Opinion ID: 1099481
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: should the respondent be removed from office pursuant to section 177a of the mississippi constitution?

Text: While we defer to the recommendation of sanctions made by the Commission, we are not bound by them. The sanctions which can be imposed by this Court for judicial misconduct include the removal or suspension of the judge from office, a fine, or public reprimand. See Mississippi Judicial Performance Commission v. Walker, 565 So.2d 1117, 1124 (Miss. 1990) and Miss. Const. Art. 6, § 177A (1890). The sanction should fit the offense. In Re Quick, 553 So.2d 522, 525 (Miss. 1989); In Re Bailey, 541 So.2d 1036, 1039 (Miss. 1989). Most Mississippians have primary contact with the law through the justice courts. Since that is so, we have said that although many of these judges have not had any formal training for the office, [w]hen a person assumes the office of Justice Court Judge in this state, he or she accepts the responsibility of becoming learned in the law. When such a person takes the oath of office, he or she yields the prerogative of executing the responsibilities of the office on any basis other than the fair and impartial and competent application of the law to the facts. The preservation of the rule of law as our last best hope for the just ordering of our society requires nothing less than an insistence by this Court that our justice court judges be in fact what they are in name: judges. (Citations omitted) In Re Bailey, 541 So.2d at 1039. Certain factors may be considered as mitigating circumstances in the decision to impose a public reprimand. These include the length and character of the judge's public service, any positive contributions made to the courts and community by the judge, the fact that there is no prior judicial precedent on the issue in question, a judge's commitment to fairness and innovative procedural form, the magnitude of the alleged misconduct, the number of persons who have been affected by the misconduct, and whether the misconduct involved moral turpitude. See Walker, supra, at 1125 and In Re Inquiry Concerning Baker, 535 So.2d 47, 54 (Miss. 1988). Section 177A of the Mississippi Constitution allows a judge to be sanctioned for, among other things, willful misconduct in office. Willful misconduct within the meaning of Section 177A was discussed in the case In Re Anderson, 412 So.2d 743 (Miss. 1982). We adopted the definition of willful misconduct as given in the North Carolina case of In re Nowell, 293 N.C. 235, 237 S.E.2d 246, 255 (1977). Willful misconduct in office is the improper or wrongful use of the power of his office by a judge acting intentionally, or with gross unconcern for his conduct, and generally in bad faith. It involves more than an error of judgment or a mere lack of diligence. Necessarily, the term would encompass conduct involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, or corruption, and also any knowing misuse of the office, whatever the motive. However, these elements are not necessary to a finding of bad faith. A specific intent to use the powers of the judicial office to accomplish a purpose which the judge knew or should have known was beyond the legitimate exercise of his authority constitutes bad faith.... Willful misconduct in office of necessity is conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice that brings the judicial office into disrepute. However, a judge may also, through negligence or ignorance not amounting to bad faith, behave in a manner prejudicial to the administration of justice so as to bring the judicial office into disrepute. (Emphasis theirs). In Re Anderson, 412 So.2d at 745. The Canons of the Code of Judicial Conduct which have purportedly been violated by Judge Hopkins are Canons 1, 2 A, 2 B, 3 A(1), 3 A(4), 3 B(1), and 3 B(2). The text of those Canons is as follows: CANON 1 A Judge Should Uphold the Integrity and Independence of the Judiciary An independent and honorable judiciary is indispensable to justice in our society. A judge should participate in establishing, maintaining, and enforcing, and should himself observe, high standards of conduct so that the integrity and independence of the judiciary may be preserved. The provisions of this Code should be construed and applied to further that objective. CANON 2 A Judge Should Avoid Impropriety and the Appearance of Impropriety in All His Activities A. A judge should respect and comply with the law and should conduct himself at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary. B. A judge should not allow his family, social, or other relationships to influence his judicial conduct or judgment. He should not lend the prestige of his office to advance the private interests of others; nor should he convey or permit others to convey the impression that they are in a special position to influence him. He should not testify voluntarily as a character witness. CANON 3 A Judge Should Perform the Duties of His Office Impartially and Diligently The judicial duties of a judge take precedence over all his other activities. His judicial duties include all the duties of his office prescribed by law. In the performance of these duties, the following standards apply: A. Adjudicative Responsibilities (1) A judge should be faithful to the law and maintain professional competence in it. He should be unswayed by partisan interests, public clamor, or fear of criticism. (4) A judge should accord to every person who is legally interested in a proceeding, or his lawyer, full right to be heard according to law, and, except as authorized by law, neither initiate nor consider ex parte or other communications concerning a pending or impending proceeding. A judge, however, may obtain the advice of a disinterested expert on the law applicable to a proceeding before if he gives notice to the parties of the person consulted and the substance of the advice, and affords the parties reasonable opportunity to respond. B. Administrative Responsibilities (1) A judge should diligently discharge his administrative responsibilities, maintain professional competence in judicial administration, and facilitate the performance of the administrative responsibilities of other judges and court officials. (2) A judge should require his staff and court officials subject to his direction and control to observe the standards of fidelity and diligence that apply to him. The alleged acts of misconduct committed by Judge Hopkins are (1) one instance of ticket fixing and the attempted cover-up, (2) the plea of nolo contendere to the charge of malicious mischief, (3) calling an officer with the Bureau of Narcotics an S.O.B. knowing that the statement was likely to be published in the newspaper, (4) allowing clerks and other officials to dismiss tickets without an adjudication, (5) failing to timely sign the dockets, (6) exchanging tickets for information on other criminal activity, and (7) accepting free drinks and free admission in exchange for favors. Although some of these charges lack merit, we find that clear and convincing evidence has been offered that the overall conduct of Judge Hopkins constitutes willful misconduct in office and is prejudicial to the administration of justice which brings the judicial office into disrepute. We order that Judge Hopkins be removed from office.