I N T H E SUPR EM E C O UR T O F M I SS I SS I PPI NO. 2 0 1 0 - EC - 0 1 6 8 2 - S CT BI LLY G. RAY

NER, I N H I S OFFICI

AL CAPA CI TY ASCI RCUI T CL ERK OF J

AS PER COUNTY, M I S S I S S I PP I , AND ASA QUALI

FI ED M EM BER OF T HE V OT I NGEL E C TORA T

E OF T HE T HI RT EENT H CI RC UI T CO UR T DI S T RICT OF T HE S T AT E O F MI

S S I S S I P P I ; CI NDY J EN S EN , IN H ER O F F IC IA L C A P A C IT Y A SC IR C U IT C L ER K O F S IM P S O N C O U N T Y , M ISS ISS IP P I, A ND A SA QU

A L I F I ED MEMBER OF

T HE VO TI NG ELECTO RATE O F TH E TH I RTEEN TH CI RC UI T CO UR T DI S T RICT OF T HE S T AT E O F M ISS ISS IP P I; A N T H O N Y GRA Y S O N , IN H IS OF FICI AL CA P AC I T Y A SCI

RC UI T CL ER K O F SM I TH CO U N TY , M I SSI SSI PPI, AN D AS A QUA L I FI ED M EMBER O F T

HE V OT I NG EL E C TO RA T

E O F T H E T H IR T EEN T H C IR C U IT CO UR T DI S T RICT OF T HE S T AT E O F M I S S I S S I P P I , AN D R ICHA RD FEL TON AULT M AN, I N H I SOFFICI

AL C APA CI TY A S EL EC T ION C OM

M I S S IONER O F C OV

I NGTON COUNTY, M

I S S I S S I PP I , AND ASA QUALI

FI ED M EMBER O F T

HE V OT I NG EL EC TORAT

E O F THE THI

RTE ENTH CI

RCUI T COURT

DI S TRICT OFTH E STATE O F M

I SS I SS I PPI
v. H ALEY BAR BO UR , I

N H I S OFFICI

AL CAPA CI TY AS GO VER NO R O F TH E STATE O F M

I SS I SS I PPI AN D A SA MEMBER OF T HE S T AT E B OA RD OF ELE CTI ON COM

M I S S IONERS; DELBERT HO S EM ANN, I N H I SOFFICI

AL C APA CI TY A S S EC RE T AR Y OF S T AT E O F T HE S T AT E O F M I S S I S S I P P I , AST HE C HI EF EL EC T ION OF FICER O F T

HE S T AT E O F MI

S S I S S I P P I , AN D ASA MEMBER OF

T HE S T AT E B OA RD OF EL EC T ION C OM

M I S S IONERS; AN

D J I M HOOD, I N H I SOFFICI

AL C APA CI TY A SATTORNEY

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GENERA L OF

T HE S T AT E O F MI

S S I S S I P P I AN D ASM EMBER O F T

HE S T AT E B OA RD OF ELE CTI ON COM

M I S S IONERS D A T E O F JU D G M E N T : 10/ 13/ 2010 TRI AL J UD GE: HO N. HEN RY L. LAC KEY COURT F ROM W HI CH APP EAL ED: HI NDS COUNTY CI RCUI T COURT AT T OR NE Y F OR AP P E L L ANT S : S
. W AYNE E AS T E RL I NG AT T OR NE Y F OR AP P E L L E E S : OF F I CE OF T HE AT T OR NE Y GE NE RA L B Y : H A R O L D E D W A R D P IZ Z E T T A , III N A TU RE O F TH E C A SE: CI V I L - ELE CT I O N CO N TEST DI S P OS I T I ON: ON DI RE CT AP P E AL : AF F I RMED
. ON C R O SS-A PPE A L : A FFIRM E D - 10/ 27/ 2010 M OT I ON F OR RE HE AR I NG F I L E D: M ANDAT E I S S UE D:

EN BA NC CH AND LER, J UST I CE, FOR TH E COU RT: ¶1
. T he ci r cui tcl er ks of J as per , Si m pson, and Sm i t h C ount i es and an el ect i on
comm i s s i onerof

Covi ngt on Count y ha ve f i l ed a pet i t i on f

ora n e xpedi t ed appea l of a n or der ent er ed by the C i r cui tC our tof H i nds C ounty, Fi r s tJ udi ci al D i s tr i ct . T he or der , ent er ed on O c to b e r 1 3 , 2 0 1 0 , d e n ied th e ir c o m p lain t to e n jo in th e N o v e m b e r 2 , 2 0 1 0 , ele c tio n fo r c irc u it
cou rtj udge f

orthe Thi r t eenth C i r cui tC our tD i s tr i ct . T he def endant s ar e G overnorH al ey B a rb o u r, S e c re tar y o f S ta te D e lb e rt H o se m a n n , an d A tto rn e y G e n e ra l Jim H o o d , in th e ir of f i ci al capa ci t i es and in thei rcapa ci t i es as m ember s of the St at e B oar d of

