The Mississippi Supreme Court handed down four opinions today. There is a divorce case, an adoption case, and two felony convictions.
Edwards v. Edwards, 2023-CA-01334-SCT (Civil – Domestic Relations)
Affirming judgement of divorce awarding ex-husband primary physical custody, holding that the trial court did not err in its Albright analysis, did not err in denying the motion for new trial, and did not err in denying a motion for recusal.
(8-0: Branning for the Court; Coleman did not participate)
Practice Point – The Court discussed the failure to make specific findings of fact when conducting an Albright analysis:
Mayfield v. State, 2024-KA-00822-SCT (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of sexual battery, holding that the conviction was supported by sufficient evidence and that the verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence.
(9-0: Branning for the Court)
Moody v. State, 2025-KA-00022-SCT (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of possession of methamphetamine, holding that the conviction was supported by sufficient evidence.
(9-0: Maxwell for the Court)
Note – Here is the Court’s preview of the evidence.
Hines v. Caldwell, 2024-CA-00921-SCT (Civil – Adoption)
Affirming the chancery court’s decision granting foster parents’ petition for adoption, holding that the adoptive parents were not contractually barred from seeking adoption before exhaustion of family placement with CPS and that judicial estoppel did not apply.
(9-0: King for the Court)
Other Orders
- In Re: The Rules of Civil Procedure, 89-R-99001-SCT (denying letter motion)
- In Re: Local Rules, 89-R-99015-SCT (granting motion seeking approval of revisions to the Local Rules for the Fifth Chancery Court District)
- Ramsey v. State, 2023-CT-00440-SCT (denying cert petition as untimely)
- Foote v. Memorial Hospital at Gulfport, 2023-CT-00504-SCT (denying cert)
- Watkins Construction, Inc. v. Mississippi Department of Revenue, 2024-SA-00662-SCT (denying rehearing)
Mississippi Appeals Blog 