Jerry Mitchell was on Mississippi public radio about 8:35ish. The subject was the Judicial Performance Commission, DeLaughter, and Scruggs. At some point, the show will appear in their archive of the Mississippi Edition shows, which as of this writing (Monday) has shows through last Thursday in it.
Update
No real news in the interview. Mitchell notes that on Friday the Judicial Performance Comm. has ordered an investigation against DeLaughter because of the Wilson case. He noted that an investigation cannot start until a complaint comes in, implying that there was a complaint. He described the process: the commission investigates and makes a recommendation then the Supreme Court acts on it.
He says the FBI and the commission will share information.
“Q As this investigation gets under way does it impact Judge DeLaughter’s ability to do his duties as a circuit judge?”
Mitchel: “Uhhhhh…” I don’t blame him for that hesitation. Everyone has to think that as a practical matter, DeLaughter is compromised. I’m guessing Mitchell hesitated over that thought before answering the literal question– that the investigation has just started.
Post updated after the show to say it was past and to include the archive link, above.
Bad link, NMC.
Ooo look, now we got a kewl box to check for email notification of replies to our comments.
W00T, riddenword!
Too bad we don’t have someone like Rick Bragg over at the Clarion Ledger instead of castrated reporters. So many good stories and no one reporting them.
The link has changed and their are details about the interview added.
They are now doing a story about the slug burger, proving once again the Mississippi public radio is weeks behindthe people at Folo.
Uh, bleeve I’ll pass again on them slug buhguhs, thank you though, NMC.
Is it me or does Jerry sound a little…uh….stoney?
I think Jerry Mitchell is a fine investigative reporter, but just doesn’t have the legal background to effectively engage the myriad aspects of the cases involved. Seems like the paper would contract with someone to make up for that deficiency.
Marsha Thompson on WLBT appears to have someone giving her some legal language, and her reporting has been pretty clear and straightforward. It’s obvious too that she follows this site. Her recent report as to the liquidation of various Langston assets came one day after our intrepid posters noted same.
You would think that the parents of the CL would send them some help. Maybe the CL has not asked for any help??
Maybe they don’t think they need any – but it appears their priorities are increasing the tobacco tax and more funding for education and their resources allocated accordingly. Although, in all fairness, they do have someone assigned full time to “open government”. It’s just that he has not – or at least to my memory – contributed to the discussion of the judicial system.
Oh, do I ever love the “edit” option!
Gannett certainly has the resources to throw them some legal help into the mix. This thing is likely to go on for some time.
Gannett is in a world of hurt. As long as the AP has got a reporter assigned don’t expect Mitchell to venture outside of HindsCo until the Scruggs bribery trial begins in earnest.
There are hundreds of eyeballs who are following this story online, reading case filings, transcripts, etc. Think about all the tips that Rossmiller, folo and Y’all are getting about stuff behind the scenes. Then you have the triangulation that is happening on the blogs between collaborators of all makes and models which has been invaluable.
The C-L doesn’t have the ponies any longer to go deep on a story this expansive nor one moving this rapidly.
Bud, that’s a really excellent point. It’s a whole new world out here, and even “foreign bureaus” ain’t what they used to be. “Journalism” will persist, but news-gathering certainly ain’t the staid local/national/international business we grew up with.
We do-it-yourself types can frontrun the old organizations pretty handily, especially when we’re working as whole communities.
They did when they had Beverly Pettigrew Kraft, she is now at MSC and had a law degree.
Roger that, Kingfish. Kraft’s fine reporting on legal matters for the Clarion-Ledger is much missed.
by the way, the news director at WLBT has a J.D………
just sayin…………..
They’re (WLBT and CLarion Ledger) well aware of the Shelton fiasco. Let’ s hope they report on it sooner than later.
Well, that would certainly explain Marsha Thompson’s well-crafted pieces to date, Kingfish. Nothing like a little in-house expertise.
You (Bud & Lotus) must be correct. The Memphis Commercial Appeal has not even given lip service. They are an hours drive to the North and full of UOM lawyers, journalists and alumni. Go figure?? And here such a large part of this story is unfolding right under their nose in Oxford, MS!!
Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance — Do not expect much from this proposed effort by the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance. (1) The Commission has hardly any staff. (2) All of the Commission’s work will be done in absolute secrecy unless the Commission unanimously votes otherwise. Of the seven members on the commission four are judges and one is a lawyer. (3) No action can be taken against a judge unless two/thirds of the Commissioners agree (that would mean that two of the judicial positions would have to vote for the action). (4) And, perhaps most important, Commission Rules prohibit earwigging (see Rule 5 H) during the proceedings. See http://www.Wikiscruggs.com.