MEMPHIS (AP) – The search is on for a new judge in Shelby County after the death of W. Otis Higgs.

2. Higgs Funeral Services Set for Friday - Friday, February 22, 2013

Funeral services for Shelby County Criminal Court Judge and Memphis mayoral contender Otis Higgs will be Friday, Feb. 22, at 3:30 p.m. at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church.

3. Late Judge Higgs Changed Local Politics - Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Funeral services for Shelby County Criminal Court Judge and Memphis mayoral contender Otis Higgs were pending and being planned Monday, Feb. 18, just days after his unexpected death.

4. Judge and Mayoral Contender Otis Higgs Dies - Saturday, February 16, 2013

Shelby County Criminal Court Judge W. Otis Higgs, whose two bids to become Memphis Mayor in the 1970s were important chapters in the city’s political and racial history, died Friday, Feb. 15, at the age of 75.

5. Steady Clip for Court Cases in ’09 - Monday, January 18, 2010

Civil court filings for 2009 were higher than the previous two years, according to data from The Daily News Online.

The year-end data for Circuit, Chancery and Probate courts showed 10,794 cases were filed in 2009 compared to 9,766 in 2008 and 10,045 in 2007.

6. A Mayor’s Race to Remember: Candidates pump up the drama as election nears - Monday, September 21, 2009

The field is set at 25 candidates and Memphians start voting Sept. 25 in a mayor’s race that has been neither a surprise nor the expected.

But there’s no guarantee the election will settle what the post-Willie Herenton era will look like. Too many other events still have to be decided.

7. Suspect Denied Bond Reduction in Burial Scandal - Friday, April 03, 2009

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - A former businessman at the center of a multimillion-dollar funeral home scandal has lost his bid to get of jail in Memphis.

Clayton Smart, once a co-owner of three funeral homes run by Forest Hill cemeteries of Memphis, is charged with helping steal up to $20 million from burial policy trust funds.

8. August Trial Date Set in Forrest Hill Cemeteries Case - Thursday, March 05, 2009

Former Forrest Hill cemeteries owner Clayton Smart is scheduled to go on trial on fraud charges starting Aug. 24.

9. Power to the People - Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Early voting has set a record for city elections.

A little more than 74,000 voters cast early ballots in 15 locations over the 14-day early voting period in advance of Thursday's city election. It ended Saturday afternoon. The total is 16.2 percent of the city's registered voters.

10. Forest Hill Owner In Contempt Again - Friday, September 14, 2007

Forest Hill Cemeteries and Funeral Home owner Clayton Smart has the money to hire attorneys to represent him on criminal charges. But that doesn't mean he's likely to get out of jail anytime soon.

11. Forest Hill Owner in Contempt Over House Sale - Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Forest Hill cemeteries owner Clayton Smart has the money to hire attorneys to represent him on criminal charges. But he’s not likely to get out of jail any time soon.

Chancellor Arnold Goldin Wednesday found Smart in contempt of a court order as he approved the use of up to $120,000 from the sale of one of Smart’s homes in Oklahoma. Goldin ruled Smart is in contempt for having his wife, Nancy, sell the house without court approval.

12. Smart Clings to Claim He's Broke, Represents Himself - Friday, August 10, 2007

Forest Hill cemeteries and funeral homes owner Clayton Smart will act as his own attorney at least for the time being.

Criminal Court Judge W. Otis Higgs made the ruling Wednesday at the end of another hearing in which Smart repeatedly claimed he didn't have any money to hire an attorney.

13. Smart Represents Himself, Claims He's Broke - Thursday, August 09, 2007

Forest Hill cemeteries and funeral homes owner Clayton Smart will act as his own attorney – at least for the time being.

Criminal Court Judge W. Otis Higgs made the ruling Wednesday at the end of another hearing in which Smart repeatedly claimed he didn't have any money to hire an attorney.

14. Smart Represents Himself, Claims He's Broke - Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Forest Hill cemeteries and funeral homes owner Clayton Smart will act as his own attorney – at least for the time being.

Criminal Court Judge W. Otis Higgs made the ruling Wednesday at the end of another hearing in which Smart repeatedly claimed he didn't have any money to hire an attorney.

15. County Can't Defend AccusedIn Cemetery Fraud Case - Tuesday, August 07, 2007
     Shelby County's public defender said his office doesn't have the resources to represent Clayton Smart, accused of embezzling millions from his funeral home businesses in Memphis and Michigan, in a complex white-collar cr

16. Push Is on to Pull Wharton Into Race Against Herenton - Thursday, July 12, 2007

With a week to the filing deadline for candidates on the October city ballot, Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton Jr. has a lot to consider.

The draft movement to get him into the race for Memphis mayor is the campaign season's best bet for a surprise. The effort launched Wednesday.

17. Oilman Charged in Cemetery Scandal to Stay in Jail for Now - Tuesday, July 03, 2007

MEMPHIS (AP) - Oklahoma oilman Clayton Smart, charged after authorities said millions of dollars were missing from a $90 million cemetery trust fund, will remain in the Shelby County Jail at least until August.

18. Forest Hill Cemetery OwnerTo Appear in Criminal Court - Thursday, May 31, 2007
     Forest Hill Cemetery owner Clayton Smart will make a court appearance Friday when he is scheduled to go before Judge Otis Higgs in Criminal Court Division 2.
     He currently is being held

19. Archived Article: Law Briefs - Thursday, July 09, 1998
The Memphis Bar Association announced the results of the associations Judicial Preference Election concerning all contested judicial and clerk races on Aug The Memphis Bar Association announced the results of the associations Judicial Preference Ele...