Federal judge extends temporary halt on appointed judges in Mississippi capital
1 year, 7 months ago

Federal judge extends temporary halt on appointed judges in Mississippi capital

Associated Press  

— A federal judge on Monday extended his order that temporarily stops the Mississippi Supreme Court chief justice from appointing judges in the capital city of Jackson and the county where it’s located, both of which are majority-Black. The law would expand state policing inside the city of Jackson and create a new court inside part of Jackson with a judge who would be appointed by the Mississippi chief justice. It would also allow the chief justice to appoint four judges to work alongside the four elected circuit court judges in Hinds County through 2026. Shannon also said Jackson and Hinds County have high crime rates and “dysfunctional” local government, and Hinds County circuit court has a backlog of cases.

Law Justice Judges Court State County Chief Randolph Shannon Hinds Hinds County Capital Jackson Mississippi Judge  state  chief  law  federal  halt  judges  appointed  court  county  mississippi  judge  capital  jackson  hinds  extends  justice  temporary

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 high court blocks appointment of some judges in majority-Black capital city and county
1 year, 3 months ago

Mississippi high court blocks appointment of some judges in majority-Black capital city and county

Associated Press  

— The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday struck down part of a state law that would have authorized some circuit court judges to be appointed rather than elected in the capital city of Jackson and the surrounding county, which are both majority-Black. Justices said the Mississippi Constitution allows legislators to create “inferior” courts, and the new Capitol Complex Improvement District …

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 …

US judge condemns Mississippi city’s ‘crime cancer’ as he removes state justice from lawsuit
1 year, 6 months ago

US judge condemns Mississippi city’s ‘crime cancer’ as he removes state justice from lawsuit

Associated Press  

— The Mississippi Supreme Court chief justice cannot be sued over a state law that requires him to appoint some judges in the capital city of Jackson, a federal judge wrote Thursday in a ruling that also condemned violence in the city. But, Wingate wrote: “Jackson has a crime cancer.” Wingate cited the principle of judicial immunity, which prevents judges …

‘Affront to democracy': Concern about appointing Mississippi judges where most are elected
1 year, 7 months ago

‘Affront to democracy': Concern about appointing Mississippi judges where most are elected

Associated Press  

— Three residents of Mississippi’s capital city testified Wednesday that their rights as citizens are undermined by a new state law that would create a court inside Jackson with judges who are appointed because the state constitution requires most judges to be elected. The laws will expand state policing in the capital city of Jackson, establish a court with an …

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 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