News

Chief Justice Waller to address Harrison County Bar Association Aug. 13

August 10, 2010

Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. will speak to the Harrison County Bar Association at noon Aug. 13. The meeting will be at Mary Mahoney’s restaurant in Biloxi.

Chief Justice Waller is expected to give an update on the judiciary. He is expected to talk about:

• electronic filing. The Court is overseeing the Mississippi Electronic Courts pilot project to implement electronic filing in chancery and circuit courts in Madison, Scott and Warren counties.

• drug courts. Mississippi currently has 34 drug courts which enroll more than 2,700 people. The Second Circuit Drug Court of Harrison, Hancock and Stone counties currently has more than 140 people enrolled.

• jury instructions. The Model Jury Instructions Commission is formulating recommendations for plain language instructions.

• the Mississippi Commission on Children’s Justice, which the Supreme Court recently reestablished to examine the juvenile justice system and recommend improvements.

• poor people’s access to the civil courts. The Mississippi Access to Justice Commission recently presented the Court with its report and recommendations of ways to increase free civil legal assistance for the poor, increase funding for legal services programs and help litigants who represent themselves.

Chief Justice Waller has emphasized efficiency and fairness in the administration of justice since he became chief justice in January 2009. The Jackson native has served on the Supreme Court since January 1998.

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