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CL - DeLaughter booted for good

CL - DeLaughter booted for good

The Mississippi Supreme Court has permanently removed former Hinds County Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter, ensuring he can never again seek judicial office in Mississippi.

In July, DeLaughter pleaded guilty in federal court to obstruction of justice for lying to an FBI agent investigating disbarred attorney Dickie Scruggs. He then resigned his judgeship.

But before he pleaded guilty, DeLaughter was placed on interim suspension by the Commission on Judicial Performance because of two complaints filed against him.

Thursday's 7-2 ruling is the result of the commission's attempt to remove the suspension following DeLaughter's plea. It had agreed to do so in exchange for DeLaughter's guilty plea.

Clarion-Ledger
3/5/10

Posted March 5, 2010 - 7:26 am

2 Comments:

Supreme Court of Mississippi
Court of Appeals of the State of Mississippi
Clerk’s Docket
2010-TS-00362
Stacey Pickering v. Langston Law Firm, P.A.
Hinds Circuit Court District 1
Trial Court Case # 251-07-1258CIV
The Honorable Tomie T. Green
Ruling Date 2/24/2010

Appellant Parties
Represented By:
Arthur F. Jernigan Jr.
Craig M. Geno
Samuel Ernest Linton Anderson
C. York Craig III
Fred Krutz III
Stacey Pickering Represented By:
Samuel Ernest Linton Anderson
Appellee Parties
Joseph C. Langston Pro Se
Langston Law Firm, P.A. Pro Se
Other Parties
State of Mississippi Represented By:
Shawn Stephen Shurden
Geoffrey C. Morgan
Lundy & Davis, LLP Pro Se
Timothy R. Balducci Pro Se
Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz Pro Se

General Docket
2/26/2010 Notice of Appeal Filed
3/3/2010 Trial Court Order received - Hon. Barbara Dunn
3/3/2010 Trial Court Order received - Hon. Barbara Dunn
3/4/2010 Appearance Form received - Shawn Stephen Shurden
3/5/2010 Appearance Form received - Geoffrey C. Morgan

Posted by Face on 03-06-2010 at 08:39 AM [link]

Question: how long does it take to get this done?
Answer: apparently 11 months.

Bobby DeLaughter pled guilty on 07/30/09 and was sentenced on 11/13/09

2008-JP-00460-SCT
Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance v. Bobby B. DeLaughter
-3/19/2008: Motion # 2008 - 806 Petition for Interim Suspension of Circuit Court Judge Bobby D. DeLaughter
-3/4/2010: DECISION: Removed from Office (decision is here http://www.mssc.state.ms.us/Images/Opinions/CO60862.pdf, with Waller and Dickinson’s dissenting opinions-a good read)

Although the action taken by the majority is appealing, I simply cannot join in a fiction that purports to remove from office a judge who has already resigned. I find no legal or logical purpose in doing so, other than for this Court to make a public statement through its published opinion that it does not approve of Bobby DeLaughter’s conduct. To be sure, I do not approve of his conduct and, for the sake of absolute clarity, I would vote to remove him – if he were still in office. But he is not.

2009-BD-01903-SCT
The Mississippi Bar v. Bobby B. DeLaughter
3/10/2010: Case Submitted without Oral Argument
6/3/2010: permanent disbarment (decision is here http://www.mssc.state.ms.us/Images/Opinions/CO63435.pdf)

Posted by Just Me on 06-03-2010 at 01:43 PM [link]

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