Sunday, September 3, 2023

Bill Crawford: Attorney General Not Supporting All State Laws with Vigor

 Attorney General Lynn Fitch’s prosecution of state laws has come under scrutiny.

Months ago Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann filed a complaint with the Attorney General alleging campaign finance violations by his opponent Sen. Chris McDaniel. It wasn’t until recently that Fitch said her office would investigate. 

Mississippi Today reported, “She has faced criticism this election cycle over lack of action on allegations of campaign finance violations, particularly in the lieutenant governor’s race.”  Only the Attorney General has authority to prosecute campaign finance violations.

Weeks ago Secretary of State Michael Watson complained that Fitch was failing to enforce tidelands leases. 

"I write once again to express my concerns about matters in which we have requested assistance from your office to no avail," Watson said in a letter to Fitch. “I have included a chronology below outlining our multiple attempts to obtain assistance from your office, as the state's 'law firm' and its failure to act on behalf of my office to protect the state's interest."

He added, “In a desperate attempt to spark some activity from your office, you will recall I emailed you specifically on March 24, 2023, to request a meeting on these matters so that we can move forward and ensure the interests of the state are preserved.”

The Attorney General’s lack of a strong defense of Mississippi’s K-12 compulsory vaccination law in federal court also raised eyebrows.

In ordering the Mississippi Department of Health to implement a religious exemption to the law, U.S. District Judge Halil Suleyman Ozerden cited the Attorney General. “The Attorney General acknowledges that, standing alone, the Compulsory Vaccination Law cannot withstand strict scrutiny,” he wrote. 

The State Board of Health would have preferred a vigorous defense rather than capitulation. General Fitch also ignored the 1979 Mississippi Supreme Court decision that supported no religious exemption:

“The protection of the great body of school children attending the public schools in Mississippi against the horrors of crippling and death resulting from poliomyelitis or smallpox or from one of the other diseases against which means of immunization are known and have long been practiced successfully, demand that children who have not been immunized should be excluded from the school community until immunization has been accomplished,” the court wrote in the Brown v. Stone. The court also cited several federal and states cases that supported its decision.

The Legislature has had ample opportunity over the years, including this year, to allow a religious exemption but chose not to, putting children’s health at the forefront.

It appears the Attorney General may not support all state laws with vigor.   

“Wisdom shouts in the street for a hearing” – Proverbs 1:20.

Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.

Kingfish note: What Mr. Crawford did not mention is the AG got rid of most of the prosecutors when she got office.  All she prosecutes is trafficking cases because her entire campaign is geared towards women who are a majority of the voters.  

Her name is also not well-spoken among prosecutors throughout the state.  The AG stopped handling cases where District Attorneys had to recuse themselves.  Instead of referring such cases to the Attorney General,  DA's now have to call around to get a prosecutor in another jurisdiction to handle the case.  Needless to say, prosecutors are not too thrilled with the new state of affairs. 

33 comments:

Don Drane said...

Could be because she has no interest in law, never having been a courtroom, herself. She's racked up enough PERS credits to slip comfortably into retirement.

Anonymous said...

Fitch needs to be replaced

Anonymous said...

It has been a very confusing weekend so far.


Bad
Jimmy goes down....never saw a time of death hopefully it was 5:00 or at least somewhere

Good
USM, OM, MSU all win. Coach Prime wins

Unbelievable
and now I agree with Crawford (I will not re-read his column for fear that I will find some of his famous "alternate" facts)

what's next? still got another day and half



Anonymous said...

Come on folks, cut her some slack. Her office is very busy suing China.

Anonymous said...

Actually, 12:11, she's very busy trying to figure out why in hell she fired all the real attorneys in her office and replaced them with the 'red dress brigade'.

Tip O’Neill said...

Y’all elected her because she was pretty on the TV screen, you had the opportunity to elect someone running against her who would actually prosecute criminals but you chose pretty. Live with it , she will be running for governor in four years maybe then you will vote for a prosecutor not a office decorator who thinks she’s going to get some cash from China through the legal system.

Anonymous said...

I was disappointed when Fitch had no opponent in the Republican primary since that pretty much guaranteed her re-election. The Democrat candidate is not a serious candidate and stands no chance to win in November. Fitch looks like the better choice only because the Democrat candidate would be worse than Fitch, if elected. One thing you have to admire about Fitch is how she has succeeded so far electorally despite the fact that her qualifiations for the offices she has held have been non-existent to minimal. While she is an attorney, she has never practiced law in any real sense, though she was a member of the AG's staff under Ed Pittman and maybe during the early part of Mike Moore's administration. But she tried no cases, argued no cases, was in the Opinions Division for some reason. She has so far had a magical political life, so far as I recall having had only one real opponent in a Treasurer's race, winning there by a two or three-to-one margin against an unknown and flawed Democrat.