E l ect i on C omm i s s i on e r s ( the Boa r d)
. The Boa r d ha d or de r e d a wr i t e - i n e l e c t i on f orthe p os i t i on of
c irc u it co u rt ju d g e fo r th e T h irtee n th C irc u it C o u rt D is tric t af ter th e d e a th o f th e o n ly candi dat e w ho ha d qua l i f i ed f orthe pos i t i on, i ncumbentH onor abl e J udge R obertE van s. J udge Evans’ s de m i s e occ urr ed af t erthe qual i f

yi ng deadl i ne had pa s s ed. T he pl ai nt i f f s ar gue

### 3

thatthe w r i t e- i n e l ect i on or der ed by the B oar d w i l l contr avene the el ect i on l aw s pert ai ni ng t o j udi ci al of

f i ces , and thatthe el ect i on pr oper l y s houl d be conduc t ed as a s peci al el ect i on t o be hel d i n N ovember2011. T he def endant s c r os s - appea l the ci r cui tcourt ’ s as s es s m entof
c o s ts a g a in s t th e m . ¶2. W e gr antthe pet i t i on f oran expedi t ed appea l
. F i ndi ng thatthe B oar d’ s i nt erpr et at i on of the g ov erni ng st atutes w as perm i ssi ble, w e aff i rm the d enial of the co m p l ai nt. W e al so
a ff ir m th e is s u e o n c ro s s -a p p e a l. FACTS ¶3
. O n J ul y 13, 2010, a vac ancy a r os e i n t he of f i ce of c i r c ui tc ou r tj ud ge f

or t he T h irteen th C ir cu itC o u rtD istri ct up o n the d ea th o f Jud g e R o b ert E v an s. Ju d g e E v an s’s fou ryeart erm w as sett o expi r e on D ece m ber31, 2010. U pon J udge Evans’ s death, G ov. B arbour appoi nt ed the H onor abl e E ddi e H
. Bow en t o f i l l the vaca ncy. Pr i ort o hi s de ath, J udge Evans had be e n the on l y c a nd i da t e w ho ha d q ua l i f i e d a s a c a nd i da t e t o the of f i c e i n the ge ne r al
e le c tio n to b e h e ld o n N o v e m b e r 2 , 2 0 1 0
. ¶ 4
. O n S e p tem b e r 7 , 2 0 1 0 , th e B o a rd d e c lar e d th a t, un d e r sta te la w , the e lec tio n fo r c irc u it
c o u rt ju d g e fo r th e T h irtee n th C irc u it C o u rt D istric t m u st o c c u r a c c o rd in g to its a p p ro p ria te el ect i on s chedul e on N ovember2, 2010. T he B oar d’ s or ders t at ed, “[ b] eca us e J udge Evans
w a s th e o n ly c a n d id a te to q u a lify fo r th e p o sitio n a n d d ied a fte r th e q u a lify in g d e a d lin e , this el ect i on w i l l be det erm i ned by w r i t e- i n candi dat e. ” T he or derf ur thers t at ed thatnonpart i s an j udi ci al el ect i ons r equi r e a maj or i ty of l aw f ul vot es cast , and a l aw f ul vot e i s cons i der ed a vot e f oran i ndi vi dual qual i f

i ed t o s erve as a ci r cuitco urtjudge , s peci f i cal l y, one w ho: ( 1) has been a pr act i ci ng att orney f orf i ve year s ; ( 2) i s atl eas ttw enty- s i x year s ol d; ( 3) has been

### 4

a f i ve- yearci t i zen of

t he St at e of

M i s s i s s i ppi ; and (4) i s a r es i dentof the part i cul arj udi ci al d is tr ic t. See M i s s . Const
. a r t6, § 154; M i s s . Code A nn. § 9- 7- 1 ( R ev. 2002)
. T he orde r
s t at ed that , i f

a maj or i ty w as notr eac hed i n the w r i t e- i n el ect i on, the tw o candi dat es w i th the
m os tvot es w oul d part i ci pat e i n a run- of f el ect i on t o be hel d on N ovember23, 2010. A ccor di ngl y, s ever al c andi dat es be gan campai gni ng a s w r i t e- i n c andi dat es f orel ect i on t o t he p o sitio n o f c irc u it co u rt ju d g e fo r th e T h irtee n th C irc u it C o u rt D istric t. ¶5. T he pl ai nt i f

