know, you know, there's only so
far you can go.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Well, I can't comment on any pending cases, but I
can try to delve a little more into it. Okay,
So remember I told you pursuing to TCA forty eleven
eighteen that says that if you don't pretty much believe
a person should be released on their own recognizance or
or ART or even r RT with conditions, then you
have to set a bond a monetary bond rather and so,
(14:49):
and I'm going to read from you because I believe
in receipts the law. This is not what I'm making up.
So when you look at TCA forty eleven eighteen.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Talking to that microphone so we can make sure we hear.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Yes, ma'am. It says that the defendant shall be released
from custody subject to the conditions of the Bell Bond
bill must be set as low as the court determines
its necessary to reasonably ensure the safety of the community
and the appearance of the defendant as required. Now that's
TCA sub Section A two and so there are a
(15:22):
number of factors. So sometimes when some people are arrested
for a violent offense, it may be their first time
being arrested for that offense. Because there are a number
of categories we look at, and again pursuant to that
(15:44):
particular TCA, we have to look at the defendant's length
of residency in the community. We look at their employment
status and history and financial conditions. We look at the
defendant's family ties and relationship, at their reputation and character
and mental health. We look at their prior criminal record,
(16:05):
which that can be indicative of if you have someone
that has a history of committing violent offenses, then the
chances that they will commit another violent offense, well, that
may you have that prone to consider when you're looking
at the safety of the community. So if you have
someone that has a number of violent offenses in which
they've been convicted, then that may be a telltale sign,
(16:27):
especially if they're before the court with another violent offense,
that this person may present themselves to be a danger
to the community. You have to look at the nature
of the instant offense that's before the court and the
parent probability that that person will be convicted in the
likely sentence. What happens is when you all hear about
(16:48):
the cases, you're hearing about what's happened in black and
white on that piece of paper or the affidavit.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
But when it.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Comes to court and people have bail hearings, there's a
lot more that comes out out that the public may
not be privy to because now you have an attorney
that's representing a defendant. Now you have the state that's
representing the state of Tennessee. So things that you may
hear this on the news because they're usually reading from
(17:15):
the affidavit of complaint. The case is always much more
than that, and we get to hear that in court.
There may be witnesses that's presented or that may be
questioned at a bell hearing. The factors that I just discussed.
Now that person has someone speaking for them, They have
an attorney that can convey to the court what's going
(17:37):
on with the case. Maybe the attorney has talked to witnesses.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Let me put a pause because I want to tell
people that I'm talking to Serena Gray, who is a
judicial commissioner in Shelby County, and thank you for being
on the show. I am Stormy. It is the pulse.
You're trying to explain to us how this works. We
don't get it, and but I appreciate you doing that
(18:02):
because I think having you here lets us see a
little bit on the inside of what you do. But
I guess for a lot of us, and I know
again there you know, there's some things I would like
to ask that I know you can't answer, because I'm
I'm I think about for most of us, the Ezekiel
(18:24):
Kelly case and a few others that we heard about,
you know, and I know I know you know you
may hear, you know, snippets of what happens, but you
don't hear it all. And can we come to hearings
of people? Is the public invited to come to sit
(18:46):
in court to see?
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Yes, it's an open and public tribunal. Anybody that goes
to court, Yes, it's open and public tribunal. Others have
come to court and sat in court just to watch
they were having I mean you're hustle. Yeah, yes, it's
open to It is open to the public. If there's
room in the court then and the deputy says a
(19:08):
person from the public can come in and sit, they can't.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
And do you let me ask you this as a
judicial commissioner, do you suggest that we come to more
court hearings so we can hear what's actually happening in
the courtroom.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
If you're interested and you want to see how it works,
then go and see the system and how it works.
Like I said, it's always more to a case. Yeah,
then the snippets that we get on the news. The
(19:48):
duty of the court and of judicial commissioners is to
be fair and impartial, to be neutral and detached. Right,
and so Bill is it's not meant to be punitive,
but it is meant to protect the safety of the
community and reassure the fact that someone will come back
(20:09):
to court. I guess that's the best way to summon up.
And it's not just one particular thing that we're looking
at or we're assessing. When we set bail in this country,
you're innocent unless proven otherwise. However, again, when you look
at those factors and weigh them, there are just some
cases that simply need a high bond. It warrants a
(20:30):
high bond.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
And.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
That's what they get. They get a high bond. And
we're looking at a number of those factors and not
just one single factor I'm determining bond.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
I have noticed lately there are more people getting higher bonds.
