Jackson Jambalaya

Russ may come up a little short on this one!

Russ is a smart guy and he'll make a great AG candidate, should he decide to run. We need someone with his combination of brains and courage to beat Jim Hood.

Russ is an outstanding attorney, but more importantly, he's an outstanding person. Deeply committed to his family as a husband and father of 2, Russ possesses a rare combination of legal acumen, common sense and pragmatism. He's precisely what we need to make Mississippi a great place to work, worship and raise a family.

Great news! I've known Russ a long time. He is a stand-up guy and excellent lawyer. He would make a superb AG candidate and would sure give Hood a run for his money.

Russ is a great guy. Very smart and would great for Mississippi. A great alternative to the Hood

Has he ever prosecuted or defended a single criminal case?

I'm sorry, but that does, in fact, make a difference in this job. Conway is a democrat and all, but at least he's been the man in the area. The big-firm-clerked-for-a-federal-judge-straight-a-honor-role-knows-the-right-people resume is just awesome, but if I went to the meeting I'd want to know how many criminal juries he's waited on before he becomes the state's lead prosecutor.

Slumming as assistant deputy part-time city prosecutor for a month or two don't count.

I've known Russ for years. He is a great guy and a true conservative. Russ has a very sharp legal mind.

Paucity worked for Longwitz. LOL

His law partner Phillip Gunn is no doubt pulling the marionette strings on this one. But I do believe Russ is a solid guy.

Keith Ball....you lost me at 'true 'conservative'. I'd like him to represent all Mississippi citizens whether wing nuts, Tea Party loons, blacks, Latinos, Dems or whites.

It appears that a US Magistrate Judge has weighed in with an endorsement at 6:17 p.m.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Ball?

Is this an endorsement of Mr. Latino?

Russ may not have prosecuted criminal cases but he could do much better than the pitiful job done by this AG's office. If you don't believe me, just watch any of their oral arguments before the Supreme Court.

7:08 - you obviously don't know anything about canon v.

I think Russ has a lot of common sense and is good attorney, that being said, what experience does he have to be AG? Has he ever tried a criminal case? Or any case for that matter?

You don't get to be AG just because you are a "true conservative."

Russ might be a good guy, but grown men do not list their summer clerkship offers in their bios. That just screams "no real experience to speak of." And moot court awards? Seriously? Are you running for AG of Boys State?

As i peruse this thread of comments I'm seeing a lot of questions of Russ's experience with criminal law but what I'm not seeing is questions of how many fraud cases AG Hood is NOT taking on. I hope Russ runs and I believe he will be a great AG if lucky enough to be elected.

None that I know would put more effort, more energy, or more heart into being Attorney General. Why is being young a handicap. Many seasoned attorneys have longer lists of successful cases and trials to display. A young person like Russ will hire the experience he needs and try new ways to accomplish more than an older person may even think of.

The AG is the state's chief legal officer. Prosecuting criminal cases is a small part of a big job, but if you know Russ you won't worry about whether he'll be an aggressive and effective prosecutor. I admit my bias because he is a good friend, but he has plenty of experience to do a good job.

McDaniel wingnut.

Keith Ball:

If you are the US Magistrate Keith Ball, I think you need to keep you opinions on political matters to yourself.

Your very presence on this blog could become the subject of motion practice in your court. Your opinions and posts on here could be the subject of inquiry and, given that last post, I bet your leanings are of the "flat earth society."

Think before you post here Judge....seriously.

Its surprising for me to realize in writing this that I have known Russell Latino for nearly twelve years. During that time we both attend First Baptist Church in Oxford, MS, graduated from law school the same year, and went on to begin promising legal careers. It has been an honor to know Russ over the years personally and to follow his professional career.

One thing that may people who have not attended college or received a professional degree do not understand is that Mississippi loses many of its brightest young people to Washington D.C., Birmingham, Dallas, Houston, Austin, Atlanta, New Orleans, Nashville, and New York. I am one of those who took advantage of an excellent education at the University of Mississippi and after helping with Hurricane Katrina recovery work moved out of the state to practice law with a major firm in another state. I am thankful that the opportunity finally presented itself two years ago for me to return home to Oxford with my wife and kids. I have utmost respect for those Mississippians including Russ who have stayed in Our State and worked hard among Our People to improve Our State every day of their professional lives.

