Judge Lee Coffee steps aside from Andrew Hayes's wrongful-conviction case, denying bias; DA Steve Mulroy disputes his remarks on the prosecutor's role
Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Lee Coffee recused himself on November 6, 2026, from Andrew Hayes's bid to vacate his murder conviction after Hayes's lawyers questioned his impartiality. Coffee denied any prejudice; the district attorney supports Hayes's petition.
Judge Lee V. Coffee explains his recusal from Andrew Hayes's wrongful conviction case, in an Action News 5 report, Nov. 6, 2026.
Excerpt from 0:20 to 1:24 of the Action News 5 report. Taken from the video on the Action News 5 article page cited for this source. DI added its logo in the corner.
Video: WMC Action News 5. Excerpt used for news reporting and commentary
Watch the full original video (opens in a new tab) (relevant passage: Full article)
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
Hayes's lawyers at the Tennessee Innocence Project say his conviction rested on a false confession given after a 27-hour interrogation. The district attorney's office says its review found that Tammy Vance, who died in prison while serving a life sentence for Harris's death, and her daughter Sarah Lucas Riedel killed Harris; Riedel was charged and died in February 2026 before her scheduled arraignment. The office's September 17 filing said Tennessee Deputy Attorney General Courtney Orr acknowledged that the district attorney's office was the proper state representative in the case. In October 2023, a Tennessee appeals court ordered Coffee off the Young Dolph murder case. After the recusal, Mulroy said he would not bet on Hayes being back in court before the new year.
People in this case
Steve MulroyDirectly involved
Timeline
4 timeline entries on this page. Dates: January 16, 2026 to November 6, 2026
January 2026
District attorney says Andrew Hayes was wrongfully convicted and will not oppose his petition
In a January 16 bulletin, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy writes that his Justice Review Unit, working with the Tennessee Innocence Project, concluded that Hayes was wrongfully convicted of the 2007 killing of Danny Harris, that the office will not oppose his petition to vacate the conviction, and that it has charged Sarah Lucas Riedel.
[01]Steve Mulroy
January 16, 2026 bulletin from the Shelby County district attorney. Mulroy writes that the office's Justice Review Unit, working with the Tennessee Innocence Project, concluded that Andrew Hayes was wrongfully convicted, that the office will not oppose his petition to vacate the conviction, and that it charged Sarah Lucas Riedel.
Shelby County District Attorney's Office: Updates from Shelby County DA Steve Mulroy, January 16th · Steve MulroyMessage from the DA
August 2026
Coffee questions the district attorney's role at a hearing on Hayes's petition
At a multi-day hearing on Hayes's petition, Judge Lee Coffee says the state is not represented and that the attorney general's office should have been present, and says the Justice Review Unit should not have authority to ask the court to overturn the conviction. The court says it will reconvene on October 9 without ruling.
[02]Steve Mulroy
News release of August 26, 2026, after a hearing in Andrew Hayes's case, with District Attorney Steve Mulroy's statement responding to the court's remarks. It says the court would continue reviewing the matter and reconvene on October 9.
Shelby County District Attorney's Office: DA Mulroy Issues Statement Following Andrew Hayes Hearing · Steve MulroyFull release[03]The Commercial Appeal
Commercial Appeal report of November 6, 2026, carried in full on Yahoo News, on Coffee's recusal. It describes Coffee's statements at the August hearing, the recusal motion by Hayes's lawyers, the district attorney's September 17 filing, and comments from Mulroy.
The Commercial Appeal: Judge Lee Coffee recuses himself from Andrew Hayes case, exoneration push · The Commercial AppealFull article (syndicated copy on Yahoo News)
September 2026
District attorney's office backs the request that Coffee step aside
After Hayes's lawyers argue that Coffee's statements showed bias and that he should remove himself from the case, the district attorney's office agrees in a September 17 filing, which says Deputy Attorney General Courtney Orr acknowledged the district attorney's office was the proper state representative.
[03]The Commercial Appeal
Commercial Appeal report of November 6, 2026, carried in full on Yahoo News, on Coffee's recusal. It describes Coffee's statements at the August hearing, the recusal motion by Hayes's lawyers, the district attorney's September 17 filing, and comments from Mulroy.
