Judge Reprimanded

A county court judge was publicly reprimanded  by the Mississippi Supreme Court for misconduct in his handling of a series of landlord-tenant matters. He had ex parte communications with a tenant and had become involved in the matter by actions off the bench.  He also denied possession of premises to a landlord who was entitled to such relief. As a result, the landlord was required to initiate a second suit for possession. The judge had previously been reprimanded for a different species of judicial misconduct (not specified in the opinion). Further, the court expressed concern that he had “explanations and excuses for every act, and denials for most.” The court rejected the suggestion that the judge’s relative inexperience at the time of the misconduct was a mitigating factor, as judges are expected to be learned in the law. (Mike Frisch)