Jackson Jambalaya

The Mississippi Bar suspended controversial attorney Abby Robinson from the practice of law for two years on December 30 after receiving multiple complaints from judges and lawyers alike. 

The Bar filed a complaint against Ms. Robinson in July 2025. As part of discovery, the Bar submitted a request for interrogatories and documents.  Although her response was due on September 19, Ms. Robinson merely filed a response that was notice of an intent to sue and a motion to dismiss immediately.  In other words, the lawyer did not comply with the Bar's requests.  The Bar again sent her a request for the discovery responses.  Ms. Robinson again failed to respond to the Bar's demands.  

A Bar Complaint Tribunal entered a default judgment against Abby Robinson after she ignored the Bar.  The Tribunal made several findings in the case: 

* U.S. District Judge Gargiulo held a telephonic discovery hearing in July 2020.  Ms. Robinson informed the Court she was recording the hearing.  When the conference was not going her way, the attorney "threatened to end the conference." 

Ms. Robinson filed a motion for Judge Gargiulo to recuse himself, alleging he was "unprofessional" during the teleconference and "improperly influenced."  She provided no evidence the judge was improperly influenced.  The motion accused the Court of embarrassing Ms. Robinson.  The motion was not short on histrionics: 

Plaintiff’s counsel saw no need in allowing the court to literally imply that Plaintiff’s counsel was incompetent to handle Plaintiff’s case. At one point Plaintiff’s counsel said to the judge, “Your honor, short of holding a gun to my Plaintiffs head, what else can I do to make them obey your order.” Immediately the ridicule heighten, the judge says, “no gun,” Plaintiff’s counsel said that was metaphor your honor.

The Court rejected the motion. 

* Ms. Robinson represented the infamous William "Polo" Edwards, a convicted killer, and sued  Jackson Pastor Danny Hollins  after the Pastor filed criminal charges against Mr. Edwards.  Earlier post.  The order states: 

Ms. Robinson telephoned the pastor and stated that she would destroy, annihilate, and embarrass the pastor and the church at which he served. 

Ms. Robinson stated during her telephone call with the pastor that she would file a lawsuit against him if he did not drop the criminal charges against Mr. Edwards. 

The attorney subsequently filed two lawsuits against Pastor Hollins in January 2020.  Although the lawsuits were dismissed, they generated an investigation by the Bar.  Ms. Robinson did not appear at an investigatory hearing. 

*  The Tribunal cited Ms. Robinson's misconduct in Shope v. Newsouth Nuerospine et al.  Daniel Shope sued the defendants for medical malpractice in Rankin County even though the statute of limitations tolled. Ms. Robinson represented the plaintiff.  Ms. Robinson

threatened the doctor, through statements made to his attorney, with financial and reputational ruin unless he settled her client's claim. 

The lawsuit was dismissed because the lawyer did not provide the defendants with the required notice of intent to sue. Ms. Robinson filed a second lawsuit in November 2028 in Rankin County Court.  The Court dismissed the lawsuit since since the statute of limitations had run. Shope appealed to Circuit Court but Judge Dewey Arthur said Ms. Robinson did not pay the required fees within the deadline of thirty days and dismissed the appeal. However, Judge Kent McDaniel was not through with the case. 

Judge McDaniel found damages for "initiating and conducting litigation with no hope of success."  The Court entered a judgment of $150,000 against the attorney filing and conducting litigation "with no hope of success."  Ms. Robinson was deemed to have filed phony pleadings and affidavits.  

Undeterred, Ms. Robinson appealed to the Mississippi Supreme Court, arguing Judge McDaniel was engaged in a conspiracy against her.  

JJ reported in November 2020 Ms. Robinson filed a complaint against Judge McDaniel with the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance.   Judge McDaniel reported Ms. Robinson to the Bar in 2020. (Readers should read the earlier post.)

* A client loaned Ms Robinson $27,000 during her representation of his interests.  The loan terms were not made in writing nor did Ms. Robinson counsel her client to get another lawyer.  She only repaid $20,700. 

Ms. Robinson continued to blow off the Bar.  The Tribunal stated: 

The record presented to the Tribunal and the presentations of the parties confirm that, over an unfortunately extended period of several years, Ms. Robinson has engaged· not only in numerous violations of the Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct but has also demonstrated a complete disregard of Bar disciplmary procedure. She has completely failed to respond to discovery requests, provided improper responses that included threats to sue various Bar employees, demanded hearings through email without filing proper· motions, and exhibited a pattern of non­ cooperation with the disciplinary process. Despite her improper conduct and threats, the record reflects that the Bar has exhibited restraint in pursuing disciplinary action against her. The Tribunal finds the Bar would certainly have been justified in moving more quickly to seek her suspension.

Such actions carry a price and the Complaint Tribunal ensured Ms. Robinson will indeed pay a heavy price, suspending her for two years.  Ms. Robinson must notify her clients and Hinds County courts of her suspension.  The suspended attorney must submit an affidavit to the Mississippi Supreme Court that she notified all clients of said suspension and returned their files within 30 days of the order. 

DeSoto County Senior Circuit Judge Celeste Wilson presided over the tribunal.  Attorneys Robert Quimby (Mitchell, McNutt, & Sams) and Charles Winfield served on the tribunal. 

Ms. Robinson sued the Bar and its lawyers in federal court on December 2 as she accused the defendants of "domestic terrorism."  Earlier post.