News

Dickinson investiture set for Jan. 9 in Jackson
December 22, 2003

Supreme Court Justice-elect Jess H. Dickinson will take the oath of office at a public ceremony on Jan. 9 at 10:30 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Jackson.

Study Committee supports statewide public defender system
December 5, 2003

The Judicial Advisory Study Committee on Friday reaffirmed its support of a statewide public defender system.

Judge Cotten outlines Drug Court plans for 8th District
December 3, 2003

Drug courts save people and tax dollars, trial judges told about 300 state and local government officials and business and community leaders at Choctaw Tuesday evening.

11th District Drug Courts face funding obstacles
December 3, 2003

Judges of the 11th Circuit District are grappling with how to fund fledgling drug courts in Bolivar and Coahoma counties.

Law students present arguments in criminal appeal
November 19, 2003

Two University of Mississippi School of Law students on Wednesday argued a criminal case before the Court of Appeals in Jackson. It was the first time that students have been permitted to present oral arguments in an appeal in a Mississippi state court.

8th District Drug Court discussion set for Dec. 2
November 17, 2003

Circuit Judge Vernon R. Cotten will discuss plans for a Drug Court for Leake, Neshoba, Newton and Scott counties at 7 p.m. Dec. 2 during a meeting at the VIP Room at the Golden Moon at the Pearl River Resort in Choctaw.

Memorial service honors deceased Mississippi lawyers
October 14, 2003

Lawyers, judges, friends and family gathered Tuesday in Jackson for a memorial service for 56 Mississippi lawyers who died during the past year.

Supreme Court seeks comments on lawyer advertising rule changes
October 14, 2003

The Mississippi Supreme Court seeks public comments on proposed changes to rules governing lawyer advertising.

Supreme Court hosts blood drive
October 13, 2003

The Mississippi Supreme Court is hosting a blood drive on Wednesday, Oct. 22.

Lives changed in Drug Court, graduates say
October 6, 2003

Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Kay Cobb told Drug Court graduates in Brookhaven Monday that their achievements are cause for thanks giving.

Lafayette County gets evidence presentation equipment
September 29, 2003

The Lafayette County Circuit Court has new electronic evidence presentation equipment.

Justice Graves leads 9-11 Memorial at Supreme Court
September 11, 2003

Mississippi Supreme Court Justice James E. Graves Jr. during a memorial service on Thursday asked justices and court staff to remember the tragedy, reflect on freedom and the gift of life, and renew their commitment to be more loving, tolerant and responsible citizens.

Justice Graves discusses civics education with Hungarian officials and students
September 10, 2003

Mississippi Supreme Court Justice James E. Graves Jr. returned this week from seven days in Hungary as part of an international exchange program to teach democracy to students and discuss the need for civics education with government officials.

Judicial study group discusses public defenders, sentencing disparities, judicial selection
September 5, 2003

The Mississippi Legislature should reconsider proposals for a statewide public defender system, Supreme Court Chief Justice Edwin L. Pittman told a judicial study group on Friday.

Teen Court gets $5,000 startup grant from Attorney General
August 29, 2003

Madison County Youth Court will soon start a Teen Court program in which juvenile offenders will be judged by their peers.

Statement of Chief Justice Edwin L. Pittman
August 21, 2003

Chief Justice Edwin L. Pittman made this statement today in response to media inquiries:

There is a deliberate and false attack being waged against the Supreme Court of Mississippi by people with intimate knowledge of the workings of the court.

Carlson emphasizes ethics, civility and professionalism in speech to law students
August 13, 2003

Mississippi Supreme Court Justice George C. Carlson Jr. on Wednesday told first year law students in Oxford that ethics, civility and professionalism should be cornerstones of their future law practice.

Justices Carlson and Waller to address first year law students
August 11, 2003

Mississippi Supreme Court Justice George C. Carlson Jr. will give the keynote address Wednesday, Aug. 13, to first year law students attending the University of Mississippi School of Law.

Pittman announces Chief Justice Award recipients
July 28, 2003

Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Edwin L. Pittman named as recipients of this year's Chief Justice Awards House Speaker Tim Ford, Justices William L. Waller Jr., Kay Cobb and George C. Carlson Jr., Supreme Court Administrator Stephen J. Kirchmayr and Supreme Court Central Legal Staff Director Jack Pool.

Carlson addresses Jackson Young Lawyers Association
July 18, 2003

Supreme Court Justice George C. Carlson Jr. in a noon speech to Jackson lawyers on Friday urged them to shun a "whatever it takes to win" attitude, and to deal with each other with professionalism and civility.

Supreme Court Justices visit North Mississippi Rural Legal Services
July 17, 2003

Civil legal assistance programs for the poor in Mississippi will receive more than $66,000 as a result of fees assessed to out of state lawyers.

