State Representative Michael Hale has introduced a bill inspired by a local case, concerning how juveniles charged with serious offenses are charged in court. If passed, juveniles charged with violent offenses such as first-degree murder would be tried in Criminal Court rather than as a juvenile.

The bill, referred to as “Ed’s Law” would change the current statute in Tennessee. If passed, the law would require a juvenile accused of certain violent criminal offenses to be transferred from juvenile court to criminal court to be tried as an adult, if the juvenile court finds probable cause that the juvenile committed the act.

The bill is named in honor of Edward Lemons who was killed in a fire at his home in December, 2021. Lemons’ then 14-year-old son, Alex, was later named in a juvenile petition charging him with first-degree murder and aggravated arson. Authorities alleged that Lemons intentionally set the fire with an accelerant, but the case was later adjudicated in juvenile court. A gag order was then put in place by the judge, with the outcome of the case not made public.

“Ed’s Law is basically a law that would remove these transfer hearings from the district attorney being able to decide on serious offenses, such as first-degree murder, and moving it to criminal court,” Hale explained. “It was actually named after Ed Lemons, and talking with the Speaker of the House, it’s not just a situation we’ve had here, there’s actually cases like this across the state. It’s one of those cases, where even the speaker is involved in getting this changed.”

“I think in the cases of these serious crimes, it shouldn’t be in the hands of a local DA to make that decision. The case should be presented in criminal court, and let them decide what the sentence of punishment should be.”

“I just had a feeling, as I think the general public has felt based on responses I have had back, that maybe the (Lemons’) case should have been handled differently especially because of the seriousness of it and feeling that a juvenile will basically be free at 21 for the seriousness of a first-degree murder case,” he added.

The Ed’s Law legislation is being sponsored in the State Senate by Senator Janice Bowling of Tullahoma who also represents DeKalb County.

Other bills introduced by Representative Hale include a bill exempting the retail sale of food and food ingredients from the sales tax if sold to a person who is 70 years of age or older during the period beginning July 1, 2023, and ending September 30, 2023, and a bill which increases income eligibility limits for property tax relief for elderly low-income homeowners and disabled homeowners to $36,600; increases income eligibility limits for property tax relief for elderly low-income homeowners under the Property Tax Freeze Act to $36,600; increases the full market value limit on which property tax reimbursement is calculated for eligible elderly low-income homeowners and disabled homeowners to $35,000; and increases the full market value limit on which property tax reimbursement is calculated for disabled veteran and surviving spouse homeowners to $200,000.