I love my State and am happy to have returned home. As a Mississippian I am proud of our hospitality, our culture, our history, our growing unity across racial and socioeconomic lines, and more recently our economic development. Sadly outside of Mississippi we have gained a well deserved reputation for a culture of political corruption. This corruption is very real and runs rampant in Our State. Mississippi cannot continue move forward economically without a principled leader who is willing to break with the politically entrenched families that run our state. Guided by his Christian principles, Russ has gained a reputation for fair dealing and high ethical standards at home in his private life, as well as, in his political and professional life. Mississippi cannot allow the culture of corruption to continue and must elect Russell Latino as our next Attorney General.

8:03 grown men hiding behind "anonymous" ; touché

A lot of people are saying MCDaniel will run for AG as well. What's everyone else hearing on hear about that?

Let's get this man (Russ) Elected!If he runs let's all pony up some campaign money. Hip! Hip! Horray!
And don't call me a Jackass. I'm Republician since Lincoln freed the slaves.

Knowledge of the criminal code and trial experience is why you hire the most quallfied Assistant Attorney's General that money will allow. I am sure that Russ will pick a staff of the best of the best to handle the fraud, corruption, public integrity and, day to day, murder, drug, body trafficking, and vulnerable adult crimes.
The real problems arise in the civil arena, where the state has to contract with the most competent law firms to represent Mississippi in multimillion $ cases.
I wish Russ the very best, but all state agencies are slaves to a budget.

Only thing missing here is the crazy commenter tying everyone who styles themselves a conservative to the lunatic fringe of the tea party.

Russ is a good guy and will give Hood a run for his money.

I see that I may have caused some confusion; I am but not Judge Keith Ball, I just happen to have the same name. I am a former law school classmate of Russ and I do believe that the Republican Party should have a conservative candidate for Attorney General (and all statewide offices).

And the Tea Party image rehab effort continues. Russ Latino and Bill Billingsley were Chris McDaniel's main pushers and organizers in Central Mississippi. This should disqualify either of them from being supported by regular, thinking Republicans. If Latino is in for AG, someone else legitimate needs to step in quick.

Counsel in defense of Mississippi's marriage laws = spending a strange amount of time concerned about where citizens place their genitals.

I think I'll pass on this guy.

Here's what Latino says of Hood in the opening paragraph of his announcement (above):

"....and it's clear....that he's not sure if he wants to run for re-election or not.

Did he learn that line of reasoning as a stand-in on the Gallo Show?

And speaking of which; other than lawyers, who the hell would ever have heard of this man had it not been for the Paul Gallo show?

It's as if the same person had written all those creepy-wholesome endorsements.

This should disqualify either of them from being supported by regular, thinking Republicans.

The phrase "regular, thinking Republicans" is an oxymoron.

The bigger problem in this state is the flat economic growth. We are always told that Republican policies are best for business growth.

Where's the statewide growth in the business community? It happens in California, New York, Texas, Florida, and many other places. Why not here?

We need to elect a lot of new people this term- from the Governor on down the line.

I have to question either the integrity or sanity of anyone who has not publicly distanced themselves from past affiliation in Mississippi's Tea Party.

5:12 there are plenty of regular, thinking Republicans. Tea Party people should go off and run on their own party. They aren't Republicans at all. They are brown shirted morons. Electing an active and committed McDaniel Tea Partier as Attorney General is a bad idea.

Why in support of someone that has little or no experience for a position, do his/her supporters always say "well he/she will hire people with experience."

I have a crazy idea! Why don't we elect those people?! The ones with actual experience. Is it crazy to want the state's chief law enforcement agency to be headed up with someone that has actual done that before? That has prosecuted a case before? Billing hours at a defense firm just doesn't cut it.

Latino strikes me of someone in the mold of Will Longwitz. "Please, please public just elect me to something, I will do good."

