Mississippi

Judge Prevents Mississippi From Creating White-Elected Courts For Black Counties… For Now – Above the Law

Published

1 year ago

May 23, 2023

Judge Prevents Mississippi From Creating White-Elected Courts For Black Counties… For Now – Above the Law

As time passes, the weight of a vote in Mississippi loses import. When electing politicians, the districts are so gerrymandered that the voter turnout has fallen. Why bother leaving the house when you know how it’ll go? Back in February, the state’s House decided to double down on the sentiment with HB 1020 and voted to create a separate court system and expanded police force to boot — all appointments being made by white officials. Thankfully, a federal judge had enough common sense to delay the damned thing from being the law of the land.

A federal judge on Monday extended his order that temporarily stops the Mississippi Supreme Court chief justice from appointing judges in the capital city of Jackson and the county where it’s located, both of which are majority-Black.
U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate’s new order could last until June 9, giving attorneys time to further develop arguments about citizens’ right to elect judges….The civil rights organization argues that the law passed by the majority-white and Republican-controlled state Legislature creates unequal treatment for residents of Jackson and Hinds County compared to residents of the rest of the state. The capital city and Hinds County are both majority-Black and governed by Democrats.

In case you didn’t know, Mississippi has a rich history of trying to prevent Black people from having involvement in governance:

Michael Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andrew Goodman traveled to Mississippi to register Black voters. They were murdered by the KKK. Black turnout will be a deciding factor. Civil Rights activists knew the risks but also knew the greater risk of not voting. #BlackHistoryWithLana… pic.twitter.com/gid4CPEvf4
— LanaQuest aka RosaSparks (@LqLana) May 18, 2023
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It has already been pointed out that the spirit of the law seems to read from a Klan playbook:

🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨 After nearly 5 hours of debating House Bill 1020 passes. “I was surprised they came half dressed, because they forgot to wear their hoods.” Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba reacts to the bill applauding those who fought for it to die, and those who didn’t. pic.twitter.com/LwUUqgP0Y6
— Michaila Franklin WAPT (@FranklinWapt) February 8, 2023

The stated reason for HB 1020 is to curb crime. I’m no criminologist, but there has to be some solution other than implementing a caste system in the courts and the police. You’d think that Mississippi’s constitution specifying that voters are the ones to elect judges for circuit courts would be enough, but Mississippi finds its way. I wonder if this is one of the civil liberties violations Justice Gorsuch had in mind when he made his COVID claim?

Federal Judge Extends Temporary Halt On Appointed Judges In Mississippi Capital [Associated Press]

Earlier: I Did Not Have Mississippi Creating Whites-Only Courts On My Black History Month Bingo Card

Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s. He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who cannot swim, a published author on critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at cwilliams@abovethelaw.com and by tweet at @WritesForRent.

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Mississippi

Mississippi probation officer arrested on seven counts of embezzlement

Published

1 hour ago

July 2, 2024

Press Room

Mississippi probation officer arrested on seven counts of embezzlement

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – A probation officer was arrested on seven counts of embezzlement.

Lacosta Lee is accused of receiving court-ordered fines and fees from those on probation and using them for her personal use.

She is a contracted probation officer for Court Programs, Inc.

Lee was served with a $7,558.50 demand letter at the time of her arrest.

She faces up to $5,000 in fines and 20 years per count if convicted.

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Mississippi

Mississippi River not cooperating, but Riverfest will still Riverfest in La Crosse

Published

8 hours ago

July 2, 2024

Press Room

Mississippi River not cooperating, but Riverfest will still Riverfest in La Crosse

The river parts of Riverfest near downtown La Crosse won’t be happening this year. Well, there’s just one part, really.

The River City Water Ski Team had to cancel its part of the show, because the Mississippi River is too high and will actually crest at 15 feet Wednesday, the opening day of Riverfest.

Past events on the river haven’t happened in a few years, including flyboarding — where water jets on your feet simulate floating — and pole vaulting off a barge in the Mississippi.

“We actually have trouble finding a barge that we can rent, basically that business has taken off exponentially,” Riverfest board member Brad Pitel said. “So, when the barges are being used, we don’t have that opportunity.”

Cancelling events hasn’t happened often, and sometimes they’re not even river related. In 2018, the July 4 fireworks had to happen on July 5.

“There was a massive storm that blew through with like 60-70 mph winds right through La Crosse,” Pitel said.

Riverfest opens at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Riverside Park and runs through Saturday night, with multiple big musical acts.

Josh Ross, Drake Milligan and Blue Collar 40 kick things off. The finale Saturday night is Country Line Drive. Check the full schedule of events here.

The stage is coming together on July 1, 2024, two days before the start of Riverfest in downtown La Crosse at Riverside Park (PHOTO: Rick Solem)

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Mississippi

Mississippi River in La Crosse reaches moderate flood levels

Published

15 hours ago

July 2, 2024

Press Room

Mississippi River in La Crosse reaches moderate flood levels

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU) – La Crosse, Vernon, and Houston Counties are under warnings due to flooding along the Mississippi River.

Impacted areas around La Crosse include Riverside Park and Goose Island Campground. Campground owners say about 60 percent of the campsite is uncampable and they’ve had to deny multiple reservations.

National Weather Service Forecaster Mike Kurz says the recent weather has been a huge factor in the flooding.

“We’ve had a very active severe weather pattern and heavy rain pattern over the last couple months. All that accumulation of heavy rain in the river basins across the area have been gradually draining into the Mississippi River basin,” says Kurz.

The National Weather Service says the rivers will crest at nearly 15 feet.

“That will be kind of heading right into the 4th of July holiday. It’s continuing to increase right now it’s about 14.7 feet, so it’s slowly increasing. Because of all the water in the system right now, it’s expected to be a prolonged crest. It’ll take a long time for the water to gradually recede as we get out of the crest period later this week,” says Kurz.

National Weather Service forecasters add that these water levels are unusual this time of year.

“For La Crosse, this is the latest in the calendar year that we’ve had river levels this high approaching 14.9 feet. The most recent would have been 1993 in the end of June, where it crested just above 14 feet,” says Kurz.

The National Weather Service says they do not expect water levels to rise much higher than 15 feet, which means the area record of 17.9 feet will stay.

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