I haven't heard a lot of people being released on
our at least controversial situations that have happened. I've not
heard them. Doesn't mean that you know, I have not
heard them. It seems like more you hear more now
(21:04):
of people getting real bonds, you know. And I don't
know if you have something to do with that or
how all of that ties in, because I understand from
what listening to you as a judicial commissioner that you
can set the bond, yes, but then the attorney can
come back want hearing to lower the bond, and the
(21:27):
judge could say okay.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
But we consider those same factors. So it's not as
simple as okay, because you have two attorneys there that
are advocating on the behalf of the state of Tennessee
and the defense attorney. So just like you weigh it
before you get to the bail hearing phase, you weigh
it when you're in the courtroom. And we actually there's
complete transparency in our reasoning for setting the bonds. And
(21:55):
when I say that, we have written forms or mail
screening forms do we fill out and we highlight why
it is we set the bond that we set. That
is also part of public record in which people can see.
So there is transparency in the system.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
But we just don't know about it.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Just don't know about it.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
But you know, now, So if we wanted to go
look at a case and see what a bond was set,
are you telling us it's possible to do that?
Speaker 2 (22:27):
Yes, it should be on the public portal for the
criminal Shelby County Criminal Justice Portal.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Oh wow, yes, ma'am. Okay, So it's oh so we
can go. I just wonder, now that you have armed
us with this information and the people that are listening,
are you planning to use it, because honey, I'm looking.
I'm a Finna. Look for that website in a second. No,
I just want to see it, just to see, you know,
(22:56):
what's there and maybe how it works, and so that
if there is something I want to say, see you
know in the future. With what I do for a living,
with talking to the public and reading news and sharing information,
I just want to see, you know how, I'm curious.
I should have been a lawyer. I should have been
you know what I'm saying, just so I could actually
(23:18):
be a part of it. And all of us we
are probably watching a little bit too much TV because
we see how things work on TV and these judging
lawyer shows, and they don't always get it right.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
It never works like it like we see on TV.
It never works like yeah, okay. There are a lot
of procedures and protocol that we have to follow. And
let me say this for me, at the bell hearings,
it's not just the attorney coming in and AXT for
a lower bond. Again, remember there's someone there representing the
state of Tennessee and those attorneys, those prosecutors, they're bringing
(23:54):
in witnesses. So just like I said, you can see
that there's more to the case. Sometimes there could be
much more to the case than we know that than
you know about. So just like the defense attorney can
ask for a lower bond, again, the state can come
in there and zealously advocate to keep that bond the
way it is or raising and these are the reasons
(24:17):
why judge and then they give their their spill as
to why it is according to the factors. When you
look at factor number two, this person has this criminal history,
they have this number of failure to appears of coming
to court, and the court takes that into consideration. It
says this bond that sat now is commiserate with the case.
And if they're arguing for a higher bond, then the
(24:38):
court can say, you know what, I do agree that
this bond should be higher. So it's just based on
the evidence that's presented to the court at that particular time.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Well, I really appreciate you clearing that up for us, because,
like I said, I think there are too many of
us that look at case is based off what we
see on TV. And now that we know that that's
not the real deal and there are legitimate things that
happen that we know nothing about. Sometimes when we get
(25:13):
a news story and I get it, you know, some
of the news people that you know, they're trying to
give us as much information as they can in one minute,
and sometimes that is probably a very difficult job. Yeah. So,
and you empowering us to show up for court if
we want to, Yes, because I believe there's probably a
lot of people that don't know that they can go
(25:34):
and sit in on a case that they're interested in.
Because a lot of people have been talking about certain
cases that have happened recently, and maybe they didn't know
that they could go down there and sit and hear
what's going on in the courtroom for themselves.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
Yeah. Judicial Commissioner Serena Gray is here, you guys, I
am stormy. It is the Pulse. And let me say
thank you again for agreeing to come. I know you're
not you're not a politician. You're not you know, there
are certain things that you cannot say and you kind
of have to follow the law with even sharing the
information that you're sharing with me. I just want to
(26:12):
make that clear, because I don't want people thinking, well,
she should tell you, you know. No, she can only tell
me what she can tell me. But you've told me
a lot, a lot more than I think I understood it,
and I feel like I understand it a little bit
better now.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
Yes, ma'am, I appreciate you inviting me here to explain it,
because I do realize that people don't know how the
bail system works.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
We don't have a clue, and I bet you the
criminals know better than we do.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
I think those that maybe have been through the system
a few times have an understanding because they're there to listen.
