State of Mississippi Judiciary

A California judge who delivered a truckload of donated office furniture and equipment to Hancock and Jackson County courts last month is returning with a bigger load to help more public agencies as well as the courts.

Members of the Mississippi Supreme Court will deliver checks totaling $70,000 this week and next to programs which provide civil legal assistance to poor people.

The 12th Circuit Adult Drug Court program in Forrest and Perry counties will honor its first graduate in a ceremony at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 22, at the Saenger Theater in Hattiesburg.

Mississippi Supreme Court Presiding Justice William L. Waller Jr. will speak to the Delta Regional Bar Meeting at 10:45 a.m. Friday, Nov. 18, at the Hampton Inn, 1815 U.S. 82 West in Greenwood.

The Mississippi Supreme Court has promoted longtime Central Legal Staff Director Jack Pool of Jackson to Court Administrator and Counsel.

Mississippi Court of Appeals Judge William H. Myers of Ocean Springs has assumed the administrative duties of a presiding judge.

Waiver of Continuing Education Requirements Due to Emergency Circumstances Created by Hurricane Katrina.

The Hancock County Chancery Court is scanning all its records for electronic retrieval. A documents preservation company was hired to scan all Hancock County Chancery Court records.

Chancery Judge Jim Persons has ordered that hearings and trials scheduled for the November term of Hancock County Chancery Court will be held at the Harrison County Courthouse in Gulfport.

On August 29, 2005, the Mississippi Gulf Coast was struck by Hurricane Katrina, a catastrophe of histroric proportions. As a result of that hurricane, on September 6, 2005, the Mississippi Supreme Court issued Administrative Order No. 2005-AD-00001-SCT which, inter alia, granted unto the trial courts authority "to excercise their sound discretion in extending deadlines, rescheduling hearings and trials and any other matters by case specific actions or by general order...."

A California judge will arrive in Mississippi on Thursday, Nov. 3, to deliver equipment donated by the San Diego County Superior Court to hurricane damaged courts in Hancock and Jackson counties.

Judge Billy G. Bridges of Brandon, one of the longest-serving members of the Court of Appeals, has announced that he will retire Dec. 31.

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast and surrounding areas, resulting in unprecedented damage, destruction and loss of life. The Chancery Courts, the Clerk's offices, and other supporting agencies were/are incapable of performing in their ordinary and customary fashion, thus requiring an emergency general order to prevent injustice, and to protect the fairness and integrity of the trial courts, member of the bar, litigants, and the general public.

Fifty Mississippi lawyers who died during the past year were honored Tuesday, Oct. 18, during a special memorial service at the State Capitol.

The Supreme Court has entered an order on the Mississippi Bar’s Petition to Permit Attorneys not Licensed to Practice Law in Mississippi to Provide Emergency Pro Bono Legal Assistance through the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project.

The State Law Library in Jackson is offering free Westlaw research and free copying to attorneys displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

StephenJ.Kirchmayr,63,ofJackson,counseland courtadministratorforthe MississippiSupreme Court and the state court system, died Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2005, at his home in Jackson.

Lists of items needed in Hancock county court system after Hurricane Katrina..

Retired Hinds County Chancery Judge W. O. “Chet” Dillard recounted death threats and intrigue from his early days as a prosecutor as some of Mississippi’s highest ranking current and former judicial officials gathered to pay tribute to his 45-year legal career.

Governor Haley Barbour issues Hurricane Katrina State of Emergency Memorandum to All State Agencies, Boards and Commissions.

The Supreme Court of the State of Nevada enters an Emergency order to permit attorneys from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama displaced by Hurricane Katrina to practice law from a location in Nevada.

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals authorized the practice of law for Mississippi Attorneys displaced by Hurricane Katrina until February 28, 2006.

The Jackson County Chancery Court has delayed trials, motions and hearings scheduled between Aug. 29 and Dec. 1 in response to Hurricane Katrina. The Chancery Court suspended deadlines for filing motions, appeals and discovery materials until Dec. 1.