Crawford's comments are accurate so far as they go, but the state of affairs in the AGs office is worse than he describes, particularly when it comes to criminal litigation and the ability of that office to actually litigate I had written more to give specific examples, but for some reason I'm limited to some 4000 "characters". Unfortunate, since that only allows for about enough to merely express an opinion.

Anonymous said...

I was disappointed when Fitch had no opponent in the Republican primary since that pretty much guaranteed her re-election. The Democrat candidate is not a serious candidate and stands no chance to win in November. Fitch looks like the better choice only because the Democrat candidate would be worse than Fitch, if elected. One thing you have to admire about Fitch is how she has succeeded so far electorally despite the fact that her qualifiations for the offices she has held have been non-existent to minimal. While she is an attorney, she has never practiced law in any real sense, though she was a member of the AG's staff under Ed Pittman and maybe during the early part of Mike Moore's administration. But she tried no cases, argued no cases, was in the Opinions Division for some reason. She has so far had a magical political life, so far as I recall having had only one real opponent in a Treasurer's race, winning there by a two or three-to-one margin against an unknown and flawed Democrat.

Crawford's comments are accurate so far as they go, but the state of affairs in the AGs office is worse than he describes, particularly when it comes to criminal litigation and the ability of that office to actually litigate I had written more to give specific examples, but for some reason I'm limited to some 4000 "characters". Unfortunate, since that only allows for about enough to merely express an opinion.

Anonymous said...

She is protected by the Haley Barbour machine for toeing the line of the MS Repulsive Party and protecting the good ole' boys no matter the level of their corruption. She'll be protected and shepherded into the Governor's Big House sadly, and I'm a rock-ribbed conservative.

Anonymous said...

Yep, we have Uncle Haley to thank for this non-starter. What the hell was he thinking?

Anonymous said...

1:09 PM, pretty???

No, we elected her because she was running against a Democrat,

i.e. the party of lawlessness,

i.e. the party that uses crime to keep folks from moving back into cities like Jackson that would vote Democrats out of office.

Crime is how Democrats monopolize cities for decade after decade after decade, - n spite of their colossal failures – including, as Mr. Kenneth Stokes so truthfully put it:

“We’re being known as the child killing capital, not the capital of the State of Mississippi.”

Anonymous said...

"Y’all elected her because she was pretty".

That's a goofy comment.

Granted ... she ain't ugly, but her looks were not why she was elected.
I'm not a Fitch fan at all,(I've worked with her).

After firing all of the attorneys, did she do her usual thing and redecorate the AG's office?

Anonymous said...

How was she able to fire some attorneys when she took office? Don't they have civil service protection or are they all political appointees?

Anonymous said...

@7:52, no, those lawyers do not enjoy civil service protection; rather, they all serve “at the will and pleasure” of the AG. As a former special assistant AG under Moore and Hood who left just before she took office, I can say unequivocally that she absolutely gutted that office. The AG has certain statutory duties and I’m told she was unaware of that when she took office. I understand an elected official wants to bring their own people in, but the smart way to do that when you come in to a new position that has as much responsibility as this one, is to keep those folks that know how to keep the train running. As your own people get acquainted with the duties and trained, then you eventually can replace the old guard. But to clean house and fire everyone before you even step in the front door, and hire a bunch of 20-somethings who know nothing about state government - well, it’s absurd. Frankly, among the prosecutors and lawyers that work closely with state government, her office is the constant butt of jokes.

Anonymous said...

7:52...There is no such thing as 'civil service protection' in Mississippi.

Anonymous said...

Just making sure we stay last, keep on keeping on Mississhitti

Anonymous said...

I'm trying to think of what she has accomplished the last 4 years. She's like a 3rd string QB... We know she's on the team, but never shows up in the stat line.

Anonymous said...

Lot's of laws that are swept under the rug and are not pursued. They only pull them out when it suits them to file them. There are enough laws out there now that they can get you for just about anything if they so choose. A quote from Lavrentiy Beria, the most ruthless and longest-serving secret police chief in Joseph Stalin’s reign of terror that rings ever more true today than ever. “Show me the man and I’ll show you the crime” Even if they don't convict you, they will bankrupt you in the process.

Anonymous said...

9:52 - Ah...what the hell has that diatribe got to do with Fitch?