They listen to the arguments, they listen to their attorney,
they listen to the prosecutor, so they're apprised more so
on what's going on and how the system works.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
Yeah. Wow, So is it tough having your position? And
I'm sure you've probably well, I guess you have to
recuse yourself if there's a case with somebody you know, yes,
you say, I'm not touching this.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
I have to maintain that fairness and that impartiality, okay,
and I have to remain neutral and detached. So if
it's someone that I formally represented when I was practicing. Yeah,
I recuse myself. If it's someone that I've known or
a student that I've taught or coached in the past,
I have to recuse myself because I am ethically bound
(27:48):
to maintain that impartiality and their fairness. Yeah, and so
to get ahead of all of that, I recused myself yesterday.
Speaker 1 (27:56):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
Yeah, public of court sort of public opinion generally is
not as kind as you're innocent until proven guilty, because
the public of court opinion often.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
We have somebody guilty before we even know all the facts. Yes,
but it's good to know that we have people doing
the job that you do and it's it has standards.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Yes, yeah, yes, ma'am. Like I said, all of the
judicial commissioners and even the elected judges, we are all attorneys.
We've done the work. This work that the attorneys that
stand before us are doing trying to argue their cases.
We've done the work, so we know what to look for.
(28:49):
We're just on the other side now doing it. So
you don't have people that's sitting there and making decisions
that are not well versed in the law. We're all
well versed with many, many years of experience.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
Okay, Well, I wish you the best in what you do.
I know that a lot of people have said things
about two oh one popula and the people in the
judicial system and all that, and you know, and I
know it's tough for you to hear some of the
things people say having to be on the inside. Do
(29:23):
you often feel like, how do I want to ask
this because I want you to, you know, get into
no trouble or anything like that. But do you often
feel like you're on an island?
Speaker 2 (29:37):
Well, let me say this. We should expect a certain
amount of scrutiny that comes with our job. There are
two sides to a case, and someone's going to lose.
Someone's not going to get what it is that they
(30:00):
are asking for. Sometimes in a case, you have a
decision to make, and we know that the judge the
job is tall, tough, excuse me. But for the most part,
or for every part of it, we try our best
to make decisions that will ensure the safety of the community.
We try our best to make decisions that will ensure
(30:22):
that the people will come back to court to so
that justice is served. So we're trying to administer justice
all while being fair and impartial, and we can't emotionally
get wrapped up even though we're human, we can't emotionally
get wrapped up.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
And the case because that makes it unfair, right and
partial exactly.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
So I realize that when the public hears the allegations
in cases that oftentimes they're speaking from a place that's emotional,
and we have to keep a level head. A judge
has to be quick to listen and slow to anger.
(31:08):
You get what I'm saying. Our job is to listen
and not become emotionally tied within the case. So that's
the only way that we can administer justice fairly. We're
human and we're trying to get it right because you
(31:29):
have to remember, we're part of the community too. We
have family in the community. Also, we have friends and
loved ones in the community. So the decisions that we're making,
of course, we're trying to ensure the safety of the community.
All why being fair and impartial.
Speaker 1 (31:46):
I got it. Well. Thank you for joining me for
the show, everyone that's listening, and thank you Judicial Commissioner
Serena grayfer Coming. I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
No problem, thank you for having me, and thank you
for trying to go that's up to educate the public
because as a judge, that's also one of our roles.
We can't get involved in the politics of everything, but
we're obligated to ensure that those that are within the
community understand how the system works.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
Yeah, I'm Stormy. It's the pulse. We keep our fingertips
on the pulse of our community. I hope you enjoy
today's show and you can definitely share with me your
thoughts Stormy Tea at iHeartMedia dot com if you'd like
to do that. All right, thank you again. Judicial Commissioner
Serena Gray. It is the pulse. Thank you again for coming,
(32:40):
keeping our fingertips on the pulse of our community. We'll
see you next week, same time, same station. God bless
you have a great week.
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