Didn't he want to run for treasurer in 2011 also?

From what I've heard of Russ Latino, he would be a great candidate. I don't believe I've ever met him, but from what I know of him, I'd be happy to have him as an attorney general.

Loving the bashing of a constitutional scholar. And to your headline, JJ, you got a problem w patriots who "get" the Constitution?

It used to be we republicans had to fight the Democrat Party to get people elected. Now we fight the tea party as well. Empower Mississippi, a TeaParty funded group, is running Robo calls to get opponents against elected republican officials. GOP Reps Steve Massengill and Margaret Rodgers. They were playing the recording all day at the Capitol yesterday. Guess who the biggest donor is to Empower? BOMGAR

Latino seems like a good guy who would prosecute fraud and stand up against federal overreach, unlike the incumbent.

Russ Latino has no record to run on other than his love for Chris McDaniels and he is talking about running statewide? He is barely 30, although he looks much older.
Someone call the grownup, Michael Guest.

I don't know if you folks know this or not -- But, McDaniel got roughly 50% of the Republican primary vote. There were a LOT of people that voted for him and supported him that were not members of the Tea Party that had pretty rational reasons for doing so. Among even those rational McDaniel supporters, Russ was a voice of reason and immediately called for McDaniel to concede. He is a very solid person who can well articulate the message that has the only hope of beating Hood.

Russ is an extremely bright lawyer and would make a great AG.

Can he win? I don't know, but I'd like to find out. I for one am tired of putting up weak candidates against AG Hood and then having to listen to how invincible Hood is. We all know Hood polls well, but lets see how his polling stands up once someone spends $500K talking about the corruption that Hood has allowed to grow under his watch. Heck, just nominating someone who has paid their taxes is a great start.

Russ would run a hard-hitting campaign that would go straight at Hood. The day Russ announces he's running, I'm writing him a check.

Empower is not Tea Party funded. Trust me. In fact, I think "Tea Party" and "funded" do not go together. Hard to accumulate funds from disability checks. Rogers is horrible. She should just switch parties. We can't let people who don't subscribe to Republican precepts plant a Republican flag, claim a seat, and just leave them alone.

The notion that our AG needs to be an experienced prosecutor is a total myth perpetuated by Hood, Moore, and the rest of the Trial Lawyers to preclude good solid private sector attorneys from being considered. They just don't do that much prosecution. On the other hand, Hood hires a LOT of trial lawyers for huge contingency fees. Let's focus on reality a little bit.

From the MS Republican Party Platform: "We believe our schools must respect and reinforce parental authority and should make every effort to involve parents in the education of their children. Parental involvement in education should extend to allowing parents to choose the school that best meets the educational needs of their children. Our public policy should recognize the rights of parents who choose to educate their children at home or in non-public schools."

Republicans like Rodgers who fight this at every turn should have a primary opponent. I'm glad that a group like Empower is stepping up to the plate and calling out these "Republicans" for going against their party.

Riddle me this: if the state's highest law enforcement officer doesn't catch fraud in state gov't before Feds, what exactly does he focus on? Internet rationing?

Latino doesn't have enough experience but Double-Bacon Jalapeno Cheeseburger Reeves was wholly qualified to be Treasurer.

Now that is the exemplary logic of regular, thinking Republicans.

I have a crazy idea! Why don't we elect those people?! The ones with actual experience.

Like Phil Bryant, Tate Reeves and Stacey Pickering? Let's emulate those Republicans, the one's with the actual experience?

@9:18. Empower is as big a tea party group as you can find in Mississippi. Bomgar is trying to be the head of the snake for the tea party in Mississippi. If you want to learn more about what goes on in politics come to room 210 at the Capitol. We can give you a lesson.

9:38 I'm a Democrat and as much as I dislike admitting it DBJC Reeves was probably the most qualified State Treasurer we've ever had. I think you're confusing him with the current Treasurer who has virtually no qualifications.
DBJC Reeves holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation and they don't award those to dummies. It's a grueling three-part financial test covering three years. The pass rate of Part I last year was only 42% of test takers. Granted DBJC Reeves has no personality or good looks but he ain't stupid (when it comes to money..or his choice of a wife either). Metro area Dem

9:14 am That was before McDaniel and the MS Tea Party hoisted themselves on their own petard.