Anonymous said...

3:39 Democrats the party of lawlessness?
Really?
How many elected Democrats and their " advisors/supporters" are prisons and how many are facing indictment?
The FBI has for decades studied crime and where/why it takes place and who does the types of crime. You could study British research and all other democracies and republics as well. You'd be surprised what factors result in more crimes.
I was a visitor in a prison not too long ago and guess who I saw lots of Neo Nazis, Aryans, Hell's Angels, and KKK tats and far more inmates of color going to church services and classes instead of trying their best to look intimidating in their huddles or cells. Dumber than posts and determined to stay that way.

Anonymous said...

The jealousy towards this AG is palpable. Shaking my head.

Anonymous said...

September 4, 2023 at 11:52 AM, why is it I don't believe you?

Anonymous said...

11:53. jealousy? Please explain

Anonymous said...

11:53 and 4:48 - I AM Jealous, of those states which have a functioning Attorney General who has stood before a judge in a courtroom to either prosecute or defend a case.

Anonymous said...

Yes, jealousy. You're a nobody hiding behind an anonymous keyboard, while she is a strong successful woman that is both a lawyer, and an elected official. You probably have no respect for our vice president that has made great progress for women everywhere. Shame on you for being jealous.

Anonymous said...

09/04/23 @ 6:21PM-Funny, you too are an anonymous nobody, hiding behind your keyboard, and calling out the other poster for being anonymous. Since working for Fitch, have you changed your AG email signature to show her name in bigger font than your own? How many cases have you indicted, much less taken to trial under her rule? I'll wait.....

Anonymous said...

September 4, 2023 at 11:52 AM, in the words of tennis great John McEnroe, YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!!! Bwahahahahahahahaha

Your post has indoctrinated all over it (re: the FBI, you ever heard about the ole Fox and the Chicken Coop?). Bwahahahahaha.

Here’s a hint for you and all of the (other) Liberal Arts Degree’ers out there: at least you had to be “a visitor in a prison” to see the “Neo Nazis, Aryans, Hell's Angels, and KKK”(ers).

You won’t hear the right crying “defund the police,” “abolish the police,” “let those low IQ’er Neo Nazis, Aryans, Hell's Angels, and KKK”(ers) out of jail.”

Cities monopolized/controlled for decade after decade after decade by Leftist Democrats are murder capital killing fields, and Democrats, especially White Democrats, go home to their gated subdivisions (many in Republican controlled cities) while innocent children have to worry about being killed with stray bullets.

2 days ago even left wing nut Bill Maher was ranting about it (link below). Of course he votes Democrat, then runs his ass home to his safe house in a safe neighborhood. No Bailey Ave in Jacktown or south side Chicago for Maher.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/black-lives-dont-seem-matter-when-taken-black-lives-maher-rogan-go

Anonymous said...

6:21. Are you putting Fitch and Harris in the boat? That’s hilarious. And you know what? I agree with you. They are both incompetents who are unworthy of the positions they hold. But then you may consider bandwagon jumping to be an accomplishment.

Anonymous said...

@6:21 - Other than suing the Chinese Communist Party, can you name one lawsuit this attorney general has filed and prosecuted, much less to closure? Do not count the fifteen she has signed onto as a tag-along to other attorneys general.

But yes...you will be PERS vested at 8 years.

Anonymous said...

Democrats raised these same concerns before she was elected but conservatives just love to be right until they aren't. Its a never ending circle that keeps Mississippi where it always will be until certain GOP base populations "expire" because the younger generations ain't having it. Tick tock.

Anonymous said...

Lynn is running her topical do nothing, say nothing campaign against Greta Martin. Lynn ran this same Campaign last election.

Anonymous said...

1:44 PM, thanks for that ROTFLMA post! This level of indoctrinated narcissism is well beyond hilarious!
Here’s a little litmus test for you “younger generations (that) ain't having it:”

Which would be better?
If every Democrat moved from the state of Mississippi?
If everybody else moved from the state of Mississippi?

Now for you “younger generations” we know that “better” is really “subjective;” since
if you love high “murder rates,”
if you love “high homelessness rates,”
if you love “high car-jacking rates,”
if you love high “children dying from stray bullets” rates,
if you love “unsafe water,”
if you love “crumbling infrastructure,”
if you love “high taxes,”
etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., etc.

Tick tock.

Anonymous said...

Your attorney general is more concern with her glamour than anything law related. I say “your”, because I’ve never voted for the hateful bitch, or ever plan to vote for her!



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In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


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If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

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