Friday, July 24, 2020

Special Judges Assigned to Hinds County

The Mississippi Supreme Court issued the following statement.


Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Randolph on Friday appointed four special judges at the request of the Hinds Chancery Court and Hinds County Court judges to assist in handling the backlog of cases that have resulted from delays caused by COVID-19.

More special judges are expected to be appointed to temporarily assist judges in districts across the state. COVID-19 has presented a multitude of challenges to the prompt and efficient administration of justice. The disruption caused by COVID-19 required an untold number of continuances since it was declared a national emergency on March 13. It is estimated that as many as 30,000 cases may have been affected.

Retired Hinds County Chancery Judges Patricia D. Wise of Jackson and William H. Singletary of Clinton were appointed to assist the four chancellors of the Hinds Chancery Court at the request of Senior Chancellor Denise Owens. Resident Jurist John N. Hudson of Natchez was appointed to assist recently appointed Hinds County Court Judge Carlyn M. Hicks in Youth Court, at her request. Former Hinds County Court Judge James D. Bell of Jackson was appointed to assist Hinds County Court Judge LaRita Cooper-Stokes, at her request.

The Mississippi Legislature appropriated $2.5 million of CARES Act money to assist the courts. Special judges to be appointed around the state will be paid with Cares Act funds which will be available through Dec. 30, 2020.

Chief Justice Randolph entered Emergency Administrative Order 13 on July 23 to address the needs and the plan to appoint special judges to address the backlog. The order says, “Despite the dangers and inconveniences presented by COVID-19, our courts remain open and continue to administer justice. At every jurisdictional level, our judges have admirably served the citizens throughout this crisis. Despite the COVID-19 crisis and subsequent disruptions caused, judges continue to conduct proceedings, including trials. Despite their best efforts, case management and docket control have suffered due to COVID-19.”

Chancellor Wise and Chancellor Singletary retired from the Hinds Chancery Court in December 2018. Chancellor Wise served on the Chancery bench for 29 ½ years, and Chancellor Singletary, for 24 years. Judge Bell served on the Hinds County Court for seven years, 1983 - 1989, including sitting as a special circuit judge. He left the bench to return to private law practice, and has served as a senior status judge by appointment for many years. Judge Hudson retired from the Adams County Court and Youth Court bench in December 2014 after 31 years of service. The Supreme Court appointed him as Jurist in Residence on April 1, 2015, to assist Youth Courts across the state

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice to see some in the Hinds County judiciary seeking assistance; a slate of good appointments.

Your turn to seek assistance, circuit court.

Anonymous said...

Where‘s the Weill special Circuit judge appointment? That would ruffle some feathers.

Anonymous said...

Circuit could use some special judges but then you would need more prosecutors and public defenders. Not Weill, though.

Anonymous said...

Won't be a Jeff Weill special appointment. The Supreme Court knows he is a Michigan born nutcase.

Anonymous said...

Do these jobs come with instructions or do they attend a refresher seminar conducted by Judge Blessing?

Anonymous said...

The circuit court was beyond jammed before COVID. The wheels of justice turn ever so slowly. Will Tommie ask for help?

Anonymous said...

If Hinds County needs more Judges, they should be elected and chosen by the voters, not appointed by persons not accountable to the voters. The citizens should decide who they want their judges to be and should hold them accountable.

Anonymous said...

Don't such appointments have to be emergency temporary selections or otherwise they would be unconstitutional? If so, what's the reasonable definition of "temporary". And should the parties to a contested action have the right to protest the assignment of one of these judges to their case? Just wondering.

Anonymous said...

The reason Hinds County needs more judges is BECAUSE the ones they have were chosen by THEIR voters.

Anonymous said...

No judge should ever be elected. And i disagree they arent held accountable. They can be impeached.

Anonymous said...

Judge Weill is a good judge; he is a little hard of hearing.

Anonymous said...

12:58 - Please state the process by which judges are 'impeached'.

Anonymous said...

Singletary - the guy who did this: https://courts.ms.gov/Images/Opinions/CO123912.pdf

And no lawyer wants the senior Wise back on the bitch except maybe the Priesters. She treats everyone else like shit.

Anonymous said...

Singletary is a hell of a pianist. Great to have at Christmas parties.

Anonymous said...

Did the Chief Justice also appoint more Assistant DA's, public defenders, court administrators, court reporters, and bailiffs?


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This is definitely a Beaver production.


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This is definitely a Beaver production.

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