f s f i l ed thei rcompl ai nti n t he C i rcui tC ou rto f Jas perC ounty, Second J udi ci al D i s tr i ct , on Sept ember23, 2010, f ol l ow ed by an am ended c om pl ai nton Sept ember 28, 2010. T hey r eques t ed i nj unct i ve and de cl ar at ory r el i ef
. T he def

endant s f i l ed a mot i on t o di s m i s s ort o t r ans f

ervenue. T he ci r cui tcour t , Judge H enry L acke y pr es i di ng by s peci al appoi nt m entby thi s C our t , tr ans f err ed the ac t i on t o t he C i rcui tC our tof H i nds C ounty. Fol l ow i ng t he r ecus al of the j udges of

the C i r cui tC our tof

H i nds C ounty, Fi r s tJ udi ci al D is tr ic t, th is C o u rt s p e c ia lly a p p o in te d J u d g e L a c k e y to a d ju d ic a te th e c a s e . ¶6. A f

t era hea r i ng, J udge L acke y e nt er ed an or derde nyi ng the r eques tf ori nj unct i ve and decl ar at ory r el i ef

. T he or ders t at ed: H avi ng cons i der ed the appl i cabl e l aw the courtf i nds thatM i ss i s s i ppi C ode Sect i on 23- 15- 1015 cl ear l y m andat es thatan el ect i on occuron N o v em b er 2 , 2 0 1 0 , to se lect a circu itco u rtjud g e fo r th e n ew fo u r-y e a r t erm of of f i ce be gi nni ng J anuary 1, 2011. T he courtf ur therf i nds thatthe leg isla tu re h a s, th ro u g h C o d e S e c tio n 2 3 -1 5 -3 6 5 , p ro v id e d th a t w rite- in candi dat es ar e appr opr i at e i n the eve ntof the dea th of

any ca ndi dat e w ho has qual i f i ed t o run f

ora part i cul arof

f i ce. A ccor di ngl y, the courtf i nds thatthe C o m p lain t an d th e re q u e st f o r in ju n c tiv e a n d d e c lar a to ry re lief a re n o t w e ll ta k e n . Judg e L ackey asses sed cost s t o the defendan t s. I S S UE ON AP P EA L

### 5

A
. Standar d of

r evi ew ¶ 7
. “ [W ]he n a s tatu te is n o t a m b ig u o u s, th is C o u rt a p p lies th e sta tu te a c c o rd in g to its p lain
m eani ng and nee d notappl y pr i nci pl es of s t atut ory cons truct i on. ” B a rb o u r v . S ta te ex re l. Hood , 974 So. 2d 232, 2 40 (M i s s . 2008) ( quot i ng Miss . In s. G u a r. A ss ’n v. Co le , 954 So. 2d 407, 412- 13 (M i ss . 2007) )
. B uti f ther e i s ambi gui ty, the i nt erpr et at i on af f or ded by the S tate B o a rd o f E le c tio n C o m m iss io n e rs m u st b e u p h e ld if it i s “ b a se d o n a p e rm iss ib le
cons truct i on of

the s t atut e. ” I

d. at241 ( ci t i ng Ch ev ro n , U . S. A . , In c. v. N

a tura l R es. D ef. Council , I nc. , 4 6 7 U
. S
. 8 3 7 , 8 4 2 -43 , 1 0 4 S
. C t. 2 7 7 8 , 2 7 8 1 , 8 1 L
. E d
. 2 d 6 9 4 , 7 0 2 (19 8 4 )). T hi s C our taf

f or ds cons i der abl e w ei ghtt o the cons truct i on gi ven t o a s t atut ory s cheme by t he
a g e n c y e n tru s te d to a d m in is te r i t. I d. B . A n a lys is ¶8. T he pl ai nt i f

f s i n thi s cas e r el y on M i s s i s s i ppi C ode Sect i on 9- 1- 103 and M i s s i s s i ppi C ode Sect i on 23- 15- 849( 1) t o s uppor tthei rar gum entthatthe r egul arel ect i on s chedul ed f or N o v e m b e r 2 , 2 0 1 0 , sh o u ld b e p o s tp o n e d u n til N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 . S e c tio n 9 -1 -1 0 3 sta tes , in
re lev a n t p a rt: W heneve ra vac ancy s hal l occuri n any j udi ci al off i ce by r eas on of

death of an i ncumben t , r es i gnat i on orr et i r ementof an i ncumbent , r emoval of an i ncumbentf

r om of f i ce, orc r eat i on of

a new j udi ci al of

f i ce i n w hi ch ther e has n o t h e re to fo re b e e n a n in c u m b e n t, th e G o v e rn o r s h a ll h a v e th e a u th o rity to ap po i nt a qua l i

f i ed p erson t o f

i l lsuch va can cy to serve f or the u nexp i red t erm orunt i ls uch vacanc

y is f i l l ed by el ect i on as pr ovi ded i n Se ct i on 23-15- 849, Mis s is s i ppiC ode of

