Although it would be hard to tell by talking to Appeals Court Judge David Chandler, his bid to unseat Supreme Court Justice Chuck Easley is one of the most contentious of this year’s big state races.
In an interview with The Clarion-Ledger editorial board Monday, Chandler, 62, of Choctaw County quietly avoided questions about his opponent or tensions on the state’s highest court. Instead, he concentrated on his judicial pedigree and his “quality work” on the appeals court for the past eight years.
“I pride myself on my integrity, my ability to make tough decisions, regardless of political pressure,” he said. “I behave myself, both on the bench and in the community.”
Easley took a more direct approach.
“Chandler is a phony,” he said.
Easley, who is finishing his first eight-year term on the bench as the District 3, Place 2 justice, representing 33 north Mississippi counties, lambasted his opponent in the nonpartisan race as being in the pocket of big business in civil matters and soft on defendants in criminal cases.
Magnolia Tribune
