By Commissioner Erika Sugarmon

Welcome back to Unfiltered.

In government, we often fixate on the “flashy” jobs. We watch the Mayor, the City Council, and the County Commission. But if you really want to see where the rubber meets the road—where policy actually touches people’s lives—you have to look at the Judges.

This week, I had the privilege of sitting down with a woman who is the definition of “Memphis Made.” She is a graduate of Frayser High School. But she didn’t stop there. She earned a Master’s in Psychology, an MBA, a Law Degree, and a Doctorate in Education.

She is Judge Marcy Ingram, presiding over General Sessions Civil Court, Division 2.

More Than Just the Law

We often think of judges as stern figures who only care about “the book.” But Judge Ingram brings something different to the bench: a background in mental health counseling.

Growing up watching Perry Mason and Claire Huxtable, she knew she wanted to help people. Today, that background helps her navigate the heavy emotional currents of her courtroom. Whether she is dealing with the “wild bunch” of personalities on the County Commission (where she used to serve as our attorney!) or navigating a painful eviction case, she understands that behind every legal problem is a human problem.

“Being a lawyer isn’t like medical school where you have to major in biology,” she told me. “Having that psychology degree helps me understand people and how to respond to different personalities.”

Inside the “People’s Court”

Judge Ingram calls General Sessions the “People’s Court.” The jurisdiction is limited to cases under $25,000, which means many people represent themselves.

These aren’t corporate mergers. These are the issues that keep Memphians up at night:

• Evictions and housing disputes.

• Contractors who didn’t finish the roof.

• Mechanics who held onto a car for six months.

• Emergency mental health commitments for loved ones in crisis.

It is a high-volume, high-stress environment. Judge Ingram shared a story about “splitting the baby” in a case involving a frozen bank account—finding a balance between what is legal (the law) and what is fair (equity). That balance is the art of justice.

The Civics Lesson: The Rule of Law

We ended the show with a critical lesson on Civics, especially relevant to recent events in Shelby County regarding our school board.

There was a lot of noise recently. People were angry and wanted to replace the school board early or recall them immediately. But a Judge stepped in and said: No.

Why? Because of the Rule of Law.

Think of a Judge as a referee in a basketball game. You might hate the call. You might boo. But if we ignore the referee, the game turns into a brawl. The Rule of Law ensures stability. It ensures that we follow the process, even when the outcome isn’t what we emotionally want in the moment.

Whether it’s a small claims case in General Sessions or a major constitutional ruling, the law is the steady hand that keeps democracy from falling apart.