The Commission on Continuing Legal Education extends the requirement and reporting deadline for the 2004-2005 reporting year with the deadline for the 2005-2006 reporting year.

Chancery Court of Jackson County extends deadlines due to Hurricane Katrina.

Three more southwest Mississippi counties will soon participate in a Drug Court program thanks to a $335,867 federal grant to the 6th Circuit Court District Adult Drug Court.

The Mississippi Supreme Court has appointed two new members to the state Bar Complaint Tribunal and reappointed three members.

The Circuit and County Courts of Jackson County, acting in response to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, have delayed trials, motions and hearings previously scheduled between Aug. 29 and Dec. 1.

The Circuit Court of Jackson County extends deadlines due to Hurricane Katrina.

The County Court of Jackson County extends deadlines due to Hurricane Katrina.

All Circuit Court trials previously scheduled during the month of September in Simpson County have been postponed as a result of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice James W. Smith Jr. on Friday, Sept. 16, asked Gov. Haley Barbour to add judicial issues to a special session agenda if the Governor calls a special session of the legislature.

The Court authorizes the Clerk to keep and maintain completed cases for five years beyond the issuance of the mandate in the case.

Simpson County issues Order postponing opening of Regular September, 2005 Term.

The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday issued the Hurricane Katrina Judicial Assessment Committee Preliminary Report detailing damages to courts in Gulf Coast counties and the status of court operations in those counties.

Hurricane Katrina on Aug. 29, 2005, damaged court facilities and battered the lives of the people who serve the Mississippi judiciary. The people of the Gulf Coast are working to resume court operations while at the same time many of the judges and staff are dealing with severe property damage and personal losses.

Circuit Judges in the Second Circuit Court District of Harrison, Hancock and Stone counties have cancelled trials and hearings and extended filing deadlines as a result of damage from Hurricane Katrina.

County Court for the First and Second Judicial Districts of Jones County issues General Order for September term 2005.

Judges of the Second Circuit Court District, Harrison, Hancock and Stone Counties, issues Emergency Administrative General Order.

Supreme Court authorizes out-of-state attorneys to assist in Miss. Bar Young Lawyers Division’s response to hurricane Katrina disaster.

The Mississippi Supreme Court on Friday, Sept. 9, authorized lawyers licensed in other states to practice in Mississippi if they are providing free legal assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice James W. Smith Jr. said on Wednesday that his primary focus is assessing damage at courthouse across south Mississippi. A Damage Assessment Committee will start with courthouses in Hancock, Harrison, Jackson and Stone counties.

Supreme Court Administrative Order closing court and granting additional time for certain filings due while Court Closed.

The Mississippi Supreme Court on Tuesday, Sept. 6, extended filing deadlines by 90 days for appeals pending from the 27 south Mississippi counties of the Second Supreme Court District and authorized trial court judges in those counties to use their discretion to extend deadlines and reschedule proceedings.

Supreme Court Emergency Procedures Related to Hurricane Katrina's Disruption of Judicial Processes.

Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice James W. Smith Jr. told lawyers and judges Friday that a broad-based effort is underway to create a statewide computerized court records filing and information sharing system.

The head of a national drug court education, training and research organization will be the keynote speaker July 18 at the 4th Circuit District Drug Court graduation in Indianola.

The Mississippi Supreme Court is seeking public comments on a proposed court rule intended to save legal expenses and speed resolution of civil cases in which the issues in dispute involve money damages of less than $50,000.

Chancery Judge J. Max Kilpatrick of Philadelphia told well-wishers after he took the oath of office Friday at the Neshoba County Courthouse in Philadelphia that he will work to make the court accessible to all people.

U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett of McComb said Monday that the most effective drug courts are those which deal with juveniles.

Rosita Little of Jackson recalled a time when drug addiction so consumed her that she didn’t know where her two sons were.

The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday adopted standards which will serve as the framework for developing a uniform statewide system of case management and electronic filing in state courts.

Madison County Court Judge Cynthia Brewer presented $100 prizes to three young reading enthusiasts last week to reward them for reading the most books during a five-month contest.

