Mississippi’s judicial watchdog group is examining another case involving Hinds County Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter – this one about his handling of a manslaughter case involving the death of a motorist.
DeLaughter is already temporarily suspended from the bench, pending review by the Judicial Performance Commission, on a bribery allegation involving a ruling in a legal fees dispute that went in favor of now imprisoned trial lawyer Dickie Scruggs. Scruggs is serving a five-year sentence for attempted bribery of a judge in another legal fees lawsuit.
According to sources close to the investigation, the probe of DeLaughter has now expanded to include the case involving former Jackson police officer Jeffrey Middleton, who pleaded guilty in March 2007 to culpable negligent vehicular manslaughter in the June 15, 2005, death of 23-year-old Desmonde Harris of Jackson.
