Jackson Jambalaya

Local attorney Ken Walley provided this column that appeared elsewhere. 

I was aghast at the article I read by Mr. Jimmie Gates last week entitled “Is Getting a Law Degree Still Lucrative?”

Mr. Gates promotes sales pitches that law schools have been promoting for years to convince kids (usually 20 or 21 when they apply) to spend hundreds of thousands of federal student loan (read: taxpayer) dollars on a degree that there is little demand for. For instance, the article quotes Interim Dean Deborah Bell, who said that there are a lot of careers that a law degree can lead to. I have great respect for Prof. Bell, but she is wrong. A law degree does one thing: it qualifies you to sit for the Mississippi bar exam. It does not qualify you to do anything else.

Judge Larita Cooper-Stokes recused herself from State v. Robert Shuler Smith last week.  The court transcript states that a letter was sent to her husband.  Judge Cooper-Stokes said she would continue to preside over the case if both sides agreed to allow her to do so.   Smith's attorney, Jim Waide, said he did not oppose her remaining on the case but the Attorney General did oppose her doing so.  The transcript is posted below.

 Correction: JJ got one fact wrong.  The Robert Shuler Smith campaign paid Henderson $1,100 in May and June of 2015 for "consulting".  However, Henderson was not the campaign manager.   If JJ gets it wrong, it admits it and puts it at the top of the page.  The post has been changed to reflect the correct information. 

Updates: posted at end of story.  


Robert "Too Sweet" Henderson, Jr. was arrested yesterday for two counts of conspiracy to bribe a public official and is currently a tenant at the Hinds County Detention Center in Raymond.:

Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves issued the following press release and transcript of his address at the Neshoba County Fair.

That Yazoo Clay must be some kind of mean.  Yet another bidness is leaving Maywood Mart.

Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber hosted a forum about relations between the police and the community.  The video of the entire session is posted below.

Many readers are interested in the fight between Fondren Garage and its neighbors.  JJ obtained the various permits, licenses, and applications through a public records request submitted to the city of Jackson.  They are posted below.  Enjoy.

Highlights
-Former Hinds County Assistant District Ivon Johnson pleads guilty
-Johnson represented a criminal defendant  for nearly 2 years while ADA
-State law forbids prosecutors from representing criminal defendants.
-The Attorney General said there are no exceptions for ADA's.

Former Hinds County Assistant District Attorney Ivon Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy today.  The notice provided by the court states:

Public employee pensions nationwide face more challenges as their investment returns fall.  The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week:

Hinds County Circuit Judge Jeff Weill granted a $100,000 bond to Loren Shell-Blackwell.  A Hinds County grand jury indicted her and Walter Lee Young for capital murder in the death of 81 year-old Lee Kendrick last October. Judge Weill's order states:

It's time for the last call in the annual fund-raising drive for Jackson Jambalaya.  Thank you very much for your support of Jackson Jambalaya and reading the blog over the years. We've come a long way since we started up in 2007.  This blog couldn't have gotten as far as it has without support from the readers.  You've donated money, provided tips, and helped provide information when it was needed.  We are asking for your help again this year.

Highlights: 
-Judge Melvin Priester, Sr. filed a bar complaint against District Attorney.  
-Judge Tomie Green  reported Smith to the Bar for alleged incidents of misconduct . 
-D.A. allegedly tried to use his mother to influence Judge Green
-Judge Green accused D.A. of harassing Special Master Amy Whitten

 The Mississippi Bar filed a complaint against Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith at the Mississippi Supreme Court after two Hinds County Judges reported him to the Bar. The actual complaint is posted below. The bar complaint provides the following information:

Attorney Generalissimo Jim Hood issued the following press release: 

This post is an open thread.   Slick Willie spoke at the DNC last night.  John Hinkley, Jr. is getting out of prison.  Jackson is still plagued with JATRAN problems.  The local media STILL ignores the Mississippi Department of Education audit on Jackson Public Schools.  Thank you for the traffic since you met me have that story all to myself, by the way.  It was substantial.  It also appears we will have to wait another week to find out who else will be indicted in the Chris Epps scandal.  Saint Teresa appears in court today.  It is not known if her appearance will be sponsored by any of the local photographers or facial clinics. Meanwhile, Clinton Police arrested a Texas woman who left her child in the car while she went shopping at Walmart.  She allegedly gave them a bogus story.  Her mug is posted below.  Comment away on this and any other topic.

