Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
7:20 pm Saturday, October 4, 2003

Mississippi Supreme Court: A house divided

By Staff
Suzanne Monk / managing editor
Sept. 21, 2003
The Mississippi Supreme Court has been in the news, and for all the wrong reasons, a little bit too much lately, don't you think?
First, Justice Oliver Diaz Jr. is indicted in July by a federal grand jury. The charge? Corruption. Diaz is accused of allowing Gulf Coast attorney Paul Minor to "buy" favorable rulings.
Next, a Gulf Coast newspaper reports that a lot of paper-shredding went on at the Mississippi Supreme Court as subpoenas in the Diaz case were being issued. Although, I'm not sure how much credence I place in a news story based on the word of anonymous "witnesses" against unspecified "court officials."
This week, political columnist Sid Salter reported that a lawsuit in Hinds County Chancery Court against Justice Bill Waller Jr. has been dismissed. The person who filed the lawsuit was anonymous, too, identified only as "Wonda Doe."
The complaint charged that Waller's dual role as a Mississippi Supreme Court justice and brigadier general in the Army National Guard violates the constitution.
Doe was represented by Shane Langston, a prominent Mississippi trial attorney and the son-in-law of Justice Chuck McRae.
High court politics
McRae lost a bid for re-election in November and leaves office on Jan. 1.
Over the last months, his dissenting opinions have become increasingly undiplomatic and have now descended into what can only be characterized as name-calling.
And, again, the surname Langston comes up in a separate and continuing appeal involving Shane Langston's sister.
Cynthia Langston was one of the lawyers in the original tobacco lawsuit. Her appeal stems from the actions of opposing attorneys in that litigation. It includes, on the subject of recusals, extensive discussion of Waller's "dual role" the complaint that formed the basis of Wonda Doe's lawsuit.
I make no inference on these points.
I'm not talking about the merits of the case today, but rather the deep divisions it has exposed in the Mississippi Supreme Court.
The high court has twice rejected Langston's appeal. Her attorney, claiming bias, has taken the extraordinary step of asking Gov. Ronnie Musgrove to intervene.
It is McRae, the outgoing justice, who supports Cynthia Langston's position and leads the charge with blistering minority dissents most recently last week as part of a 72-page opinion issued by the Supreme Court.
Is he right or wrong? I don't know. I'm not a lawyer. What I'm concerned about is his bloody-tooth-and-claw language and long-term damage to the state's appellate court.
Extreme rhetoric
Here's a sample of some of the things McRae has written publicly about his colleagues on the Supreme Court with regard to Cynthia Langston's appeal:
Public trust
Language like this has spun off what appear, in written opinions, to be factions inside the court and dissents-to-the-dissent that are pretty strong in their own right.
Is it just a case of a lame duck justice slashing and burning on his way out of office? Or, is McRae the indignant champion of a righteous cause? Will the disagreements among the justices dissipate once McRae is out of office?
Will anyone survive the next election?
Because that, really, is the long-term problem. This kind of conflict among what are supposed to be the state's most august legal thinkers undermines the public's trust in the integrity of the court.
It could catch up with them all.

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025