Opinion ID: 2543702
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Appropriate Sanctions for Judge Buffington

Text: ¶ 9. In determining appropriate sanctions in judicial misconduct proceedings, this Court applies the following factors: (1) The length and character of the judge's public service; (2) Whether there is any prior case law on point; (3) The magnitude of the offense and the harm suffered; (4) Whether the misconduct is an isolated incident or evidences a pattern of conduct; (5) Whether moral turpitude was involved; and (6) The presence or absence of mitigating or aggravating circumstances. Miss. Comm'n on Judicial Performance v. Gibson, 883 So.2d 1155, 1158 (Miss.2004). ¶ 10. With regard to these factors, the record in this matter indicates that: (1) Judge Buffington has been a chancery court judge since 1995; (2) There is a prior case on point. See Miss. Comm'n on Judicial Performance v. Jenkins, 677 So.2d 171 (Miss.1996) (this Court accepted recommendation of public reprimand where chancellor improperly issued subpoenas to nonparties to answer questions regarding rumors); (3) Judge Buffington violated Canons 1, 2A, 3B(2), and 3C(1) of the Code of Judicial Conduct of Mississippi. Judge Buffington further admitted that he had failed to comply with the law; (4) Judge Buffington has had two informal Commission actions and a private admonishment unrelated to this case; (5) Judge Buffington stated that he knew the subpoenas did not comply with the applicable rules, but he did not care; and (6) Judge Buffington has agreed his actions were improper and has entered into an Agreed Statement of Facts and Proposed Recommendation without the requirement of a hearing. The record does not indicate any aggravating factors. ¶ 11. Based on Judge Buffington's misconduct and his agreement with the Commission's recommendation, we hereby grant the Joint Motion for Approval of Recommendations Filed by the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance. Further, we order that Judge Buffington be publicly reprimanded pursuant to Section 177A of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890, as amended, and assessed with costs of the proceeding in the amount of $100. ¶ 12. LARRY BUFFINGTON, CHANCERY COURT JUDGE OF THE THIRTEENTH DISTRICT CHANCERY COURT, SHALL BE PUBLICLY REPRIMANDED AND ASSESSED COSTS OF $100. THE PUBLIC REPRIMAND SHALL BE READ IN OPEN COURT BY THE PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE COVINGTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE NEXT TERM OF THAT COURT IN WHICH A JURY VENIRE IS PRESENT AFTER THIS DECISION BECOMES FINAL. CARLSON, P.J., DICKINSON, RANDOLPH, LAMAR, KITCHENS, CHANDLER AND PIERCE, JJ., CONCUR. WALLER, C.J., NOT PARTICIPATING.