Shelby County Environmental Court Judge Larry Potter and Shelby County District Attorney General Bill Gibbons, in partnership with the Memphis Police Department and Memphis and Shelby County Code Enforcement, on Thursday opened the latest environmental community court in the Hickory Hill area of Memphis.
The Hickory Hill Environmental Community Court is housed in the Memphis Police Department’s Ridgeway Station, located at 3840 Ridgeway Road, just south of Winchester Road. The Environmental Community Court will hear cases of code violations at houses and other properties located within the boundaries of the Memphis Police Department’s Mt. Moriah and Ridgeway Stations.
Following a ceremony to officially open the court on Thursday, Judge Potter immediately heard code violation cases brought by city of Memphis code enforcement officers. Judge Potter will hold court in Hickory Hill twice monthly, at 1:30 p.m., on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month.
“The goal of this and all environmental community courts is compliance,” acknowledged Judge Potter. “Bringing the court to the community gives property owners easier access to the justice system. It also allows code and law enforcement officers to inspect the properties then directly report their findings to the court, which can then immediately address the problems,” he added.
“By having a court right in the community, it allows us to more effectively enforce the codes of Memphis and Shelby County to which all property owners must abide,” said District Attorney Gibbons. “Judge Potter has a successful track record of creating community courts in areas of the county where violations routinely occur, and holding property owners in those communities accountable,” Gibbons noted.
The Hickory Hill Environmental Community Court is the fourth community court in the city of Memphis. Judge Potter also hears code violation cases in Frayser, Orange Mound and Whitehaven community courts. Additionally, he holds community courts in Arlington and Millington. Assistant District Attorney Randy Nevels, the D.A.’s community court prosecutor, travels with Judge Potter and his staff to all of the community courts in Shelby County. |