PERRY/Barbour’s enduring judicial legacy
A review of the 2010 judicial elections in Mississippi reveals an electorate generally satisfied with its judges, and a judiciary highly impacted by appointments in recent years by Gov. Haley R. Barbour.
Supreme Court Justice Jess Dickinson drew no challenge in his reelection bid. Five incumbents on the Court of Appeals sought election and all won; only two faced opposition.
Mississippians elected 49 chancery judges in 2010 and 43 were unopposed. One incumbent won reelection even after passing away. There were four open and contested seats. Only two incumbent chancellors faced a challenge: one won; one lost. Judge Edwin H. Roberts Jr. (18th District) defeated his challenger with 69 percent of the vote. Controversial Judge Larry Buffington (13th District) lost in the run-off with 32 percent of the vote. A recommendation by the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance for a public rebuke of Buffington is pending at the Mississippi Supreme Court.
Madison County Journal
12/1/10
Magnolia Tribune
