‘Only in Mississippi’: White representatives vote to create white-appointed court system for Blackest city in America
1 year, 10 months ago

‘Only in Mississippi’: White representatives vote to create white-appointed court system for Blackest city in America

Raw Story  

A white supermajority of the Mississippi House voted after an intense, four-plus hour debate to create a separate court system and an expanded police force within the city of Jackson — the Blackest city in America — that would be appointed completely by white state officials. If House Bill 1020 becomes law later this session, the white chief justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court would appoint two judges to oversee a new district within the city — one that includes all of the city's majority-white neighborhoods, among other areas. Hinds County Circuit Judge Adrienne Wooten, who served in the House before being elected judge and would be one of the existing judges to lose jurisdiction under this House proposal, Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell, who oversees the Capitol Police, watched a portion of the debate from the House gallery, chuckling at times when Democrats made impassioned points about the bill. Dwelling on a long backlog of Hinds County court cases, Lamar said the bill was designed to "help not hinder the court system." When asked why he could not add more elected judges to Hinds County rather than appointing judges to the new district, Lamar said, "This is the bill that is before the body."

Judges Court Black City Democrats Republican White State Democrat Vote County Legislature Jackson Bill Lamar Capitol Police Blackmon Hinds Hinds County Mississippi House Elected Judges  white  city  bill  blackest  mississippi  house  state  representatives  judges  hinds  court  jackson  county  whiteappointed  create  vote  system

History of this topic

Federal appeals court denies effort to block state-run court in Mississippi’s majority-Black capital
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Federal appeals court denies effort to block state-run court in Mississippi’s majority-Black capital

Associated Press  

— A federal appeals court has denied a legal effort to stop Mississippi officials from creating a state-run court in part of the majority-Black capital city of Jackson, over objections from the NAACP. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans denied the NAACP’s motions for an injunction pending an appeal and vacated an administrative stay that had temporarily blocked state …

Judge allows new court in Mississippi’s majority-Black capital, rejecting NAACP request to stop it
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Judge allows new court in Mississippi’s majority-Black capital, rejecting NAACP request to stop it

Associated Press  

— A federal judge has ruled that he will allow Mississippi officials to move forward with creating a state-run court in part of the majority-Black capital city of Jackson, over objections from the NAACP. Attorneys for the civil rights organization had sued on behalf of several Jackson residents, saying the new court undermines democracy because local voters or local elected …

Battle over creating new court centers on equality in Mississippi’s majority-Black capital city
1 year ago

Battle over creating new court centers on equality in Mississippi’s majority-Black capital city

Associated Press  

— The constitutional right of equal treatment under the law is at the center of a monthslong legal fight over a state-run court in part of Mississippi’s majority-Black capital city of Jackson. “Just like many past efforts to undermine Black political power, singles out the majority-Black City of Jackson for loss of local control of its judicial system and ability …

Mississippi discriminates against Black residents with appointed judges, Justice Department says
1 year, 5 months ago

Mississippi discriminates against Black residents with appointed judges, Justice Department says

Associated Press  

— A new Mississippi law discriminates against residents of the majority-Black capital city of Jackson by requiring the appointment of some judges in a state where most judges are elected, the U.S. Justice Department said in court papers filed Wednesday. Kristen Clarke, the department’s assistant attorney general for civil rights, said in a statement that Mississippi lawmakers created “a crude …

Mississippi justices hear arguments over appointed vs. elected judges in majority-Black capital
1 year, 5 months ago

Mississippi justices hear arguments over appointed vs. elected judges in majority-Black capital

Associated Press  

— The Mississippi Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday about a state law that has sparked a monthslong dispute over whether white state officials are stomping on local self-governance in the state’s majority-Black capital city, Jackson. Solicitor General Scott G. Stewart of the Mississippi attorney general’s office said legislators acted properly when they created a new court with one appointed judge …

Lawsuit: Mississippi violates rights by appointing judges
1 year, 7 months ago

Lawsuit: Mississippi violates rights by appointing judges

Associated Press  

— Mississippi is violating its own constitution with a new law that requires some judges to be appointed rather than elected in the state’s capital city and its surrounding county, civil rights groups said in a lawsuit filed Monday. Tate Reeves signed bills Friday to expand state policing in Jackson, to establish a lower court with an appointed judge and …

Mississippi Senate OKs bill that expands police in majority-Black state capital
1 year, 9 months ago

Mississippi Senate OKs bill that expands police in majority-Black state capital

NPR  

Mississippi Senate OKs bill that expands police in majority-Black state capital Enlarge this image toggle caption Rogelio V. Solis/AP Rogelio V. Solis/AP JACKSON, Miss. — The majority-white and Republican-led Mississippi Senate voted Tuesday to pass its version of a bill that would allow an expanded role for state police and appointed judges inside the majority-Black capital city of Jackson, which …

Mississippi House OKs court with unelected judges in Jackson
1 year, 10 months ago

Mississippi House OKs court with unelected judges in Jackson

Associated Press  

— The Republican-controlled Mississippi House on Tuesday passed a bill to create a new court district in part of the capital city of Jackson with judges who would be appointed rather than elected. Democratic Rep. Zakiya Summers of Jackson said the proposed district would include predominantly white areas of the city. Summers, who represents a majority-Black House district that would …

Discover Related