In reading the responses to the Miss. Supreme Court, the phrase “missing the forest for the trees” springs to mind. It seems that all parties involved have become so focused on the competing federal and chancery cases, they forget the underlying and undeniable facts. Subsequent to the ex parte hearing, six separate orders were entered …
Swiss Cheese Chronicles: Sua Sponte or on Motion of the Parties? Read More »
When Jackson County Supervisors Ken Taylor and Randy Bosarge had Billy Guice explain his appearance at an ex parte hearing, he justified it by claiming that there was an “order authorizing ex parte communications.” Guice did not say which judge entered the order, nor in which case it had been entered. It would seem Guice …
OPINION: Where is Guice’s Magical Ex Parte Communications Order? Read More »
The grammatical shortcomings of Judge Hilburn are legendary, but reading the responses to the Supreme Court from other attorneys is a mind warping experience. Guice: After the departure of Special Judge Hilburn, attendees of the meeting left the room, but did not immediately disburse as a number remained on the street outside the office chatting. …
Disburse v. Disperse or Your Tax Dollars (not) at Work Read More »
Editor’s note: We are not going to do any analysis or comment on the ex partay until all the kids hand in their homework. In the meantime, the infamous Nunn Yabidnez weighs in on the ex partay, centered around the rule that forbids anyone from “earwigging the Chancellor” or “putting a bug in his ear.” …
The Mississippi Supreme Court today ordered Judge Breland Hilburn to explain his reasoning for entering a stay in the Almond case. Judge Hilburn has until noon Wednesday to file his response. Filing responses today were former SRHS Trustee Scott Taylor, SRHS attorneys Kelly Sessoms and Brett Williams, and Jackson County attorney Billy Guice. The responses …
Judge Hilburn, who had been a law school classmate of mine, proceeded to break the news that he was appointing me and another Jackson lawyer, Merrida (Buddy) Coxwell, to defend Byron De La Beckwith, the indigent defendant in the resurrection of an infamous but unresolved murder case from Mississippi’s violent passage through the Civil Rights …
Attorneys Harvey Barton and Earl Denham have filed a motion with the Mississippi Supreme Court asking for an emergency hearing on their cases in the Singing River pension matter. Barton and Denham point to video of a secret meeting by the judges in the case and attorneys from SRHS and for other plaintiffs. The motion …
Emergency Motion Filed at Supreme Court – Alleges Judicial Corruption Read More »
For anyone to top the imperious style with which Barry Cumbest presided over the JCBOS would be a tough act, yet Melton Harris has succeeded. The voters and citizens of this county (for whom Mr. Harris seemingly has little regard) should not be at all surprised. Harris gave a preview of what was to come …
Opinion: Harris & Board Should Respect Citizens, Public Policy Read More »
The scene from Tuesday’s meeting on Lake George was one that could have been set In the Ghetto. Elvis Mark Cumbest (his full name) probably wants to Make the World Go Away today after “the slap heard ’round Jackson County” left him All Shook Up. The Trouble started when Cumbest began his Harum Scarum address to the …
“When you have a conspiracy, everyone is tied to the conspiracy. Those who come early. Those who come late.” -Richard Scruggs to District Judge Kathleen O’Malley In the early 2000s the Mississippi mass tort landscape was in upheaval. The legislature was busy at work on tort reform, intent on slowing the rise of “jackpot …
Wilkinson & Welding Rods, Williams & Westinghouse Read More »