--- title: "Lee V. Coffee | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lee-v-coffee-tn-criminal-court-judge-shelby" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Lee V. Coffee Tennessee Criminal Court, Judicial District 30 (Shelby) · Criminal Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Tennessee Criminal Court, Judicial District 30 (Shelby) - State: Tennessee - Role: Criminal Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge Coffee has been active with the Stop Killing Foundation and has appeared at local schools to promote justice education - Assistant District Attorney General for Shelby County, Assistant United State's Attorney for Western District of Tennesee, Assistant Public Defender for Shelby County, Assistant District Attorney for Harris County (Houston, TX.) - His office is located at the Shelby County Justice Complex, 201 Poplar Avenue, Suite 6‐06, Memphis, TN 38103 ### Education - HARVARD UNIVERSITY Law School 1981 - NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY Undergraduate 1978 - Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. ### Additional information - Year Elected/Appointed: 2006 - Judge Coffee presides over Division VII of the Shelby County Criminal Court - handling some of the most serious criminal cases in the district. - He is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, Texas Bar Association, National Bar Association, Memphis Bar Association, and the National College of District Attorneys, among others ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### media coverage and recording Scope: statewide Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 30 allows media coverage of public judicial proceedings subject to the presiding judge's control and requires written media requests at least two business days before the proceeding unless waived. Evidence excerpt: Requests by representatives of the media for such coverage must be made in writing to the presiding judge not less than two (2) business days before the proceeding is scheduled to begin. [Rule 30: Media Guidelines](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-30-media-guidelines) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### recording restrictions Scope: statewide Tennessee Rule 30 prohibits media coverage of jury selection, jurors, closed proceedings, and certain minor or juvenile-court participants. Evidence excerpt: Media coverage of jury selection is prohibited. [Rule 30: Media Guidelines](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-30-media-guidelines) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote technology Scope: statewide Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 55 permits teleconferencing, video conferencing, or other technology for court proceedings at the discretion of the trial or appellate court. Evidence excerpt: The use of teleconferencing, video conferencing or other technology to conduct court proceedings or other court business remotely is permissible at the discretion of the trial or appellate court. [Rule 55: Use of Technology for Court Proceedings](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-55-use-technology-court-proceedings) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/judges/lee-v-coffee) - [Official roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/judges/lee-v-coffee) - [Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/judges/lee-v-coffee) - [Rule 30: Media Guidelines](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-30-media-guidelines) - [Rule 55: Use of Technology for Court Proceedings](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-55-use-technology-court-proceedings) - [Lee V. Coffee](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/judges/lee-v-coffee) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lee-v-coffee-tn-criminal-court-judge-shelby", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lee-v-coffee-tn-criminal-court-judge-shelby", "name": "Lee V. Coffee | KnowJudges", "description": "Lee V. Coffee, Tennessee Criminal Court, Judicial District 30 (Shelby). Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lee-v-coffee-tn-criminal-court-judge-shelby#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lee-v-coffee-tn-criminal-court-judge-shelby#judge", "name": "Lee V. 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Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-30-media-guidelines). Collected 2026-07-26.