Removed And Disbarred

The Mississippi Supreme Court removed a Chancery Court judge from office as a result of his conviction for obstruction of justice.

From the statement of agreed facts

The Formal Complaint in this matter contains various allegations regarding Respondent’s mismanagement of [a] conservatorship. Due to various irregularities occurring in Respondent’s handling of the conservatorship, the matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as well as the Commission. As a result of that investigation, a grand jury was convened and witnesses called to testify regarding the administration of the conservatorship. In association therewith, Respondent has entered a guilty plea related to a charge of attempting to corruptly influence a witness subpoenaed to appear before a Federal Grand Jury proceeding and attempting to impede the provision of documents by the witness to the Federal Grand Jury with the intent to influence the outcome of the proceeding in violation of Section 1512(c)(2), Title 18, United States Code. The Federal Court Judge has accepted the plea and will impose sentence on Respondent in January, 2015, thereby rendering a hearing on the merits in the Commission case unnecessary and superfluous. Based upon said plea, Respondent has resigned from office and agrees that the appropriate sanction in this cause should be removal from office.

He was also taxed with costs.

By separate order, he was permanently disbarred.

Hattiesburg American has the details. (Mike Frisch)