1972. M i ss. C od e A nn . § 9 -1- 10 3 (R ev. 20 02 ) ( em ph asi s added ). S ect i on 23 -15-849 (1) provides: ( 1) V aca nci es i n t he of

f i ce of ci r cui tj udge orchanc el l ors hal l be f i l l ed f orthe u n e x p ire d ter m b y th e q u a lified e lec to rs a t th e n e x t re g u lar e lec tio n f o r sta te o ffi ce rs orforrepr esent at i ves i n C on gress oc c ur r i ngm or e tha n n i ne ( 9)

### 6

m onths af

t erthe exis t ence of

the vacanc

y t o be f i l l ed , a nd the t erm of

of f i ce of th e p e rso n e lec ted to fill a v a c a n c y sh a ll co m m e n c e o n th e firs t M o n d a y in J anuary f

ol l ow i ng hi s el ect i on. U pon the occ urr i ng of such a vac ancy, the G overnors hal l appoi nta qual i f i ed per s on f

r om the di s tr i cti n w hi ch the vaca ncy exi s t s t o hol d the of f i ce a nd di s char ge the dut i es ther eof unt i l the vaca ncy s hal l be f

i l l ed by el ect i on as pr ovi ded i n thi s s ubs ect i on. M i s s . C ode A nn. § 23- 15- 849( 1) ( R ev. 2007) ( emphasi s added)
. A ddi t i onal l y, M i s s i s s i ppi C od e S ect i on 23 -15-365 st at es: T her e s hal l be l ef

ton eac h bal l otone ( 1) bl ank s pace underthe t i t l e of eac h of f i ce t o be vot ed f

or , and i n the ev ent

of the death, resign at i on, w i thdr aw al orr em oval

of any candi dat e w hos e name s hal l have been pr i nt ed on the of f i ci al bal l ot , t he nam e of t he candi dat e dul y subs t i tut ed i n the pl ace of s uch ca n d idate m ay b e w ri tt en in su ch b lank sp ac e b y the v o ter. M i s s . C ode A nn. § 23- 15- 365 ( R ev. 2007) ( emphasi s added)
. U nderA r t i cl e 6, Sec t i on 153
o f th e M iss iss ip p i C o n stitu tio n an d M iss iss ip p i C o d e S e c tio n 9 -7 -1 , c irc u it co u rt ju d g e s s h a ll h o ld o ff ic e f o r a te rm o f fo u r y e a rs . See M i s s . Code A nn. § 9- 7- 1 ( R ev. 2002)
. M i s s i s s i ppi C ode Sect i on 23- 15- 1015 pr ovi des foran el ect i on t o be hel d i n every county every f our year s , concurr ent l y w i th the el ect i on f orr epr es ent at i ves i n C ongr es s , forj udges of the s ever al
c h a n c e ry a n d c ir c u it c o u rt d is tr ic ts . See M iss. C o d e A n n . § 2 3 -15 -10 1 5 (R ev . 2 0 0 7 ). ¶ 9
. T h e p lain tiffs a rg u e th a t, b e c a u se th e e lec tio n sc h e d u led fo r N o v e m b e r 2 , 2 0 1 0 , w ill t ake pl ace f

ew ert han ni ne mont hs f r om w hen the vac ancy oc curr ed, the el ect i on m us tbe pos tponed unt i l N ovember2011 s o t hatni ne m onths m ay pas s bef or e the el ect i on as r equi r ed by Sect i on 23- 15- 849( 1)
. T he B oar d co un t ers thatSect i on 23- 15- 849( 1) i s noti m pl i cat ed by t he f act s of thi s cas e. T he B oar d cont ends thatSect i on 23- 15- 849( 1) appl i es onl y w hen
a s peci al el ect i on i s requi red t o fi l l a vac ancy; i n thi s cas e, the vac ancy w i l l end upon the
e xp i r a t i on of

