Opinion ID: 1095462
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the ethics commission suit

Text: The majority begins its opinion by addressing the legality of the Ethics Commission suit. This portion of the opinion delicately balances the power and authority of the attorney general, normally entrusted with bringing suits of this nature before the courts on behalf of the state, with the statutory power and ability of state agencies to also seek adjudication of issues deemed to be of statewide importance but which the attorney general has declined to pursue. The conclusion is that the judiciary, rather than the attorney general, should ultimately decide whether the agency should be allowed to proceed without the attorney general. This holding serves to protect the interest of the state, the interest of our state agencies, and most of all, the interest of the people of Mississippi. I concur fully in both the reasoning and the result reached by the majority in this portion of the opinion. B.