Opinion ID: 1149070
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: The Mississippi Code of Judicial Conduct

Text: ¶ 38. The Commission recommends that the Court find Judge Sanders's violations of Canons 1, 2, 2 A, 2 A, 2 B, 3 A(1), 3 A(4), 3 B(1) and 3 C(1) of the Code of Judicial Conduct constitute willful misconduct in office and conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice which brings the judiciary into disrepute pursuant to § 177A of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890, as amended, and as defined by the Court. The Judicial Canons that Judge Sanders was found to have violated are presented with discussion. ¶ 39. Canon 1 of the Mississippi Code of Judicial Conduct provides: 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. ¶ 40. Judge Sanders' conduct violated the integrity and independence of the judiciary. Judge Sanders knowingly suspended the sentences of a former client, in the same matter as the earlier representation, whom she knew to have multiple felony convictions. Judge Sanders' conduct violated statutory law, case law and the Judicial Canons. Further, the release of a convicted misdemeanant, following an affirmed conviction and sentence from a superior court, fails to uphold the integrity of the judiciary. The unauthorized release of convicted criminals questions the integrity of the judiciary. ¶ 41. Canon 2 of the Mississippi Code of Judicial Conduct provides: A Judge Should Avoid Impropriety and the Appearance of Impropriety in All His Activities ¶ 42. Commentary to this Canon states: A judge must avoid all impropriety and appearances of impropriety. Public confidence in the judiciary is eroded by irresponsible or improper conduct by judges. A judge must expect to be the subject of constant public scrutiny, and therefore accept restrictions on his conduct that might be viewed as burdensome by the ordinary citizen and should do so freely and willingly. ¶ 43. As discussed earlier, Judge Sanders' conduct was improper and prohibited. Judge Sanders' conduct circumvented the law of this state. Although directly prohibited by law, Judge Sanders suspended the sentences of a former client, who was ineligible for release and knowingly suspended a sentence following a mandate from the Mississippi Court of Appeals that affirmed the conviction and sentence. Public confidence in the judiciary was eroded by the knowing disregard of Mississippi law by Judge Sanders. Judge Sanders' unauthorized release of the two criminals is an actual impropriety. ¶ 44. Canon 2 A provides: 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. ¶ 45. Judge Sanders did not respect and comply with Mississippi law. Judge Sanders acted without jurisdiction or authority to enter the orders which suspended the sentences of the two inmates. The conduct of Judge Sanders destroyed the public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary. ¶ 46. Canon 2 B of the Mississippi Code of Judicial Conduct provides: 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 interest 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. ¶ 47. Judge Sanders allowed the prestige of her office to be used to advance private interests. The unauthorized release of a former client from confinement and the release of another prisoner upon request diminishes the public confidence in the judiciary's independence and impartiality. Judge Sanders allowed the public to believe that a former client and a county supervisor were in a special position to influence Judge Sanders, and did use their special relationships with Judge Sanders to affect her judgment. ¶ 48. Canon 3 A(1) of the Mississippi Code of Judicial Conduct provides: 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. ¶ 49. Judge Sanders admitted that she was not competent in areas of law effecting the release of Binion and Spears. Judge Sanders' failure to understand the law resulted in her failure to uphold the law of this state. Further, Judge Sanders admitted that she allowed ex parte communications to effect her decisions to enter the orders. ¶ 50. Canon 3 A(4) of the Mississippi Code of Judicial Conduct provides: 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 him if he gives notice to the parties consulted and the substance of the advice, and affords the parties reasonable opportunity to respond. ¶ 51. Judge Sanders testified that she initiated and participated in many ex parte communications. She testified she now knows better, however, she did not explain why she chose not to contact a circuit court judge from another district for advice, as allowed by the Canon. ¶ 52. Canon 3 B(1) of the Mississippi Code of Judicial Conduct provides: 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. ¶ 53. Judge Sanders' conduct violated this Canon. Judge Sanders signed an order which suspended the sentence of a former client without a hearing. Further, Judge Sanders knowingly released and suspended the sentence of Spears after the Mississippi Court of Appeals had affirmed his conviction and sentence. ¶ 54. Canon 3 C(1)(b) of the Mississippi Code of Judicial Conduct provides: A judge should disqualify himself in a proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned, including but not limited to instances where: (b) he served as lawyer in the matter in controversy, or a lawyer with whom he previously practiced law served during such association as a lawyer concerning the matter, or the judge or such lawyer has been a material witness concerning it. ¶ 55. Judge Sanders served as Binion's counsel in cause No.'s 8945 and 8946 and later suspended these sentences in her capacity as judge. Because her impartiality was reasonably questioned, Judge Sanders was disqualified in Binion's matter by this Canon.