JPD issued the following statement on Twitter:

Only in Mississippi will you see two men inducted into the state's sports hall of fame after they have been inducted into the national College Football Hall of Fame.

That's because Mississippi athletes continue to achieve on a national and international level. That’s the case with both Sean Brewer and Wesley Walls, who have gone into the national college football shrine shrine over the last couple of years and will go into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame this Saturday night in the ceremonies at the Jackson Convention Complex.

Brewer and Walls are two members of a diverse and accomplished MSHOF Class of 2016, joining basketball coach Kay James, football coach Jackie Sherrill, basketball standout Larry Smith and football pioneer Willie Heidelburg. I am proud to have witnessed and chronicled all six and have personal memories of each.

Former Hinds County Assistant District Attorney Ivon Johnson will plead guilty to a charge of conspiracy.  Federal prosecutors filed a bill of information last week that charged Johnson accepted bribes in exchange for reducing bonds for criminal defendants.  A notice filed in his case states:

Antwain Dukes pleaded guilty to depraved heart murder in the death of Carolyn Temple yesterday in Hinds County Circuit Court.  He also pleaded guilty to armed robbery.   Judge Winston Kidd sentenced him to 25 years for each count.  The sentences will run concurrently.

The Justice Department issued the following statement:

Who is going to be indicted in the Chris Epps scandal? All kinds of rumors are floating around today.  Stay tuned. Today might get interesting. Open thread. 

The Jackson Redevelopment Authority managed to sell $9 million of bonds to finance the construction of a Westin Hotel in downtown Jackson.  The city was even nice enough to guarantee the bonds in a 2014 contribution agreement.  However, JRA is also seeking bids for the construction of a convention center hotel.  Everyone loves a construction party.  However, a former USA Today reporter pointed out in a recent Wall Street Journal column how Cleveland has gone down this path  and reaaaally put itself  on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars in debt. Dennis Cauchin writes:

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carey Wright posted the following column explaining the school ratings and new tests on the Mississippi Department of Education website:

Beginning April 25, 2016, the majority of Mississippi students will take new assessments aligned to the state’s learning goals. The Mississippi Assessment Program (MAP) will ask students in grades 3-8 and in high school Algebra I and English II to demonstrate and apply their knowledge and skills learned in the classroom in areas such as critical thinking, analytical writing, and problem solving.

Although it’s a new test, these concepts will be familiar to students. Our teachers have done an outstanding job of helping students meet higher academic guidelines for the past five years. MAP will measure what students are learning and inform parents and teachers whether students are meeting expectations for their grade level.

Original post: The Justice Department indicted Teresa Malone for one count of attempt & conspiracy and a count of bribery of a public official.  The indictment is not yet available but JJ obtained this copy of the cover sheet:

The U.S. Attorney's office in Jackson issued the following press release:

Stupid is as stupid does and stupid describes Pierre Smith, Jr.  Smith got a break in May after he was indicted last year for cocaine possession while possessing a firearm.  Smith struck a deal with the prosecutor that allowed him to avoid going to jail by entering a pre-trial intervention program.  Fast forward to this month and Smith decided to party in New Orleans with women but in this case, partying meant  child sex trafficking.  New Orleans police arrested him on July 13 for sex trafficking.  The victims were two teen-aged girls who Smith forced into prostitution.   Hinds County Assistant District Attorney Michael Henry moved to revoke Smith's pre-trial agreement two days after his New Orleans arrest.  Mr. Henry stated in his motion:

The University of Mississippi Medical Center issued the following press release:

Will Pizza Hut continue to operate in Maywood Mart? Pizza Hut of America, LLC is trying to stay in its current location facing I-55N while landlord Maywood Mart Tei Equities, LLC is trying to terminate Pizza Hut's lease.  Pizza Hut sued Maywood Mart in U.S. District Court on April 11. 

