The Mississippi Supreme Court handed down six opinions today. There are two decisions involving sanctions and/or contempt rulings. There is also a noteworthy judicial estoppel decision. The others are an election contest, a felony conviction, and an MDOC decision.
Walker v. Taylor, 2025-EC-00658-SCT (Civil – Election Contest)
Affirming the circuit court’s dismissal of sworn petitions for judicial review of a primary-election contest, holding that a new election was not warranted based on alleged voter disenfranchisement or equal protection violations.
(6-0: Griffis for the Court; Branning did not participate)
Favre v. MDHS, 2024-IA-00880-SCT (Civil – Other)
Vacating Rule 11 sanctions, holding that the sanctioned parties were entitled to due process including notice and an opportunity to respond.
(7-0: Coleman for the Court)
Gombako-Amos v. Amos, 2023-CT-01253-SCT (Civil – Domestic Relations)
Reversing the chancery court and the Court of Appeals on cert, holding that there was no clear and convincing evidence of willful and deliberate violation of a court order to support a finding of civil contempt, rendering judgment on attorneys’ fees, and remanding to determine issues related to reimbursement.
(6-1: Griffis for the Court; Randolph dissented)
Strong v. Acara Solutions, Inc., 2024-CT-00455-SCT (civil – Personal Injury)
Affirming the Court of Appeals’ reversal of the circuit court’s grant of summary judgment dismissing on judicial estoppel grounds on cert, holding that the Court of Appeals did not err by reviewing the judgment de novo instead of abuse of discretion and that the trial court erred by not applying Fifth Circuit precedent in its analysis of the second element (a court accepted a previous position) of judicial estoppel.
(5-2: Randolph for the Court; Coleman dissented, joined by Branning)
Practice Point – I view this as a must-cite decision for judicial estoppel going forward.
Winters v. State, 2024-KA-01105-SCT (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of aggravated assault and attempted armed robbery, holding that the evidence was sufficient to support the conviction and that the verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence.
(7-0: Sullivan for the Court)
Hudson v. MDOC, 2025-CA-00645-SCT (Civil – State Boards & Agencies)
Affirming MDOC’s decision to not award trusty time due to conviction for attempted murder, holding that MDOC did not violate section 47-5-138.1 and that the denial of trusty time did not increase her sentence.
(7-0: Randolph for the Court)
Other Orders
- In Re: Local Rules, 89-R-99015-SCT (granting motion seeking approval of revision to Local Rules for Fifth Chancery Court District)
- Rules for Court Reporters, 89-R-99021-SCT (reappointing Hon. David P. Sullivan, Candace O’Barr Jones, Kati Vogt, and Latanya Allen as members of the Board of Certified Court Reporters for two-year terms from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028)
- Brown v. State, 2017-DR-01373-SCT (denying rehearing)
- Upchurch v. Lewis, 2023-CT-01296-SCT (granting cert)
- Jack v. City of Meridian, 2023-CT-01339-SCT (dismissing cert petition as untimely)
- McLaurin v. State, 2024-CT-00138-SCT (denying cert)
- Jones v. Jones, 2024-CA-00690-SCT (denying rehearing)
- UMMC v. Giddens, 2024-CT-00842-SCT (denying cert)
- Favre v. MDHS, 2024-IA-00880-SCT (dismissing motion for permission to file exhibit under seal as moot)
- Walker v. State, 2024-CT-01032-SCT (denying cert)
- Bivins v. Ellisville State School, 2024-CT-01098-SCT (denying cert)
- In Re: Jones, 2024-CA-01307-SCT (denying rehearing)
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