Opinion ID: 1707014
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: vashti muse's teaching accomplishments and benefits conferred upon hinds community college are irrelevant in determining whether dr. muse violated the conflict of interest laws.

Text: ¶ 19. The trial court opined that Hinds Community College benefitted from Vashti's employment due to her superior skills and performance and her recognition by various organizations for her abilities. In fact, Vashti has received a remarkable number of awards. Her counsel lists the following among her accolades: 1995 William H. Meardy Faculty Member Award; 1994 Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Professor of the Year for Mississippi; 1992 Resolution of Commendation by the Hinds Community College Board of Trustees; 1990 Distinguished Academic Instructor of the Year for the Hinds Community College; 1991 Resolution of Commendation by the Mississippi Legislature; and, others. The State argues that Vashti's accomplishments are irrelevant in determining whether or not Dr. Muse violated § 25-4-105(1). ¶ 20. We have previously held that when Constitutional ethics provisions are violated, considerations other than the violation, are, utterly immaterial and wholly out of place, when the effort is here to have enforced a wise and salutary policy of protection for all the people by the constitution in sec. 109. Noxubee County Hardware Co. v. City of Macon, 90 Miss. 636, 640, 43 So. 304, 305 (1907). The following 1907 Mississippi Supreme Court remonstration from Chief Justice Whitfield to the Macon Aldermen is equally apropos to the Muse statutory violations: ... It may be that they have acted in actual ignorance of the true construction of this section. They will be without that excuse in the future..... Let them both resign and resume their business. Id. at 641-42, 43 So. at 305. See also State ex rel. Stirling v. Board of Levee Commrs., 96 Miss. 677, 51 So. 211 (1910); Golding v. Salter, 234 Miss. 567, 107 So.2d 348 (1958); Miller v. Tucker, 142 Miss. 146, 105 So. 774 (1925). ¶ 21. Any benefits Hinds Community College received as a result of Vashti's employment are irrelevant in light of Dr. Clyde Muse's repeated violations of the conflict of interest laws. Any benefit Vashti may have bestowed on Hinds Community College likely could have been conferred by any other equally competent and qualified educator whose honors further would not have been tainted by the appearance of nepotism and self-dealing. If we accepted Dr. Muse's argument, our conflict of interest laws would apply only when the employee was perceived to be only average or less than adequate. Such an interpretation of the law lacks intellectual credibility.