The Mississippi Court of Appeals handed down six opinions today. There were two felony appeals, two domestic/custody decisions, and two PCR decisions.
Brents v. Holland, 2024-CA-01198-COA (Civil – Custody)
Affirming the chancellor’s decision in a custody matter, holding that the chancellor did not err in finding a material change in circumstances adversely affecting the children and that modification was in their best interest and that the chancellor did not err in not keeping siblings together where this issue was not raised until appeal, and that the chancellor did not err in ordering supervised visitation despite the GAL’s recommendation.
(10-0: McDonald for the Court)
Johnson v. State, 2025-KA-00549-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming re-sentencing under Miller, holding that the circuit court did not err in sentencing the defendant to life without parole.
(9-0: McDonald for the Court; Emfinger did not participate)
Benamon v. State, 2024-KA-00501-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon, holding that the trial court did not err in denying a motion to quash the venire after the defendant briefly appeared in the courtroom prior to voir dire in handcuffs and shackles or in refusing to instruct the jury on the lesser-included offense of heat-of-passion manslaughter.
(8-2-0: Wilson for the Court; Westbrooks and McDonald concur in part and in the result without writing)
Rudd v. State, 2025-CP-00618-COA (Civil – PCR)
Affirming the circuit court’s denial of a PCR motion attacking an order of revocation, holding that it was properly dismissed as an impermissible successive motion.
(9-0: Wilson for the Court; Emfinger did not participate)
Self v. Conley, 2024-SA-01079-COA (Civil – Domestic Relations)
Affirming the chancellor’s final order on child support and visitation, holding that the chancery court did not abuse its discretion in declining to find the father in contempt and imprison him and that the chancellor did not err in awarding visitation despite the father’s “unclean hands.”
(10-0: Barnes for the Court)
Castillo-Valencia v. State, 2025-CP-00348-COA (Civil – PCR)
Affirming denial of claims and dismissal of motion for PCR, holding that the motion was properly dismissed as successive, time barred, and without statutory exception.
(9-0: Barnes for the Court; Emfinger did not participate)
Other Orders
- Williams v. State, 2024-KA-00257-COA (denying rehearing)
- Price v. Hinds County School District, 2024-CA-00841-COA (denying rehearing)
- Banks v. State, 2024-KA-00881-COA (denying rehearing)
- Roberts v. State, 2024-CA-00988-COA (denying rehearing)
- Wilson v. P.L. Marketing, Inc., 2025-WC-00158-COA (denying rehearing)
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