Participants in the Jackson County Drug Court will take to the streets in Pascagoula on Saturday morning, May 21, to pick up litter as part of their continuing community service. Eight to 10 people are expected to begin work at 8 a.m. along U.S. 90.

Thirty-one Forrest and Perry County Drug Court participants will celebrate their progress Friday, May 20, at 11 a.m. in a special ceremony at the Lake Terrace Convention Center in Hattiesburg.

Participants in the Adams County Drug Court will celebrate the one-year anniversary of the program today, May 18, in Natchez. A program is planned for 6:30 p.m. at Pilgrim Baptist Church on Wilson Road in Natchez.

Twenty-two state court judges attended a firearms training class Wednesday. Some members of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals as well as circuit, chancery and county court judges attended classroom instruction and practiced target shooting with handguns.

Nine people from George and Greene counties are scheduled to graduate from the Drug Court program of the 19th Circuit Court on Thursday, May 12, at 2 p.m. The ceremony will be conducted on the second floor of the George County Courthouse in Lucedale.

The common experience among young people sentenced to prison is that they dropped out of school, Mississippi Supreme Court Justice James E. Graves Jr. told thousands of teachers, librarians and parents at the 50th Annual International Reading Association Conference in San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday.

Members of the Mississippi Supreme Court next week will distribute $100,000 to programs which provide civil legal assistance to the poor. The money is generated by fees from out of state lawyers.

Circuit Judge Dale Harkey of Pascagoula was elected chairman of the Conference of Circuit Judges on Thursday, April 28, during the Mississippi Trial and Appellate Judges Spring Conference.

The Mississippi Supreme Court is looking for ways to help trial judges and local law enforcement improve security in county courthouses, Chief Justice James W. Smith Jr. and Justice Michael K. Randolph told judges gathered in Gulfport for the Mississippi Trial and Appellate Judges Spring Conference on Thursday, April 28.

Thirteen Jackson middle school students spent a recent Saturday morning at the Mississippi College School of Law talking with judges from all levels of the judiciary about careers in the legal profession.

Who would have expected the son of an undercover narcotics officer to become a drug addict? “I smoked my first joint when I was 11 years old and I loved it,” Brian Walsh, 35, of Brandon told a packed Hinds County courtroom Tuesday, April 5, as he and seven others celebrated graduation from Drug Court.

The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday revised rules regarding lawyers’ obligation to provide free legal services to low income people.

A formal investiture ceremony for Circuit Judge Michael Taylor is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, March 11, at the Lincoln County Courthouse in Brookhaven. The ceremony will be in the second floor courtroom.

Mississippi Supreme Court Justice George C. Carlson Jr. will speak at an insurance symposium at the University of Mississippi on Thursday, March 10.

Rankin County Court Judge Thomas H. Broome has begun work to create a Youth Drug Court.

Mississippi Supreme Court Justice James E. Graves. Jr. will speak at nine school, church and youth conference programs in Brandon, Jackson, Flora, Ridgeland, Crystal Springs, Gulfport and Indianola during February, which is Black History Month.

The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday, Jan. 27, adopted a new rule which will allow military lawyers from other states to appear in Mississippi state courts to assist military personnel and their eligible dependents.

An investiture ceremony for Mississippi Court of Appeals Judge David M. Ishee is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 28, at 3:30 p.m. at the Great Southern Club in Gulfport.

Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice James W. Smith Jr. will give the oath of office to Workers’ Compensation Commission Chairman Liles B. Williams at 4 p.m. today, Jan. 21. The swearing in ceremony will be at the offices of the Workers’ Compensation Commission, 1428 Lakeland Drive in Jackson, in Hearing Room C on the second floor.

Mississippi Supreme Court Justice James E. Graves Jr. will serve as an adjunct professor at his alma mater, Millsaps College, this semester.

Judges, court staff, law enforcement and corrections officers and treatment providers will gather in Choctaw Jan. 27 and 28 for the state’s first Drug Court Training Conference. The conference will be held at the Golden Moon Hotel and Casino at the Pearl River Resort.

Three Court of Appeals judges are doing trial judge duty in a move to save money on special appointments.