No doubt that more than a few of those 50% have justifiably lost faith in the GOP as well as the Democrats after their less than stellar leadership and the many boondoggles they've inflicted on us.

Nevertheless, Mississippians have figured out that we don't have to elect the unscrupulous, mentally ill or those dumber than a post to get conservative policies enacted.

And, anyone who still supports the MS Tea Party and runs on their positions ( like their position on immunizations) falls into one of those three categories.

No ethical person would associate themselves with this group unless they are the type who goes into denial and can't admit they were duped. We don't need the later, either.

The home room for 3rd tier lobbyists wants to teach me politics. That's precious. No, really, it is. Should I also take one of those night classes at the gubment schools to learn me some math?

10:28, 9:14 here. I agree completely. Latino is not a part of any Tea Party.

10:36 am Yes. And, courses in grammar, spelling, logic, and civility.

A writing course would help if covers the criteria for humor and wit.

You aren't persuading anyone and simply come across as a jerk.

No ethical person would associate themselves with this group unless they are the type who goes into denial and can't admit they were duped.

Really? Barbour-cult Republicans hectoring about ethics and living in denial? Now that is funny.

I'm curious, KF, can you share who sent the email out? Who is putting together this shin-dig at the state GOP?

Well, mission accomplished.

Russ is "not Tea Party"?? That is willful ignorance. They drool for him because he panders to them. It's that simple. And if he's NOT relying on the tea party crazies to elect him, he's toast.

To the guy who posted that the "its a myth that the AG needs to be an experienced prosecutor." I mean really? Nearly every AG nationwide are experienced prosecutors.

The AG is the chief law enforcement officer of the state! It would be like a vascular surgeon one day decides that he was to become head of the orthopedic department.

Do you people listen to your selves? "He doesn't need experience?!" Well why the hell not fellas?

Seeking an Attorney General with vast experience in both civil and criminal areas of the law is like seeking a General Manager for a baseball team that can also hit homeruns and sell beer to fans. This is where "hiring the best qualified personnel" comes in hand. This office requires an office administrator with strong leadership qualities and principles - and Russ Latino would do a fine job at that. Also - we've had former DA's as our last two Attorneys General, and they've focused primarily on civil cases bringing some money to the State (and tons of contingency fees to lawyers). All the while, we've been named the MOST corrupt state - and we're not seeing many folks answer for the corruption (and when they do, it's because of a federal investigation). I know Russ Latino - and I think he'd work tirelessly as AG, and we'd all be proud of the results he'd produce.

Has the man ever tried a criminal case?

As the lawyers like to say: "Yes or no?"

Has Jim Hood personally tried a criminal case since he was elected attorney general? That is the question 12:25 should answer.

11:18. I could share it but to answer your question: Nope.

He is a tea party hack. No other way to put it.

Don't you just love it when these tea bag nut job candidates try now to distance themselves from it. Getting their tea party friends to say they "know they aren't with the tea party."

Hey 1:23.......yea he has. I guess you missed that whole KIllen trial. Tea Party DB.

Our AG needs good judgment. Russ showed horrible judgment, imho, by backing McDaniel. At the very least, the hot-bloods in the Tea Party will make demands of him on some issues and he will have to listen. That's how our system works: you dance with who brung you. And it scares me that Laura VanOverscheld and Janis Lane would be holding the head prosecutor's chain.

Anyone who knows Russ and says he is controlled by anything or anyone but his conscience is being dishonest. He has been working in the GOP for most of his adult life. After the Senate primary, he publicly came out in support of our nominee and worked with party leaders to help heal wounds. Ask Nosef or Phil.

Our AG needs good judgment.

Like the Neophyte Treasurer the Barbour-cult told you to elect instead of the black man?