The Pearl Police Department posted this statement and accompanying photos on Facebook:

 A Madison County attorney had a bit of a conniption at last week's meeting of the Madison County Board of Supervisors last week when things didn't go her way.   Janice Jackson attempted to qualify for the District 1 Election Commissioner election but failed to submit her qualifying papers to the Chancery Clerk before the deadline.  She asked the Board to accept her candidacy but the Board rejected her request.  The Madison County Journal reported:

Wikileaks is having some fun with the Democrats and that is putting it mildly.  Wikileaks posted this message on its website:

It appears the Jackson Redevelopment Authority managed to sell $9 million of urban renewal bonds to fund construction of the Westin Hotel project that had stalled.   An official statement was registered yesterday with EMMA* that stated eight maturities were sold.  The project's progress stopped last month as it awaited funding from JRA.

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following press release:

Hinds County Chancellor Denise Owens recused herself from the charter school lawsuit yesterday.  Read this post for more information about the lawsuit.  That leaves the following Chancellors available to hear the lawsuit: Thomas, Wise, and Singletary. Stay tuned. 

Republicans love to say that only in government does someone get rewarded for failure.  However, an article in National Review makes the case that the Republican Party has its own share of trough-feeders who fail and fall upwards.   The author calls it the "Republican-industrial complex has turned missteps into millions" in an allusion to Ike's classic term.   Polijunkies and Democrats will enjoy reading this essay that is rather thorough in nature.  Matthew Sheffield writes:

Mayor Tony Yarber issued the following statement: 

The Mississippi Department of Corrections issued the following press release:

One East Baton Rouge Parish deputy gets to go home to his family.

Update (4:45 PM): Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following press release:

The Jackson Municipal Airport Authority issued the following press release:

A Jackson doctor and North Jackson Medical Clinic are trying to move a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the children of deceased Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, Sr.  out of the Jackson metro area.  Chokwe Antar Lumumba, Jr. filed a wrongful death action against St. Dominic Hospital, North Jackson Medical Clinic, and several doctors in February in Hinds County Circuit Court.  Attorneys Dennis Sweet, III and Dennis Sweet, IV are representing Mr. Lumumba.  The case is assigned to Judge Winston Kidd.

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement: 

4:00 PM update: U.S. Magistrate Keith Ball set a $10,000 unsecured bond for Dr. Reddix. Dr. Reddix was represented by attorney Lisa Ross. He admitted to the court that he is currently undergoing treatment for alcohol abuse.


The U.S. Attorney's office  issued the following press release:

Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith  asked the Mississippi Supreme Court to dissolve a court order barring him from participating in cases.  Mr. Smith was arrested and charged with six misdemeanor counts of improperly helping criminal defendants. Hinds County Circuit Judge Jeff Weill issued the order shortly after the arrest took place.   The D.A. also asked the County Court of Hinds County to unseal several documents that he claims will help his case. The various motions provide new information and a look at what has been taking place behind the scenes in Hinds County.  Mr.  Smith apparently tried to bring one judge before a grand jury.  The filings are posted below. 

I have on my desk a perfectly preserved game program from the Mississippi State-Ole Miss football game played Nov. 24, 1945. On page 1, it tells us about school colors: “For Ole Miss, Red and Blue; for Mississippi State, Maroon and White.”

That hasn't changed. Most everything else has.

 Hinds County Circuit Judge Jeff Weill set trial for the capital murder prosecution of Gerome Moore on September 12 at 9:00 AM.  A Hinds County grand jury indicted Moore for the shooting death of Carolyn Temple in January 2015.

The Mississippi Department of Education issued the following press release: