Opinion ID: 2490774
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: An isolated incident or a pattern of conduct

Text: ¶ 21. Judge Cowart has had prior disciplinary actions against her. In 2004, Judge Cowart issued a warrant for noncustodial kidnapping against the father of a child involved in a custody dispute. The mother of the child was both a campaign contributor and Judge Cowart's friend. For this action, the Commission issued an informal Commission action. ¶ 22. In Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance v. Cowart, 936 So.2d 343 (Miss.2006), this Court agreed with the Commission in finding that Judge Cowart had engaged in ex parte communications, had presided over a case after acknowledging she had a conflict, had contacted an officer to fix a ticket for her neighbor, personally had handled money due for fines owed, and had disposed of traffic violations with no hearing or notice to the issuing officer. Id. at 347. From these actions, this Court issued a public reprimand and a thirty-day suspension without pay and assessed costs. ¶ 23. Judge Cowart's present conduct is similar to that for which she previously has been reprimanded. Her pattern of conduct shows a disregard for the Code of Judicial Conduct.