6:52 Can't disagree that he follows his conscience...but that had him going to the mat for Mcdaniel until the appeal. Very poor decision making.

Other than haley barbour, who was the most recent morbidly obese statewide official?

Here is the next Tea Party candidate line," I was against the Tea Party before I was for it." Or is it the other way around? Anywho, I always loved that line.

Russ was one crazy cat at Tulane!

I took notes, and judging by the accolades from the peanut galery, so far, here's what we have:

"Smart guy, brains and courage, outstanding attorney, outstanding person, committed to family, possesses legal acumen, common sense and pragmatism; stand up guy, excellent lawyer, great guy, very smart, very sharp legal mind, true conserative, common sense, great candidate and extremely bright."

I couldn't decide if he's running for public office or going out for rush during his freshman year. If the former, he's a saint among men. If the latter, give the guy a bid.

It appears to me by reading the comments that it is an unforgivable sin not to have supported Senator Thad Cochran in the primary. Has Mississippi really become that fascist? I know everybody hates that "F-word", but the majority of negative comments against Russ on this board have to do with the fact that he went against Thad Cochran in the primary...and now everyone wants to hold that against him in everything he does. Wake up, folks. This is still a democracy. Russ still backed OUR Republican candidate in November (while many in the TP stayed home or voted with the Dems). Maybe it's time to learn what we all know from Sunday school - forgive and forget (and "forgive" is a horrible term here; the man voted for another candidate in a primary. Give him a break.). A lot of other great Mississippi leaders voted for McDaniel in the primary - and almost half of OUR party voted for him in that primary. And when it comes to crazy divisiveness putting a wedge into the heart of OUR party, it's time for everyone to look in the mirror - remind ourselves that we're all Republicans - and let June 2014 slip off into the past. For the love of God.

Sure Russ is a great guy, but it takes more than that to be AG it takes a multifaceted understanding of MANY different forms of law and law enforcement, and if you for one second think that the AG's office doesn't prosecute criminals "very often" then you aren't doing your homework. Those investigators can barely catch up on cases from across the state. ACROSS THE STATE. Sorry but being the Attorney General of the State of Mississippi isn't a cakewalk, and it certainly isn't for someone that is not familiar with being on the law enforcement side of things.

"GIVE THE GUY A BID", that's funny! Here is the thing about the AG race. Hood wins in a state that a majority of voters are republican, we are the most GOP state in the nation. So unless the next AG candidate is unique, Hood will win again cause obviously he has a whole big bunch of GOP that continue to vote for him. I still haven't figured out how he does it. Maybe KF knows and can explain it.

Russ is a nice guy, but it sounds like Haley Barbour is still trying to beat Jim Hood....so the Barbour boys encourage Russ to run, raise his campaign funds, spend his campaign funds....Hood still is AG. end of story

Hood won the AG race three times against poor Repub candidates that ran poor campaigns. That's how the Dem has won in Republican elections. Give me a good candidate that runs a good race (and in the case of Latino, it would mean not letting the TP groups be in control, or it would be the 4th poorly run campaign) and I'll give you an even bet that Hood would lose.

As to the AG being the state's DA, that's not the case. Yes, Hood did inject himself into the Killen case - must to the distaste of the local DA who had it well in hand - and almost lost it for the state. But Hood wanted the TV camera on him for that highly publicized case.

He also injected himself into the trooper's trials in Warren county - in what appeared to be a personal vedetta. The question is - was it appropriate for the AG to take over the local DA's responsibility? Answer: No.

The AG runs a bigass law firm - one that has prosecutors both civil and criminal, agency attorneys for most every state agency, investigators and all the while advising local officials on state statutes. He is not the statewide DA, and its time that the voters understand that.

Oh yeah. The AG evidently is supposed to be the personal protection for his high stake donor lawyers who have irate ex-clients. Greenwood anyone?

So... On this site, he's getting castigated for being a former tea party guy. Meanwhile, back in the tea party circles he's getting chastised for having the audacity to speak to Henry Barbour. Maybe, just maybe, we should look at Russ for his qualifications-- which are pretty good.

Hood just qualified...