Opinion ID: 1656572
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Is it a Disciplinary Statute?

Text: ¶ 26. The statute certainly seems to provide for the discipline of Judge Osborne, since it states that, if Judge Osborne practiced law past the statute's six-month grace period, he shall be removed from office  the most severe discipline a judge can receive for misconduct. ¶ 27. Lawyers are disciplined pursuant to the Rules of Discipline for the State Bar. Rule 1., thereunder, provides, The Supreme Court of Mississippi has exclusive and inherent jurisdiction of matters pertaining to attorney discipline.... Furthermore, Miss.Code Ann. § 73-3-301 provides that attorneys practicing in this state are subject to the exclusive and inherent disciplinary jurisdiction of the supreme court of Mississippi.... ¶ 28. Judges are disciplined pursuant to Article 6, Section 177A of the Mississippi Constitution, which provides that, upon recommendation of the commission on judicial performance, the supreme court may remove from office, suspend, fine, or publicly censure or reprimand any justice or judge.... Furthermore, the imposition of sanctions for judicial misconduct is a matter left solely to the discretion of the Supreme Court. Mississippi Com'n of Judicial Performance v. Russell, 691 So.2d 929 (Miss.1997). Contrary to this Court's holding in Russell, and contrary to the Constitution, Section 9-1-25 mandates removal from office. [1] There is no discretion for this Court to exercise. Thus, the statute cannot be a statute of discipline.