Chief Justice Pittman retiring from Mississippi Supreme Court

The Sun Herald ^ | March 9, 2004 | Shelia Hardwell Byrd

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Chief Justice Pittman retiring from Mississippi Supreme Court

SHELIA HARDWELL BYRD

Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. - Supreme Court Chief Justice Edwin L. Pittman says he leaves office with Mississippi's judiciary system "much improved."

Pittman on Monday made stops in Hattiesburg and Jackson to announce he will retire March 31.

Pittman, during a news conference at the Supreme Court, cited some of the court's achievement during his tenure, including allowing cameras in the courtroom, posting high court arguments on the Internet and requiring out-of-state attorneys to register with Mississippi if they practice in the state.

He also praised the court's rule change for handling mass litigation lawsuits. The changes narrow the criteria by which plaintiffs join into such cases.

"I would not leave save for the fact that I know we're in excellent hands," Pittman said.

Republican Gov. Haley Barbour said Pittman had served the state well.

"I hope between now and April 1, I can find someone to take your seat on the bench that can do half as much for Mississippi as you have in the last 40 years," Barbour told Pittman.

Pittman is retiring nine months before the expiration of his elected term, which would end in January 2005. He said the court's recent internal conflicts had nothing to do with his decision.

Pittman, who told Barbour about his possible early retirement in November, said he's leaving the bench because it's time.

"I get to travel, to see our kids. We live 22 feet from the Ross Barnett Reservoir so we get to fish or do whatever we want to do," Pittman said.

Pittman said he would like to see the state eventually adopt rules regarding lawyer advertising. He said the court's Rules Committee is working on the issue.

"We cannot constitutionally prohibit advertising. But we can reasonably, as a state know who is advertising in our state," he said.

The governor will appoint someone to serve the unexpired term, and Justice Jim Smith of Brandon, who will have the most seniority on the court, will become chief justice. Smith has been on the court since January 1994.

Justice Kay Cobb of Oxford will become the presiding justice. Cobb has been on the court since 1999.

A justice will be elected in the state's Southern District to the next full eight-year term during the Nov. 2 general election. So far, two candidates have qualified - Appeals Court Judge Joe Lee of Terry and attorney David Ishee of Harrison County. The deadline to qualify for judicial elections is May 7.

Smith said Pittman was a stabilizing force when the court "was under attack."

"You don't have a clue what this court has been through. But we are still standing because of his leadership and we continue to stand," Smith said. "Mississippi will not be known as a place where justice is for sale."

Pittman is one of the few officials in Mississippi elected to office in all three branches of government - legislative, executive and judicial.

He has served on the Mississippi Supreme Court since January 1989 and became chief justice in January 2001.

He served in the Mississippi Senate from 1964-1972; as state treasurer from 1976-1980; as secretary of state from 1980-1984; and as attorney general from 1984-1988.

Pittman also retired from the Mississippi National Guard as brigadier general with 30 years of service. He was unsuccessful in two runs for governor.

"I want to thank the people of this state for allowing me to have such a wonderful career. I appreciate every minute of it, but I really am looking forward to retirement," Pittman said. "The court has been through a couple of tough years. It's going to be a refreshment of the court to have new faces up here."

The Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance in October refused to suspend then-Justice Chuck McRae after Pittman and other justices complained McRae had disrupted the court. McRae's term ended in January.