The Commercial Appeal: Judge Lee Coffee recuses himself from Andrew Hayes case, exoneration push · The Commercial AppealFull article (syndicated copy on Yahoo News)
November 2026
Coffee recuses himself from the Hayes case
Coffee grants the recusal request, denying any prejudice, and sends the matter to the Criminal Court Clerk for reassignment to a different division and a new judge. His order says the move causes further delay in a matter that has been pending for over 25 years. Hayes remains in prison.
[04]WMC Action News 5
WMC Action News 5 report of November 6, 2026 on Judge Lee Coffee's recusal from Andrew Hayes's wrongful-conviction case, quoting Coffee in court and District Attorney Steve Mulroy.
WMC Action News 5: Judge recuses self while wrongfully convicted man remains in prison · WMC Action News 5Full article[05]WREG
WREG report of November 6, 2026 on Coffee's order of recusal, which sends the case to the Criminal Court Clerk for reassignment, with background on the evidence the district attorney's office cites.
[03]The Commercial Appeal
Commercial Appeal report of November 6, 2026, carried in full on Yahoo News, on Coffee's recusal. It describes Coffee's statements at the August hearing, the recusal motion by Hayes's lawyers, the district attorney's September 17 filing, and comments from Mulroy.
The Commercial Appeal: Judge Lee Coffee recuses himself from Andrew Hayes case, exoneration push · The Commercial AppealFull article (syndicated copy on Yahoo News)
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
At the trial-court level in Andrew Hayes's post-conviction case, the district attorney's office, not the Tennessee attorney general's office, is the proper party to represent the state.
What is disputed
At the August 2026 hearing, Judge Lee Coffee said the state was not represented and that the attorney general's office should have been present, and he said the district attorney's Justice Review Unit should not have authority to ask the court to overturn the conviction. The district attorney's office says Deputy Attorney General Courtney Orr acknowledged in September that the district attorney's office was the proper state representative.
Sources (2)
- Shelby County District Attorney's Office: DA Mulroy Issues Statement Following Andrew Hayes Hearing · Steve MulroyFull release
- The Commercial Appeal: Judge Lee Coffee recuses himself from Andrew Hayes case, exoneration push · The Commercial AppealFull article (syndicated copy on Yahoo News)
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
2 matching responses. Newest first.
Lee V. CoffeeShelby County Criminal Court judge, ruling from the bench on the recusal requestDirectly involved Before this statement
Coffee told Hayes and his lawyers from the Tennessee Innocence Project in court on November 6, 2026, that he was going to grant the petition asking him to step aside.
"Because we have to avoid even an inference of impropriety. There's no subjective prejudice on this court at all. In fact, I could have denied this request without even giving you a hearing."
DeniedResponding to: At the trial-court level in Andrew Hayes's post-conviction case, the district attorney's office, not the Tennessee attorney general's office, is the proper party to represent the state.
Full statement and sources
Granting the request that he step aside from Andrew Hayes's case, Judge Lee Coffee said he was doing so to avoid any inference of impropriety, denied any prejudice, and said he could have denied the request without a hearing.
After the statement
Coffee told Hayes that all the request had done was delay his case. The Commercial Appeal reported that Coffee said the motion was not made in good faith.
WMC Action News 5: Judge recuses self while wrongfully convicted man remains in prison · WMC Action News 5Full articleThe Commercial Appeal: Judge Lee Coffee recuses himself from Andrew Hayes case, exoneration push · The Commercial AppealFull article (syndicated copy on Yahoo News)Why this label?
The reference point is Judge Lee Coffee's handling of Andrew Hayes's petition to vacate his conviction, including his remarks at the August 2026 hearing on the district attorney's role, which Hayes's lawyers cited as evidence of bias. Coffee rejects the claim that he was biased while agreeing to step aside, which denies the allegation.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Steve MulroyShelby County District Attorney, in a statement released by his officeDirectly involvedBefore this statement
The release says that after the August 26 hearing, the court said it would continue reviewing the matter and reconvene on October 9.
"We respectfully disagree with the Court's remarks. It's entirely appropriate for the prosecution to agree with the defense when the prosecution is convinced that the facts and the law justify that position. In fact, it would be unethical for a prosecutor to do otherwise."
CondemnedResponding to: At the trial-court level in Andrew Hayes's post-conviction case, the district attorney's office, not the Tennessee attorney general's office, is the proper party to represent the state.
