Hat-tip to My Thoughts for noticing a blog post by Clarion-Ledger editorial director David Hampton (who you’d think might bother to proofread, but oh well) about what he calls an “announcemen”:
With the approval of the Board of Commissioners, Mississippi Bar President Bobby Bailess of Vicksburg has appointed a "Task Force to Strengthen Confidence in the Legal System ". The charge of the task force is to "examine our legal system and make recommendations to insure the honesty and integrity of the Bar and fairness and impartiality within the Judiciary. " Bill Goodman of Jackson is serving as chair of the task force. Other members include: Reuben Anderson, Jackson; Patricia Bennett, Jackson; Judge Lisa Dodson, Gulfport; Don Dornan, Jr., Biloxi; Barry Ford, Jackson; Deborah Gambrell, Hattiesburg; Billie Graham, Laurel; Bill Liston, Winona; John Clark Love, Jr., Kosciusko; Judge Kent McDaniel, Brandon; Harold Mitchell, Jr., Greenville; Guy Mitchell, III, Tupelo; Colette Oldmixon, Poplarville; Judge Edward Patten, Jr., Hazlehurst; Briggs Smith, Batesville; and former Governor William Winter of Jackson.
Commenting on the task force President Bailess stated, "The work of this task force is crucial. It is critical that the public has absolute trust and confidence in our legal system. " Bailess added "The importance of the task force’s work and the Bar’s commitment is evidenced by the unanimous acceptance of all 17 appointees. "
The task force will be holding its first meeting in March and attempting to conclude its work by year end. Questions regarding the Bar’s Task Force to Strengthen Confidence in the Legal System should be directed to the Bar at 601-948-4471.
Okay, while I doubt that any single foloer knows all these appointees, I bet you guys may know a few apiece, and probably most everyone remembers Gov. Winter. My impression is that at least some of y’all think well of him, but how do you like the sounds of these other names?
Will a committee of Goodman, Anderson, Bennett, Dodson, Dornan, Ford, Gambrell, Graham, Liston, Love, McDaniel, Harold Mitchell, Guy Mitchell, Oldmixon, Patten, Smith, and Winter be apt to have good ideas and work well together? Is each of these individuals known to be bright and honest, or are there some GOB hacks in the mix? Other than Winter, are any of them visibly “political”? Do you consider them collectively representative of Mississippi lawyerdom? What do you expect to see from them? And is whatever they come up with going to matter in the least?
In short, what do these names and the whole task-force idea suggest to you about Bailess-and-board’s seriousness of intent here? Are they just doing something to be doing something, or does this “announcemen” suggest to you that they actually get it?
First info to arrive does so via email from a reader who reports that:
1. Bill Liston is SKG/KLG’s David Nutt’s attorney-of-record in another fee dispute case, Nutt v. Pearson. The reader advises, “Mark Pearson was a co-counsel of David Nutt’s in an environmental litigation and then was fired. When it settled, Pearson asked for his share, and Nutt then hired Bill Liston who filed a dec action in the Madison County Chancery Court, where all judges were recused. It has been floating around the state looking for a judge to take it and is now in Hinds County; not sure if there has even been any action on it.”
2. Liston was also listed as an attorney of record for Jim Hood in the suit filed in Hattiesburg by State Farm, and the reader thinks he is/was co-counsel with David Nutt and maybe Dickie Scruggs in several litigations (including the Reslin drug cases with Nutt and possibly some mortgage-fraud ones with Dickie).
3. The reader also reports that former state Supreme Court justice Reuben Anderson is facing “big controversy” right now, since he’s on both the board of the Civil Rights Museum and the committee which will pick its site, and that “most people are upset he wants to put it at Tougaloo” (where he got his undergrad degree).
Thanks for this good start, reader!
I thought Reuben Anderson with Fred Banks were involved as counsel for Eaton in Eaton vs. Frisby. At least one of the e mails to Ed Peters attached in the Eaton v. Frisby motion to review Delaughter’s orders was from Fred Banks. Anderson and Banks are both at Phelps Dunbar. Seems Reuben and Bill Liston should have declined membership on the committee.
Not a very good call, Bobby Bailess.
also who “unanimously accepted” these people?
If Nutt v. Pearson is in Hinds County, might it be on DeLaughter’s docket? Hmmm.
Not unless it was transferred to Circuit Court. According to the e mail you got Liston filed in Chancery Court Madison County. The Supreme Court will probably not uphold jurisdiction of the Chancery Court. Nutt, like Scruggs, prefers not to have a jury but one single judge decide the case. Juries rarely sit in Chancery Court.
