News

Judge Howorth to take oath of office Jan. 2 in Oxford
December 21, 2001

The swearing in ceremony for Circuit Judge Andrew K. Howorth is set for 2 p.m. Jan. 2 at the Lafayette County Courthouse in Oxford.

Bob Ryan appointed to head Office of Capital Post-Conviction Counsel
December 21, 2001

The Mississippi Supreme Court has appointed Bob Ryan of Jackson as the new director of the Office of Capital Post-Conviction Counsel.

18 Graduate from Drug Court
December 17, 2001

Perry Magee told a packed audience at the Lincoln County Courthouse that Drug Court gave him and his wife, Sandra Magee, a chance to put their lives back together.

Judicial study commission makes recommendations
December 14, 2001

A judicial study commission on Friday adopted recommendations addressing elections, campaign finance, judicial salaries, case management and Justice Courts.

Judge Brantley talks to Madison Central students
November 30, 2001

Students who drink and drive risk injury to others, jail time, loss of personal opportunities and financial hardship for their parents, Court of Appeals Judge James P. Brantley told students at Madison Central High School on Friday.

Justice Graves will head committee to study court and media issues
November 29, 2001

Supreme Court Chief Justice Edwin L. Pittman on Thursday appointed Justice James. E. Graves Jr. to head a committee that will study the feasibility of allowing cameras in the trial courts.

Comment period extended to Jan. 7 for Code of Judicial Conduct
November 29, 2001

The Mississippi Supreme Court has extended the public comment period on proposed changes to the Code of Judicial Conduct to Jan. 7.

Supreme Court finalizes time standards
November 20, 2001

The Mississippi Supreme Court in an order made public on Tuesday adopted advisory time standards for trial courts.

Pittman says proposed changes aimed at eliminating race and gender bias
November 16, 2001

Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Edwin L. Pittman on Friday told the Magnolia Bar Association that proposed revisions to the Code of Judicial Conduct include language aimed at eliminating race and gender bias.

Justice Graves pledges to serve with honor, dignity and integrity
November 15, 2001

Mississippi Supreme Court Justice James E. Graves Jr. at his investiture Thursday pledged to serve the state of Mississippi with honor, dignity and integrity.

Supreme Court Justice Carlson participates in litigation symposium
November 14, 2001

Supreme Court Justice George C. Carlson Jr. participated in a Nov. 9 litigation symposium at the University of Mississippi School of Law.

Rankin County Circuit Court gets electronic evidence presentation equipment
November 9, 2001

Rankin County Circuit Court is going high-tech with evidence presentation.

Grants fund community service programs for juvenile offenders in Copiah and Lincoln Counties
November 9, 2001

Juvenile offenders in Copiah and Lincoln counties are picking up roadside trash and doing other community service work as a result of a federal grant.

Chief Justice Pittman says Code of Conduct revisions intended to deter influence
November 9, 2001

Supreme Court Chief Justice Edwin L. Pittman on Friday said proposed revisions to the Code of Judicial Conduct are intended to insulate judges from any attempts to influence their decisions.

Rankin County Chancery Judge orders divorcing parents and their children to attend counseling classes
November 7, 2001

Divorcing parents with children in Rankin County Chancery Judge Thomas L. Zebert's court are required to attend classes designed to prepare them for life apart.

George County Chancery Court will soon refer divorcing parents to free counseling classes
November 7, 2001

George County Chancery Court will soon begin offering to divorcing parents with children free classes designed to prepare them for life apart.

Justice Graves will spotlight education at November 15 investiture
November 7, 2001

Education will be the focus of Supreme Court Justice James E. Graves Jr.'s investiture ceremony Nov. 15.

George C. Carlson Jr. takes oath as Supreme Court Justice
November 1, 2001

Supreme Court Justice George C. Carlson Jr. took the oath of office at the Panola County Courthouse Thursday morning in Batesville and was at work at the Gartin Justice Building in Jackson by 11 a.m.

Trial judges endorse advisory time standards
October 30, 2001

Circuit, Chancery and County Court judges who met in Jackson last week for their fall conference endorsed the Supreme Court's proposed advisory time standards for trial judges.

Proposed rule changes address judge recusals, campaign conduct
October 25, 2001

The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday made public proposed revisions to the Code of Judicial Conduct.

Justice Mills delivers letter of resignation to Governor
October 23, 2001

Justice Michael P. Mills of the Mississippi Supreme Court announced today that he is delivering his letter of resignation from the Court to Governor Ronnie Musgrove today. In Mills' letter, he notifies the Governor that his resignation from the Court is effective October 31, 2001.

Study Commission discusses salary increases for judges and prosecutors
October 12, 2001

District attorneys and trial and appellate judges need a raise for the state to be able to attract and keep high quality public servants, several members of the Study Commission on the Mississippi Judicial System said Friday in Jackson.

Supreme Court Justice Fred L. Banks Jr. announces he is stepping down
September 28, 2001

Supreme Court Justice Fred L. Banks Jr. announced Friday that he is stepping down to return to private law practice.

Judge James P. Brantley formally sworn in to Court of Appeals
September 27, 2001

Judge James P. Brantley was formally sworn in Thursday as the 18th judge to sit on the Mississippi Court of Appeals.