J ud ge Eva ns ’ s f

ou r - ye a rt e r m on D e c e mber31 , 20 10 , a nd the ne w f our - year

### 7

t er m wi l l b e gi n on J a nu a r y 1, 2 01 1. Thus , the Nove mber2 , 2 01 0, e l e c t i on wi l l b e t o el ect
a new j udge f

orthe r egul arf

our - yeart erm ; i tw i l l notbe a s peci al el ect i on t o f i l l a vac ancy i n an unexpi r ed t erm . A nd, beca us e J udge E vans di ed af t erqua l i f yi ng f orthe N ovember2, 2010 el ect i on, Sect i on 23- 15- 865 appl i es , m andat i ng a w r i t e- i n el ect i on. ¶1 0
. W e fi n d that the B o ard ’s interpre tat ion o f the statu tory sch em e w as p erm issib le. It i s pl ai n thatSect i ons 9- 1- 103 and 23- 15- 849 pr om ul gat e a pr ocedur e t o f i l l j udi ci al
vaca nci es . U pon the occurr ence of a va canc y, the G overnormustappoi nta qual i f i ed per s on fr o m th e d is tr ic t to s e rv e u n til th e v a c a n c y is f ille d b y s p e c ia l e le c tio n . M is s . C o d e A n n . § 23- 15- 849 ( R ev. 2007)
. A spec i al el ect i on t o fi l l t he vaca ncy mustt ake pl ace m or e than ni ne
m o n th s a ft e r t h e o c c u rr e n c e o f t h e v a c a n c y . I d. H o w e v e r, th e u se o f th e w o rd “ o r” in S ec ti o n 9 -1-1 0 3 m ea n s tha t an e lecti o n un d er S ec ti o n 2 3 -15 -84 9 (1) n ee d n o t occ u r i f th ere i s s o l i t t l e t i m e i n the unexpi r ed t erm t hatt he appoi nt ee m ay l egal l y “s erve f orthe unexpi r ed t e r m. ” M i s s . Code Ann. § 9
- 1- 10 3 ( Rev. 2 00 2) , M i s s . Code Ann. § 2 3- 15
- 84 9( 1) ( R ev. 2007)
. H er e, J udge Evans pa s s ed aw ay f i ve mont hs pri ort o t he expi r at i on of hi s t erm . T he G ov e rno r , pu r s ua ntt o Se c t i on 25
- 15
- 84 9( 1) , a pp oi nt e d J ud ge Bow e n t o f i l l the va c a nc y. T h is “v ac an cy ” w il l end o n D ec em b er 3 1 , 2 0 1 0 , th e d ate o f th e ex p ir ati o n of Jud g e E v an s’s t erm , w hi ch i s f

ew erthan ni ne mont hs af t erthe vac ancy oc curr ed. T he el ect i on f orthe new t erm o f off

i ce i s s chedul ed t o occuron N ovember2, 2010, and J udge Evans a l r eady ha d qual i f i ed f orthatel ect i on . B ecause J udge Evans di ed f ew erthan ni ne mont hs bef or e the expi r at i on of

hi s t erm , Sect i on 9- 1- 103 perm i t t ed the appoi nt ee, J udge B ow en, t o “s erve f or the unexpi r ed t erm ” w i th no r equi r ementof a s peci al el ect i on. M i s s . C ode A nn. § 9- 1- 103 ( R ev. 2002)
. U nderSec t i on 23- 15- 365, “ i n the eventof the death, r es i gnat i on, w i thdr aw al

### 8

orr emoval of

any ca ndi dat e w hos e name s hal l have be en pr i nt ed on the of f i ci al bal l ot , t he name of the candi dat e dul y s ubs t i tut ed i n the pl ace of s uch ca ndi dat e may be w r i t t en i n s uch bl ank s pace by the vot er . ” M i s s . Code A nn. § 23- 15- 365 ( R ev. 2007)
. B eca us e J udge Evans pas s ed aw ay af

t erqual i f yi ng f orthe N ovember2, 2010, el ect i on, a w r i t e- i n el ect i on w as p ro p e r. I

d. ¶11. T he pl ai nt i f

f s ar gue that thi s i nt erpr et at i on of the governi ng s t atutes i s i ncorr ectas appl i ed t o j udi ci al candi dat es . T hey cont end t hat , beca us e the Legi s l atur e has i m pos ed
u n iq u e q u a lifica tio n re q u ire m e n ts u p o n c a n d id a tes fo r ju d icia l o ffic e , a w rite- in e lec tio n in
w h ic h v o te rs m ig h t su p p ly n a m e s o f u n q u a lif ie d p e rs o n s is im p ro p e r. See M i s s . C ode A nn. §§ 23 -15-974 t o 2 3-15-98 5 (R ev. 20 07 ). T he C ou rto bserves that al l M i ssi ssi pp i el ect i on s,
exce ptforrun- of

f el ect i ons , perm i tvot er s t o vot e by w r i t e- i n. M i s s . C ode A nn. § 23- 15- 365 (R e v . 2 0 0 7 ). T h e iss u e h e re is th a t, un d e r S e c tio n 2 3 -1 5 -3 6 5 , d u e to th e d e a th o f th e o n ly candi dat e w ho had qual i f i ed b efor e the qual i f