Fees from out of state lawyers support Legal Services for poor
July 15, 2003

Civil legal assistance programs for the poor in Mississippi will receive more than $66,000 as a result of fees assessed to out of state lawyers.

Cameras in the court room panel discussion
July 28, 2003

A panel discussion hosted by the Mississippi Associated Press Broadcasters Association in Biloxi, MS.

Camera Coverage Notice
June 26, 2003

Rule 5 of the Mississippi Rules for Electronic and Photographic Coverage of Judicial Proceedings requires that media representatives give at least 48 hours notice prior to the commencement of a proceeding if they propose to photograph, videotape, make an audio recording of or engage in any other form of electronic coverage.

Supreme Court gives computers to Port Gibson schools
June 6, 2003

Surplus computers donated by the state court system are providing learning tools for Port Gibson public school students.

Supreme Court revises lawyer advertising rules
May 29, 2003

The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday adopted stricter rules regarding lawyer advertising.

Supreme Court rule addresses electronically stored information
May 29, 2003

The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday addressed the production of electronically stored data in civil litigation. The court amended its rules to cover electronic formats such as e-mail and other forms of electronically stored information.

Supreme Court adopts rules for random assignment of civil cases
May 29, 2003

The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday ordered that all assignments of civil cases to trial judges be done in a random fashion.

Supreme Court revises rules on expert and lay witnesses
May 29, 2003

The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday amended rules that govern admissibility of expert witness and lay witness opinion testimony.

Pittman honored with Judicial Innovation Award
May 16, 2003

Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Edwin L. Pittman on Thursday was named the recipient of the Judicial Innovation Award presented by the Hinds County Bar Association and the Jackson Young Lawyers Association.

Cleveland courtroom gets electronic evidence display equipment
May 9, 2003

Bolivar County Circuit Court next week will get electronic evidence presentation equipment.

PRESS RELEASE From Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions, Jackson, MS
May 9, 2003

The Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions announced today that it has been informed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) that an inadvertent clerical error was made in the scoring of one (1) question on the Multistate Bar Examination during its February administration.

Judges call on lawyers to provide free legal representation to the poor
April 24, 2003

The Conference of Mississippi Judges on Thursday urged lawyers in private practice to donate their time to represent poor people.

Judges discuss drug court programs
April 24, 2003

Drug courts succeed because of intensive supervision by judges, frequent drug testing, immediate sanctions and mutual support of addicts who struggle with the same kinds of problems, judges who run drug courts around the state told their fellow judges at a judicial conference in Gulfport on Thursday.

Camera coverage allowed in Mississippi courts
April 17, 2003

The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday adopted rules that permit broadcast and still camera coverage of trial and appellate court proceedings, with some restrictions.

Rule change increases reporting of out of state lawyers
April 15, 2003

A new method of tracking out-of-state attorneys representing clients in Mississippi has improved reporting.

Hinds County Drug Court graduates tell success stories
March 18, 2003

Frenchie Funches of Jackson said the gift of a second chance offered through the Hinds County Drug Court gave her back her life and her children.

Judge Griffis takes oath at investiture ceremony
February 28, 2003

Court of Appeals Judge T. Kenneth Griffis Jr. told a crowd at the Capitol Friday that he hopes to be known not as favoring a particular viewpoint, but as a judge who is just and fair.

Supreme Court seeks public comment on camera coverage of courts
January 24, 2003

The Mississippi Supreme Court seeks public comment on a draft of rules to permit broadcast, still camera and other electronic media coverage of trial and appellate courts.

Pittman supports drug courts and changes in judicial selection
January 23, 2003

Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Edwin L. Pittman on Thursday praised proposed legislation to create a statewide drug court system.

Roberts brothers serve different roles in the judiciary
January 21, 2003

People have mistaken Edwin H. Roberts Jr. for his brother, the judge, for years in Meridian.

Supreme Court adopts rule allowing medical exams, revises rule governing attorneys from other states
January 17, 2003

The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday adopted a rule that allows trial judges to order a physical or mental examination when a person's condition is at issue in a civil case.

Justice McRae receives Magnolia Bar Foundation award
January 13, 2003

Supreme Court Justice Chuck McRae is the recipient of the Magnolia Bar Foundation Neal Green Service Award.

Supreme Court gives computers to Tchula school
January 13, 2003

The Mississippi Supreme Court on Monday gave about 60 used computers to S. V. Marshall High School in Tchula.

Dickinson sworn in as special trial judge
January 8, 2003

Supreme Court Justice-elect Jess Dickinson on Wednesday was sworn in to sit as a special circuit and chancery judge.

Roger H. McMillin reappointed as chief judge of Court of Appeals
January 6, 2003

Judge Roger H. McMillin Jr. of New Albany will serve a second term as chief judge of the Court of Appeals. Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Edwin L. Pittman on Jan. 2 signed an order reappointing McMillin as the administrative head of the Court of Appeals beginning Jan. 5 and continuing through Dec. 31, 2006.