Opinion ID: 1735237
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Count IIImproperly Extending Probation

Text: ¶ 27. The second allegation of misconduct arose from Judge Byers's improper extension of a defendant's probation in violation of Miss.Code Ann. §§ 47-7-37 & 47 (Supp.1999) and Canons 1, 2 A, 2 B and 3 A(1) of the Code of Judicial Conduct In 1992, (prior to Judge Byers's election), the defendant (Williams) was indicted, pled guilty to robbery and was sentenced to ten years in prison. At a probation revocation hearing (arising from the 1992 sentence), Judge Byers found that Williams had failed to report to the probation office for almost four and one half years, so she ordered him to complete the Leflore County Restitution Center program, and upon completion of this program, to continue on intensive supervised probation for four more years. ¶ 28. This order was improper under Sections 47-7-47 and 47-7-37. Section 47-7-47 provides in part: (1) The judge of any circuit court may place an offender on a program of earned probation after a period of confinement as set out herein ... (2)(a) Any circuit court ... may, upon its own motion, acting upon the advice and consent of the commissioner at the time of the initial sentencing only, not earlier than thirty (30) days nor later than one (1) year after the defendant has been delivered to the custody of the department, to which he has been sentenced, suspend the further execution of the sentence and place the defendant on earned probation, except ... if the defendant has been confined for the conviction of a felony on a previous occasion in any court or courts of the United States ... (b) The authority granted in this subsection shall be exercised by the judge who imposed sentence on the defendant, or his successor. Miss.Code Ann. § 47-7-47 (Supp.1999) (emphasis added). ¶ 29. The Commission argued that this section could not be used in the Williams case because it specifically states that it is only applicable at the initial time of sentencing and it is not to be used when a defendant has been confined for the conviction of a felony on a prior occasion. ¶ 30. By extending the defendant's probation four more years Judge Byers was again in violation of the code. Section 47-7-37 provides: The period of probation shall be fixed by the court, and may at any time be extended or terminated by the court, or judge in vacation. Such period with any extension thereof shall not exceed five (5) years ... Miss.Code Ann. § 47-7-37 (Supp.1999) (emphasis added). ¶ 31. Judge Byers admitted that she had improperly applied the statutes without authority. The Commission concluded that her actions violated §§ 47-7-37 and 47-7-47 and that this was sufficient conduct to constitute willful misconduct as to Canons 1, 2 A, 2 B and 3 A(1) of the Code of Judicial Conduct of Mississippi Judges. While Judge Byers clearly committed errors in judgment, which violated the statutes and the canons, we do not find her actions with regard to this Court to constitute willful misconduct.