Phyllis Aluko, Chief Public Defender
First Name Last Name
About our Chief Public Defender. Attorney Phyllis Aluko is the 11th Chief Public Defender for Shelby County and directs the largest and oldest public defense system in Tennessee. On March 25th, 2018, the Shelby County Commission made history when it unanimously approved Aluko as the first female Chief Public Defender of Shelby County.
Phyllis Aluko, Chief Shelby County Public Defender
Aluko began with the office as a volunteer and has been with the Shelby County Public Defenders for more than 25 years. She served in the Trial Division for 10 years and moved up to Division Leader. Aluko later transferred to the Appellate Division and would become the first woman and the first African-American to serve as supervisor of the Appellate Division.
She is a graduate of Whitehaven High School in Memphis, received her bachelor of arts from the University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Aluko is on the board of directors of the Memphis Bar Association and is also a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association.