Hell, I’ve never heard of Bobby Bailess until he became Bar President.
The one Delta lawyer is a crackerjack, and straight as 61 highway North of Clarksdale.
Which one is that, DB?
is batesville not considered the delta? i read greenville and batesville — that’s two “delta” lawyers, right?
Batesville is only partially in the Delta.
That’s why I asked, confounded, couldn’t tell whether DB’s talking Mitchell of Greenville or Smith of Batesville.
well I guess u could say there are 1.5 “delta lawyers” on the committee then?
Confounded, This was given to the CL where no questions were ask and to the Editor no doubt who has no skills I can locate so far. Its the Ring all these so called do-gooders stay in that gives them credibility, and to the rest of us as commoners should not ask questions. Lets just ask the CL today what questions were ask or was this just faxed to them to print.
Can’t speak to all of them, but a few stand out.
Patricia Bennett and Judge McDaniel taught me Evidence and Trial Advocacy, respectively, in law school. Good people (although, McDaniel, being a good-ole Rankin County boy, may be a little too conservative for some). Bennett is definitely outside of the “GOB hack” label.
I’ve always had good dealings with Bill Liston.
BTW, appreciate the site.
Executive – ly
Lesislative – ly
Judicial – ly
Connected fer sure!
not to mention
media & telecommunication connected!
Silence Dogood would not stand a chance today!
P.O. Box anyone? even then?
“The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.” ——- JOHN ADAMS
Welcome to folo, d761, and thanks for the info. (Now can you help me try to figure out what waterwalkin is saying?)
Chairman Bill Goodman has a fine reputation in town – very Old School. He’s getting ready to retire from Watkins Eager, I hear.
My first take is this committee seems very well balanced in terms of representation by various factions of the bar. Here’s what I know about a few unmentioned thus far: Collette Oldmixon : small- town street lawyer very involved in bar committee pro bono projects (also gives a great annual party in Lumberton); Judge Lisa Dodson elected to Circuit last year ran a tight race in a well-financed, crowded field, defeating, among 5 or 6 others, two fellow ADAs (one of whom was Ben Stone’s son-in-law). Prior to joining the DA’s office she was a partner in Alben Hopkins’ law firm( Al being Hood’s GOP opponent)… Don Dornan, I think, is mainly doing mediation (past bar president).
Lotus- 16
Semi-help: Property rights = Ark of the Covenant. Sincerely, J. Adams.
For the rest, you will have to rely upon better minds than mine to translate(ly).
It looks like a good list to me. I know many of the attorneys on this list, and they are all very good, highly skilled lawyers, with a reputation for the highest ethical standards.
Rueben Anderson is a former Supreme Court Justice and is highly regarded as an attorney. He would bring to the committee the perspective of a former appellate judge who went through an election or two.
Barry Ford is a former Circuit Court Judge from Northeast MS, who was known to be fair to both plaintiffs and defendants. He would obviously bring a perspective to this from the point of view of a Circuit Court Judge who went through elections.
Liston is a very good civil trial attorney who primarily represents plaintiffs. He would bring with him that perspective to the committee.
Guy Mitchell is a very good civil trial attorney who primarily represents defendants, and serves as atty for the City of Tupelo, MS, who would bring with him those perspectives to the mix.
Former Gov. William Winter, a big democrat leader in MS, brings to the table a strong background in consensus building (he previously led a statewide racial reconciliation task force in MS).
Briggs Smith is another prominent civil trial attorney who primarily represents plaintiffs —and he has been very successful at it, along with his partner, Flip Phillips. And presumably, he has been successful doing things the right way, as I have personally never had any bad or suspicious encounters with him, nor have I even heard of such a thing.
Almost any group one could put together to make recommendations is going to have lawyers who are somewhat connected with some of the persons involved in this MS mess. MS is a small state.
And to some extent, from a fairness standpoint, such is not necessarily a bad thing.
I find little to quibble with about this group.
Some of you who are quibbling, IMO, are just looking for something to fuss about.
At this point, I am just happy to see them doing something to move in a positive direction.
Anyone expecting this older generation of lawyers in the leadership positions of MS to do things “fast” are setting themselves up for disappointment. After all, it is this generation that has basically set up the current rules that guide the MS Bar. And they will have to first admit that there are problems, be willing to identify those problems, and to make suggestions for change. They have the wisdom. Hopefully, they will have the will to make the right recommendations.