yi ng deadl i ne had pa s s ed, no name w i l l be pr i nt ed on the bal l ot , an d t he el ect i on w i l l be onl y by w r i t e- i n. I n thatci r cumst ance , t he
e lec tio n w ill p ro c e e d in th e sa m e m a n n e r a s if n o o n e h a d q u a lified to ru n a s a c a n d id a te b efo re the q u ali fyin g d ea d li n e. M iss. C o d e A n n . § 2 3 -15 -36 5 (R ev . 2 0 0 7 ). ¶1 2
. T h is C o u rt h as ruled that “the ap p li ca ti o n o f the ‘w ri te-i n ca n d idate’ p rov isi o n s are appr op ri at e i n the eve ntof a dea th of

a ca ndi dat e w ho has qual i f i ed t o run f

ora part i cul ar of f i ce. ” U p to n v. McK

e n zie , 761 So. 2d 167, 175 ( M i s s . 2000) ( ci t i ng McK e n zie v. B o

y k in , 111 M i s s . 256, 71 So. 382 ( 1916) )
. A s t he B oar d cont ends , qual i f i cat i ons ar e notexcl us i ve to jud ici al office; all o ffi ce s i n th e S tat e o f M issi ssipp i h av e q u ali fyin g d ea d li n es th at req u ir e
cert ai n do cum ent at i on. A w r i t e- i n candi dat e natur al l y ent er s the r ace af t erthe qual i f

yi ng

### 9

deadl i ne has pas s ed. T he Legi s l atur e has pr ovi ded f ora w r i t e- i n el ect i on t o occuri n the eventof the de at h of

“any c andi dat e” w ho has qual i f i ed. A l though the Legi s l atur e has i m pos ed uni que qual i f

i cat i ons upon j udi ci al candi dat es , i tdi d notexcl ude j udi ci al candi dat es fr om i t s provi si on fora w ri t e-i n elect i on i n the even tof a q uali fi ed can didat e’s death. M i ss. C ode A nn. § 23- 15- 365 ( R ev. 2007)
. T her ef or e, w e f

i nd the B oar d’ s i nt erpr et at i on of Sect i on 23- 15- 365 w as perm i s s i bl e. W e af f i r m the ci r cui tcourt ’ s deni al o f i nj unct i ve and d e c la ra to ry re lie f. I S S UE ON CROS S - AP P EA L ¶1 3. W e tur n t o t he B oar d’ s c r os s - a pp e a l o f the a s s e s s mento f

c os t s a ga i ns ti t . T he
a s s e s s m e n t o f c o s ts is a m a tte r w ith in th e tr ia l c o u rt ’s s o u n d d is c re tio n . U nited S. B ank v. B ank of Mantee , 680 So. 2d 220, 224 ( M i s s . 1996)
. J udge Lackey a s s es s ed cos t s agai ns tt he B oar d i n hi s bench rul i ng and i ns truct ed couns el f orthe B oar d t o dr af

tan or derthatr ef

l ect ed the bench rul i ng. T he B oar d di d notobj ectt o the cos ta s s es s m ent , nordi d the B oar d f i l e a
m ot i on t o r econs i dert he cos tas s es s m ent . T heref ore, w e f

i nd thatthi s i s s ue w as not p re s e rv e d fo r a p p e a l. See Johnson v. G r ay , 8 5 9 S o . 2 d 1 0 0 6 , 1 0 1 5 (M iss. 2 0 0 3 ). ¶ 1 4
. ON DI RE CT AP P EA L: AF F I RM ED . ON CROS S - AP P EA L: AF F I RM ED . W A LL ER , C . J. , C A R LSO N A N D G R A V ES, P . JJ . , L A M A R A N D K I TC H EN S, J J . , CO NCU R. RAN DO LPH, J . , CO NCU RS I N RES ULT ON LY W I TH SEP ARA TE W R IT T E N O P IN IO N JO IN E D IN P A R T B Y P IE R C E , J . P IE R C E , J. , C O N C U R S IN RES ULT ON LY W I TH SEP ARA TE W RI TTEN OPI NI ON J OI NED I N PART BY RA ND OL P H, J . DI CK I NS ON , J . , NO T P AR T I CI P AT I NG . RANDOL P H, J US TI CE , CONCURR I NG I N RE S UL T ONL Y: ¶15
. T he plai nti ff

s/ app el l ants off

er cr edibl e evidence thatsom e vo t ers (absent ee ball ots ) i n thei rvar i ous count i es have be en, and ot hervot er s (e l ect i on day) w i l l be, deni ed t he r i ght

