MEMPHIS, TN – Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons has appointed the first woman to the position of deputy district attorney.  The district attorney named Assistant District Attorney Amy P. Weirich to the important post.  Weirich officially took over as the second in command of the District Attorney’s office Monday, August 16.

Weirich replaces Deputy District Attorney James J. Challen III, who retired after 32 as a prosecutor in the District Attorney’s Office, twelve of which he has served as the deputy district attorney.

Weirich herself is a veteran prosecutor who started with the D.A.’s Office in 1991.  During the 19 years she has been an assistant district attorney, Weirich has served as a division leader for the Special Prosecution Unit in criminal court and most recently as the chief prosecutor of the D.A.’s Gang and Narcotics Prosecution Unit.  Weirich has been awarded the Board of Directors’ Trial Award for Outstanding Advocacy in Capital Cases from the Association of Government Attorneys in Capital Litigation.  She is also a frequent lecturer at training seminars for the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference and the National District Attorneys Association.

“Amy brings strengths to the deputy district attorney’s position that are especially important,” said District Attorney Gibbons.  “Amy is smart and demonstrates good judgment; she is well organized, has an exceptional work ethic, and possesses both a tough and fair temperament.  I am confident she will do well in this new and important assignment,” Gibbons added.

Weirich is a graduate of Germantown High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree from The University of Tennessee at Martin and her law degree from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at The University of Memphis.  Weirich is a member of the Leo Bearman, Sr. American Inn of Court.

Weirich and her husband have four children. She is an active member of St. Louis Catholic Church and is very involved in both the church and the St. Louis school.