And to all of you attys who are fussing, I would be willing to bet that you personally know at least one of the attorneys named to this committee. Call them up and discuss your concerns with them. If you don’t know or have not heard of any of these attorneys on this list, then I suggest that you immediately shut down and back away from your computer, get out of your office more, and socialize a little. LOL.
Couldn’t tell for sure but it appears Guy Mithchell is from Lee County and Alcorn,Itawamba, Tishomingo, Tippah , Prentiss have all been left out of the process. We do have several Judicial Districts and each one should be represented equally to get a fair and equal representation or that’s just a tax payer’s view.
I agree with AFOTL’ s assessment. I know Briggs Smith better than AFOTL, I gather, and can vouch for AFOTL’s guess that he and Flip Phillips are good guys.
This group is designed to represent a lot of different demographics in the state bar and does so relatively well in my opinion. I don’t know what to expect from the group, but it’s a pretty good group.
AFOTL
“immediately shut down and back away from your computer”
Posterity is dependent on us today, recording our success and our failures!!!!
Spiked Kool-Aid, no thanks!
LOTUS
…….And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
The question is if and when the storm comes will we scatter like roaches or soar like EAGLES???
Remember, Dick is not the only one with a “Patsy”
waterwalkin, I can’t find the sense of what you’re saying at all.
Does it matter if any of them have represented the current (or soon to be current) criminal defendants? Would that taint the commission in any way?
I know Dickie had a habit of spreading himself around a lot of attorney and I think it was to insulate himself from attack of the defense bar. I think there are several who have directly or at least indirectly represented him in the above list.
My thought is that such a commission has to be completely beyond reproach. If I were appointing a commission, I would look at some retired lawyers and judges as well who finished out their careers with impeccable records with respect to honesty and integrity. We have lost some of what they gave us in the past.
The list seems stacked with people from the coast and the Jackson area. Guy Mitchell is the only North MS person on the list? Thats not very comforting. Look at the crazy local politics in Tupelo that Guy Mitchell defends. Bogus ethics studies that only acomplish one thing, WASTE TAX PAYERS MONEY! The MS Bar is a joke anyway and I bet NOTHING of substance will come from this group. I just do not get why North MS got snubbed in this process. Any Oxford lawyers on the list? I just hope this FARCE isn’t working on the Taxpayers dime.
I doubt the taxpayer’s dime has any connection here, Hatfield. Bar dues only involved, I assume.
Hatfield 26
Since you brought up the Ethics Study for the City of Tupelo and since Ethics is a topic of conversation…
Everyone should visit the Daily Journal Tupelo MS
and “Search for Past Articles”
Search – Cindy Brown Ethics
For your further reading pleasure –
search “forums” at the journal using the same search…
And who can forget this shining example of the Lee County Bar.
http://www.djournal.com/pages/archive.asp?ID=253236&pub=1&div=News
Look at the date on the article. This bozo was admitted 10/10/2007, after having to wait many years to be admitted due to being wrapped up in his dad’s illegal bingo operation.
iratetoday// How many Shelton Boys practice law in Tupelo that belong to Jimmy Doug or maybe some or cousins , because that firm has never quit advertising as the Shelton Law Firm.
and look at the title of their webpage…Jimmy was disbarred a few years ago.
http://www.thesheltonlawfirm.com/
hmm I guess not only is batesville not in the delta, it is now not even in north Mississippi? To say that the eaton connection is just fussing is ludicrous.
I grew up some in Batesville and most of it isn’t in the Delta. Mostly hills until you drive out of town on HWY 6 and go over the bridge.
IMHO, Guy Mitchell is an excellent, totally honest choice, and disagree with those who say otherwise.
IT 33 is right. Batesville is about 5 miles east of the Delta. Thus, it’s growing.
Lotus, Sorry to post and run, but Harold Mitchell is the ATTY. I was posting about. Not trying to slice Batesville’s Delta part off:)
For those interested, I’ve just done a new post about Balducci’s grand jury testimony.
Briggs Smith, Guy Mitchell and Harold Mitchell are all attorneys I have been around. All are a credit to the Bar. I also think all are very approachable.
I would have like to see an Oxford attorney, maybe a younger one as well but I would assume this was probably a group that maybe declined representation due to the gravity of the job and need for devotion to it to the exclusion of practice and young family duties or out and out conflicts.