### SeeCan on5 o f the M ississipp i Co de o f Jud icial Co nduct. 1 

### 10 to tim e ly a n d e ffe c tiv e in stru c tio n s o n h o w to u til ize w rite- in b a llo ts; a n d th a t th e m a n n e r in
w hi ch the el ect i on w i l l be hel d w i l l r es ul ti n m as s conf us i on, thus thw art i ng the w i l l of t he p e o p le
. ¶16. B y appl i cat i on of tw o s t atut es deal i ng w i th vaca ncy and vaca ncy i n of f i ce ( i ncl udi ng the hol di ng of

el ect i ons ) , the di l emm a now bei ng f ace d coul d have be en pr evente d. M i s s i s s i ppi C ode Sect i on 9- 1- 103 i s the f i r s ts t atut e w hi ch s houl d be exa m i ned undert he fa c ts p re se n ted . It es tab lish e s th e p ro c e d u re to b e fo llo w e d “ [w ]he n e v e r a v a c a n c y sh a ll
occuri n any j udi ci al o ff i ce by r eas on of

death of an i ncumbent , ” in tera lia , gr ant i ng “the G overnorthe author i ty t o appoi nta qual i f i ed per son t o f

i l l s uch vac ancy t o s erve f ort he
u n e x p i r e d t e r m or unt i l s uch vac ancy i s f i l l ed by el ect i on as provi ded i n Sect i on 23- 15- 849

. . . . ” M i s s . C ode A nn. § 9- 1- 103 ( R ev. 2002) ( emphasi s added)
. A ppl ying thatst atut e as
w ritten w o u ld h a v e a v o id e d th e c o n flict p o se d h e re in an d allo w e d a ll j u d icia l ca n d id a tes to
a b id e b y th e N o n p a rt is a n J u d ic ia l E le c tio n A c t. See M i s s . Code A nn. §§ 23- 15- 974 t o 23- 15- 985 ( R ev. 2007)
. H ow ever, co m pl i ance w i th others t atut es i s now i m pos s i bl e, gi ven the el ect i on is l es s than one w eek a w ay. A ppel l ant s ar e conc erned thatther e i s a di s t i nct l i kel i hood thatthe w i l l of a maj or i ty of

the peopl e w i l l notbe expr es s ed i n thi s el ect i on. ¶17. U s i ng the author i ty gr ant ed by Sect i on 9- 1- 103 w oul d have al l ow ed al l of the j udi ci al cand i dates t i m e t o ful fi l l otherst atutory an d jud i ci al cod e ob l i gati on s and requ i rem ents ; 1 provided each of the can didat es an op po rtun i ty to cond uct a m eaningful cam paign; and , m ost i m por t ant l y, al l ow ed the el ect or at e ampl e t i m e t o ve tthe cr edent i al s and qual i f i cat i ons of

t he

### 11

resp ec ti ve can didat es before bei ng requi red t o ex press theirw i l l atthe b al l ot box. R at her, the e lectora te ha s b ee n issue d a m an d ate b y th e S tat e B o ard o f E lecti o n C o m m issi o n ers ( “B oar d”) thatexpr es s i ng thei rw i l l m us tbe a ccompl i s hed by w r i t i ng i n a candi dat e’ s name. ¶18. T he “W r i t e- i n Space” s t atut e, M i s s i s s i ppi C ode Sect i on 23- 15- 365, r equi r es l eavi ng “on ea ch bal l otone ( 1) bl ank s pace underthe t i t l e of eac h of f i ce t o be vot ed f

or , a nd i n t he
e v e n t o f t h e d e a th , . . . of any candi dat e w hos e nam e s hal lhave be en pr i nt ed on the of f i ci al bal l ot , the name of

the ca ndi dat e dul y s ubs t i tut ed i n the pl ace of s uch candi dat e may be
w r i t t en i n s uch bl ank s pace by the vot er . ” M i s s . C ode A nn. § 23-15- 365 ( R ev. 2007) ( emphasi s added)
. B as ed on the pl eadi ngs and br i ef s f i l ed, the nam e o f t he dece as ed i nc umbe nt , the Honor a bl e Robe r tEva ns , i s n otp r i nt e d on the b a l l ot . The W r i t e - i n Space
s t atut e pas s ed by the Legi s l atur e w as des i gned t o of f erall vot er s an al t ernat i ve t o t he candi dat e w hos e name i s l i s t ed. I n the ca s e bef or e us , ther e i s no othername on t he of f i ci al b a llo t. T h e re fo re , S e c tio n 2 3 -1 5 -3 6 5 s h o u ld n o t a p p ly
. ¶19. N onethel es s , t he B oar d i nt erpr et ed i t s du t i es and respon si bi l i t i es contr ary t o the i nt erpr et at i on advocat ed by t he appe l l ant s . A l though I di s agr ee w i th the dec i s i on of t he Bo a r d , I c a n n o td i s r e g a r d th a tmy e s t e e me d c o l l e a g u e s , c h a r g e d wi th a n a l y z i n g th e s a me i s s ues , have, af

