Justice For Oysters

In a case that involved the dismissal of five tickets alleging oyster-harvesting violations, the Mississippi Supreme Court has publicly reprimanded a county justice for what the court characterized as ticket fixing, conduct involving moral turpitude.

The defendant and his brother-in-law (who had played sports with the justice) visited the justice at home unannounced after the tickets were issued. The testimony of the three participants as to what was said was found to be incredible. The visit was never disclosed to the prosecutor.

The cases were dismissed by the justice, allegedly because the had officers failed to appear. In fact, they were present in court.

Mississippi Business Journal had this story on the recommendation for suspension by the Commission on Judicial Conduct.  (Mike Frisch)