Full statement and sources
After the August 26 hearing in Andrew Hayes's case, District Attorney Steve Mulroy said he disagreed with the court's remarks, that it is appropriate and ethically required for prosecutors to agree with the defense when convinced by the facts and the law, and that the district attorney's office is the appropriate office at the trial-court level.
After the statement
Mulroy said the case law is clear that at the trial-court level the appropriate office is the district attorney's office, not the attorney general's office, that his office remains convinced Hayes was wrongfully convicted, and that it hopes to address the court's jurisdictional concerns before a final decision.
Shelby County District Attorney's Office: DA Mulroy Issues Statement Following Andrew Hayes Hearing · Steve MulroyFull releaseWhy this label?
The reference point is Judge Lee Coffee's handling of Andrew Hayes's petition to vacate his conviction, including his remarks at the August 2026 hearing on the district attorney's role, which Hayes's lawyers cited as evidence of bias. Mulroy expressly rejects the court's remarks about his office's role, which criticizes the judge's handling of the petition.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(5)
Reporting
WMC Action News 5: Judge recuses self while wrongfully convicted man remains in prison
Judge Lee V. Coffee explains his recusal from Andrew Hayes's wrongful conviction case, in an Action News 5 report, Nov. 6, 2026.
Excerpt from 0:20 to 1:24 of the Action News 5 report. Taken from the video on the Action News 5 article page cited for this source. DI added its logo in the corner.
Video: WMC Action News 5. Excerpt used for news reporting and commentary
Watch the full original video (opens in a new tab) (relevant passage: Full article)
About this source
WMC Action News 5 report of November 6, 2026 on Judge Lee Coffee's recusal from Andrew Hayes's wrongful-conviction case, quoting Coffee in court and District Attorney Steve Mulroy.
- Author
- WMC Action News 5
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Shelby County District Attorney's Office: Updates from Shelby County DA Steve Mulroy, January 16th
Relevant passage: Message from the DA
About this source
January 16, 2026 bulletin from the Shelby County district attorney. Mulroy writes that the office's Justice Review Unit, working with the Tennessee Innocence Project, concluded that Andrew Hayes was wrongfully convicted, that the office will not oppose his petition to vacate the conviction, and that it charged Sarah Lucas Riedel.
- Author
- Steve Mulroy
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Shelby County District Attorney's Office: DA Mulroy Issues Statement Following Andrew Hayes Hearing
Relevant passage: Full release
About this source
News release of August 26, 2026, after a hearing in Andrew Hayes's case, with District Attorney Steve Mulroy's statement responding to the court's remarks. It says the court would continue reviewing the matter and reconvene on October 9.
- Author
- Shelby County District Attorney's Office
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
WREG: Judge steps away from case involving man D.A. says was wrongly convicted
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
WREG report of November 6, 2026 on Coffee's order of recusal, which sends the case to the Criminal Court Clerk for reassignment, with background on the evidence the district attorney's office cites.
- Author
- Deja Davis
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
The Commercial Appeal: Judge Lee Coffee recuses himself from Andrew Hayes case, exoneration push
Relevant passage: Full article (syndicated copy on Yahoo News)
About this source
Commercial Appeal report of November 6, 2026, carried in full on Yahoo News, on Coffee's recusal. It describes Coffee's statements at the August hearing, the recusal motion by Hayes's lawyers, the district attorney's September 17 filing, and comments from Mulroy.
- Author
- Jack Armstrong
- Published
- Accessed
Share or embed this case
The embed keeps its attribution link to The Dispute Index. Credit the image to The Dispute Index and link to the case page.
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Judge Lee Coffee steps aside from Andrew Hayes's wrongful-conviction case, denying bias; DA Steve Mulroy disputes his remarks on the prosecutor's role
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/judge-lee-coffee-recusal-andrew-hayes-wrongful-conviction-case
The Dispute Index. "Judge Lee Coffee steps aside from Andrew Hayes's wrongful-conviction case, denying bias; DA Steve Mulroy disputes his remarks on the prosecutor's role". First published: 2026-11-12. Last updated: 2026-11-13. https://disputeindex.com/cases/judge-lee-coffee-recusal-andrew-hayes-wrongful-conviction-case