t era s pi r i t ed deba t e of

the pr os and cons of

e ach pa r t i es ’ pos i t i on, r eac hed a di f f er entdi s pos i t i on. T hus , one i ssue be comes a bundant l y cl ear( beyond al l di s put e) , t hat bei ng thatt he dec i s i on of t he B oar d w as “f

ai r l y debat abl e, ” w hi ch i s “the ant i thes i s of
arbi tr ary and capr i ci ous . ” E dw ards v. H arrison Cou n t

y B d. of Su

pervisors, 22 So. 3d 268, 274 ( M i s s . 2009) ( quot i ng T ow n of Flor ence v. Sea L ands, L td. , 759 So. 2d 1221, 1223 (M iss. 2 0 0 0 )).

### SeeMis s. Code Ann. § 23-15- 365 (Re v. 2007)
. 2 

### 12 ¶20. Perhaps , i f f

ace d w i th a s i m i l ar di l emm a i n the f utur e, the B oar d s houl d cons i dert he pos i t i ons advoca t ed by the l ocal el ect ed of f i ci al s w ho br oughtthi s act i on. H ow ever , our
s t andar d of r evi ew does notal l ow r ever s al of an admi ni s tr at i ve dec i s i on s i m pl y bas ed upon
w hetherw e agr ee ordi s agr ee w i th the br anch oragenc y empow er ed t o m ake t he dec i s i on. T her ef or e, I ac qui es ce i n t he C our t ’ s opi ni on d u b ita n te on the ques t i on of w hetherthe pr oper
s t atut es w er e ut i l i zed. PI ERCE, J . , J OI NS T HI S OPI NI ON I N PART. PI ERCE, J UST I CE, CO NCU RRI NG I N RESULT: ¶2 1
. O u r de cisi o n tod ay is trou b li n g b ec au se it s im m ed iat e resu ltm ay b e c h ao s. H o w ev er, I a g r e e th a tth e E l e c t i o n Co mm i s s i o n ’ s i n t e rp r e t a t i o n i s p e r mi s s i b l e u n d e ro u rl i m i t e d r e v i e w. ¶22. T he M aj or i ty not es that , ef f ect i vel y, no per s on qual i f i ed t o run i n t his el ect i on and f i nds thati n s uch a c i r cumst ance , the “w r i t e- i n” pr ovi s i ons of M i s s i s s i ppi C ode Sect i on 23- 15- 365 ar e appl i cabl e. T hi s s ect i on i s i m pl i cat ed onl y w hen a c andi dat e i s r emoved f r om
c ont ent i on bu tw hos e nam e r em ai ns pr i nt ed on the bal l ot . So, I cannotagr ee w i th t he 2 M aj or i ty thatSect i on 23- 15- 365 m andat es a w r i t e- i n el ect i on. ¶2 3. H ow ever , M i s s i s s i pp i Code Se c t i on 2 3- 15
- 10 15 man da t e s t hata r egul ar el ect i on
occur . M i s s . C ode A nn. § 23- 12- 1015 ( R ev. 2007) W hi l e no st at utor y proc es s m ay
s peci f i cal l y a ddr es s the r ar e ci r cumst ance s of havi ng no per s on has qual i f i ed t o have hi s or hername pr i nt ed on the bal l ot , w e s t i l l f ace the ques t i on of

w hetherthe El ect i on C om m i s s i on
r eas onabl y i nt erpr et ed t he m andat e i n S ect i on 23-15- 1015 thatan el ect i on be hel d. G i vi ng

### Th is po ssibilityis no t likelylost o n o ur S ecretary o f State w ith h is no torio usly 3 

### mi spronounce d firs t name . 13 the El ect i on C om m i s s i on t he appr opr i at e def er ence ( and des pi t e my re s ervat i ons aboutt he i ns t antr es ul tof

thi s deci s i on) I cannotcal l i t s det erm i nat i on unr eas onabl e. ¶24. J udge Evans’ s death has l ef ta voi d i n M i s s i s s i ppi ’ s j udi ci al s ys t em. C om poundi ng thi s m i s f or tune, the pe t i t i oner s have no good w ay t o s el ecthi s r epl ace m ent . Post
- el ect i on chal l enges r angi ng f

rom candi dat e qual i f

i cat i ons t o m i s s pel l ed names w i l l be no s urpr i s e. 3 H ow ever , the l aw r equi r es a gene r al el ect i on to oc cur , and the El ect i on C om m i s s i on has
c h o se n th is m e th o d in th e ir p a rticu lar ize d w isd o m . S o , I co n c u r in th e re su lt. RAN DO LPH, J . , J OI NS T HI S OPI NI ON I N PART.