Jackson Jambalaya

 Attorney Lawrence Blackmon must pay for the cost of a jury and serve eight hours of community service after he failed to appear for a scheduled trial August 4.  

When the attorney did not show up for trial in State v. Feazzell, the Court continued the trial and issued a show cause order against the Canton attorney that directed him to appear before Judge Arthur today and explain why he should not be held in contempt of court.  

 

 The attorney showed up alone in court this morning and stood before Judge Arthur.  Lawrence Blackmon was contrite and respectful as he addressed Judge Arthur.  Gone was the flippancy characterized by Hinds County Circuit Judge Faye Peterson in her own August 1 contempt of court order. 

The judge opened the proceedings by immediately asking Mr. Blackmon why he did not appear for trial last week.  The attorney said he was at a legislative conference in Texas last Monday.  He didn't realize he had trial that day until he texted with a prosecutor while he was in Texas.  "I failed to check in.  I should have called the court as soon as I got word.  I should have made it a priority," concluded Mr. Blackmon.  

"Here is where we are," said Judge Arthur.  "MEC sent you a notification then. The Court Administrator emailed you on July 30 about the trial.  We received no response to that.  In addition, on July 29, the day before, this case was set for hearing.  You were not here but your father was (They practice together).  'Where's Lawrence and he said he's in court in Hinds County.' I said he's up for trial next week." lectured Judge Arthur.  

 

The Court pointed out it notified Mr. Blackmon about the trial no less than three times.  The docket states the August 4 trial was scheduled on May 6, 2025.  "That's three notification, we received no word back," continued the judge.   

"Once the jury came in, we were in a bit of a bind.  Back in October 24, we had a similar situation where you didn't appear for court.  These jurors gave up their time.  These jurors missed a full day of work and to add insult to injury, the jurors are taxpayers.  Juries are not free.  The Court has to pay them" said Judge Arthur.  

Through it all, the attorney stood silently as he took his medicine.      

 Judge Arthur's lecture continued: "I understand we get busy but we've had this issue a couple of times.  This is just where we are."

"The Court's going to find you in contempt" decreed the learned jurist.  Judge Arthur sanctioned young Blackmon $1,761.20 for the cost of the jury as he made it clear the Court would not pick up the tab for Mr. Blackmon's absenteeism. "You're going to give that day back," said the judge. The attorney must pay the fine within thirty days. 

The final issue for adjudication was the punishment for the finding of contempt. Judge Arthur sentenced the attorney to two days in the Madison County Detention Center but said he would suspend the sentence if he performed eight hours of community service.  Upon Mr. Blackmon's request, the Court allowed him to serve his sentence at Our Daily Bread, a soup kitchen in Canton. Judge Arthur made it clear the Court would verify the community service. 

"Just to be sure, if it happens again, it will be dealt with," warned Judge Arthur.     

 The contempt of court finding is the second suffered by Mr. Blackmon in 11 days.  Judge Peterson fined him $6,300 for 63 instances of contempt of court.  52 of the findings applied to his appearing in Court 52 minutes late on July 31.