Who Is Paul Sherrell? Tennessee lawmaker asks for hanging by tree as method of execution

Paul Sherrell is an American lawmaker representing District 43 in the Tennessee House of Representatives.

Born on March 28, 1959, Sherrell contested for the seat of District 43 in the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2016, and won with 45.16% of the vote at the primaries.

He had won against Kevin Dunlap in the general election, and in 2018, was re-elected as Majority Floor Leader.

Sherrell has led various committees in the House including the Judiciary Committee, Constitutional Protections & Sentencing Subcommittee, Health Committee, Mental Health & Substance Abuse Subcommittee; Naming, Designating, & Private Acts Committee.

Sherrell, who is a Republican, is regarded as a racist politician.

In 2023 Sherrell he received several backlashes for suggesting “Hanging by Tree” as a method of execution in Tennessee.

Sherrell later apologized, following calls from members of the Tennessee Black Caucus for him to resign.

Sherrell had made the suggestion during an amendment of a bill in relation to execution by firing squad in Tennessee.

“I was just wondering, could I put an amendment on that that would include hanging by a tree”, he had said.