Judicial Study Commission discusses campaign finance and other reforms
September 14, 2001

Members of the Study Commission on the Mississippi Judicial System on Friday discussed potential campaign reforms, including a suggestion to require judges to step aside from hearing cases involving large contributors.

Chancery Judges express appreciation to Myers
September 8, 2001

The Mississippi Conference of Chancery Court Judges on Saturday expressed appreciation to Court of Appeals Judge William Myers for his former leadership of the conference.

Justice Court Judges increase voluntary continuing education
August 16, 2001

The Mississippi Justice Court Judges Association has voted to nearly double continuing education classes offered through a voluntary certification program for judges.

Welcoming ceremonies scheduled for Judge Chapman
August 8, 2001

Welcoming ceremonies for recently appointed Circuit Judge William E. Chapman III are scheduled Tuesday, Aug. 14, in Brandon and Wednesday, Aug. 15, in Canton.

Trial judges seek to improve judicial efficiency
July 27, 2001

Trial judges across the state are evaluating court systems in an effort to identify ways to improve judicial efficiency. Several courts have made changes in response to a pending proposal before the Supreme Court to set time standards for trial courts.

Court of Appeals arguments go on Internet August 7
July 26, 2001

Work was completed Wednesday on installation of cameras to make oral arguments of the Mississippi Court of Appeals available on the Internet.

Study Commission discusses improvements for judiciary
July 19, 2001

The Study Commission on the Mississippi Judicial System, created by the 2001 Legislature to recommend improvements for the court system, met for the first time Thursday in Jackson.

Chief Justice honors four for work to improve the judicial system
July 14, 2001

Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Edwin L. Pittman named as recipients of this year's Chief Justice Award four people whose commitment to improving the judicial system was exhibited by their tireless work to create the Court of Appeals and the Administrative Office of Courts in 1993.

Delta Drug Court organizers visit south Mississippi counterparts
July 5, 2001

Judges of the 4th Circuit District, made up of Leflore, Sunflower and Washington counties, will begin operation of the state's third district-wide drug court on Aug. 1.

Chief Justice Edwin L. Pittman addresses MBN anniversary
June 28, 2001

Supreme Court Chief Justice Edwin L. Pittman on Wednesday praised Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics agents for their efforts protecting communities from the drug trade.

Judge Payne to retire from Court of Appeals
June 22, 2001

Court of Appeals Judge Mary Libby Payne, the only woman to serve on the 10-member court, is retiring July 31.

Judicial study commission members named
June 20, 2001

Appointments to a 24-person judicial study commission were recently named.

Appellate court judges attend ethics seminar
June 15, 2001

Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges on Thursday attended an ethics seminar at the University of Mississippi School of Law at Oxford.

Supreme Court seeks public comment on time standards
June 14, 2001

The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday adopted proposed time standards for trial judges

Proposed time standards for trial courts
June 14, 2001

Supreme Court Administrative order 2001-AD-00001.

10th Chancery District installs computer network
June 7, 2001

Chancery Judges in Forrest, Lamar, Marion, Pearl River and Perry counties will be able to speed up the way cases are handled with a computer network that links all five counties, says Chancery Court Administrator Janet Polk.

Supreme Court considers time standards for trial courts
May 24, 2001

The Supreme Court has under study the enactment of time standards for trial courts. The standards are to encourage a timely review of pending cases and would allow the Legislature and the Court to determine where judicial resources should be used.

Supreme Court amends rule regarding appeal bond in civil damage award cases
May 9, 2001

The Mississippi Supreme Court has placed limitations on the amount of bond that a defendant can be required to post during an appeal of a punitive damages award.

State Law Library promotes public access
April 5, 2001

The State Law Library in Jackson offers the public free access to an extensive collection of legal works with a catalog available on the Internet.

Supreme Court docket goes on the Internet
April 2, 2001

The case docket of the Mississippi Supreme Court is now available for viewing on the Internet. The on-line docket was activated Friday, March 30.

Nigerian officials study Mississippi court system
March 29, 2001

Nigerian judges, legislators and other officials are in Jackson this week studying Mississippi government to get ideas to improve their own fledgling democracy.

Technology's impact on litigation discussed
March 22, 2001

A panel of judges and lawyers on Thursday examined the problems of dealing with electronic information disclosure in litigation.

Installation of courtroom video equipment begins
March 6, 2001

Technicians on Tuesday began installing cameras and equipment to allow oral arguments before the Mississippi Supreme Court to be broadcast on the Internet.

Public information officer named to assist news media and courts
March 6, 2001

A public information officer is now available to assist news media representatives with inquiries related to the state's courts.

Audio Video Recording for Appellate Courts
February 15, 2001

Administrative Order 2001-AD-00001 regarding preserving oral arguments in cases before these courts by audio recording, and the Supreme Court has under consideration the acquisition and installation of equipment for video recording arguments before the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals.

Chief Justice Edwin Lloyd Pittman's Remarks at Investiture Ceremony on 1-22-01
January 22, 2001

THANK YOU JUSTICE BANKS AND JUSTICE McRAE AND MY OTHER COLLEAGUES ON THE COURT FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS CEREMONY.