Shelby County approves Phyllis Aluko as next chief public defender

March 25, 2019 Shelby County Public Defender Shelby County

By WMCActionNews5.com Staff | March 25, 2019 at 4:15 PM CDT - Updated March 25 at 5:17 PM

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) - The Shelby County Board of Commissioners has approved Phyllis Aluko to serve as the next chief public defender. Aluko is the first African-American female to serve in this role.

Aluko started as a volunteer in the Shelby County Public Defender’s Office before working in the trial division for 10 years. She progressed through the ranks to serve as a Division Leader in the trial division.