Opinion ID: 1796148
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Whether Judge Gibson Acted Inappropriately

Text: ¶ 5. The Commission found that Judge Gibson's conduct violated Section 177A of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 as amended, in that he engaged in willful misconduct in office and conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice which brings the judicial office into disrepute[.] Miss. Const. art. 6, § 177A (b) & (e). In regard to what actions constitute willful misconduct in the judicial office, we have held: Willful misconduct in office is the improper or wrongful use of power of his office by a judge acting intentionally, or with gross unconcern for his conduct and generally in 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. In re Quick, 553 So.2d 522, 524-25 (Miss. 1989). ¶ 6. Judge Gibson has agreed to the Commission's recommendation and has joined the Commission's motion for approval of its recommendations. Accordingly, the judge's decision acknowledges that his actions constituted willful misconduct prejudicial to the administration of justice which brought the judicial office into disrepute, and we need not make any further findings on this issue.