Madison Taylor

Mississippi Supreme Court Decisions of October 24 and October 31, 2024

The Mississippi Supreme Court handed down one opinion last week and none this week. However, there was an order entered today amending M.R.C.P. 46. That amendment will be effective November 21, 2024.

October 24, 2024

McGee v. McGee, 2023-CA-00695-SCT (Civil – Domestic Relations)
Affirming the chancellor’s judgment regarding division of marital property and award of joint legal custody in a divorce action, holding that the chancellor did not err in classifying, valuing, and dividing the assets or in conducting its Albright analysis.
(9-0)

October 31, 2024

No opinions

Other Orders – October 24, 2024

In Re: The Rules of Civil Procedure, 89-R-99001-SCT (dismissing Motion to Amend M.R.C.P. 6 and 56 filed by the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules)
In Re: Uniform Rules of Youth Court Practice, 89-R-99033-SCT (dismissing Petition to Amend the Mississippi Uniform Rules of Youth Court Practice filed by the Mississippi Council of Youth Court Judges (Motion No. 2021-1461) without prejudice)
Suarez v. State, 2023-CT-00526-SCT (denying cert)
In Re: Administrative Orders of the Supreme Court of Mississippi, 2024-AD-00001-SCT (ordering the disbursement of $166,981.17 in civil legal assistance funds among the MS Center for Legal Services, MS Volunteer Lawyers Project, and North MS Rural Legal Services

Other Orders – October 31, 2024

In Re: The Rules of Civil Procedure, 89-R-99001-SCT (granting in part Motion to Amend M.R.C.P. 46 filed by the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules)

Here is the amended text of Rule 46 that will be effective November 21, 2024:

Taylor v. Johnson, 2022-CT-00734-SCT (denying cert)
The Avion Group, Inc. v. The City of Oxford, Mississippi, 2023-CT-00169-SCT (denying cert)

Hand Down Page – October 24, 2024

Hand Down Page – October 31, 2024

Mississippi Court of Appeals Decisions of October 22 and October 29, 2024

The Mississippi Court of Appeals handed down four opinions last week and seven this week. You can read summaries of the lot below.

October 22, 2024

Hampton v. State, 2023-KA-00068-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming convictions of first-degree murder and using a firearm during the commission of a felony, but vacating the consecutive five-year sentence for using a firearm during the commission of a felony where he was also sentenced to life.
(9-0: Weddle did not participate)

Baur v. Ribelin, 2023-CA-00018-COA (Civil – Real Property)
Affirming on direct and cross appeal in an adverse possession action, holding that the chancellor did not err in denying the claim for adverse possession or in confirming title in the rightful owner.
(8-1-0: Wilson concurred in part and in the result without writing; Weddle did not participate)

Johnson v. SW Gaming LLC, 2023-CA-00505-COA (Civil – Personal Injury)
Affirming the circuit court’s decisions granting the defendants’ motions for summary judgment in an inadequate security case, holding that the evidence was not sufficient to establish an atmosphere of violence or actual or constructive knowledge that the assailant was a violent person and the evidence was not sufficient to establish garden variety negligence.
(9-0: Weddle did not participate)

In the Interest of A.R.H., a Minor: Malone v. Jackson County Dept. of Child Protection Services, 2023-CA-00420-COA (Civil – Custody)
Affirming the youth court’s custody order, holding that the youth court was in its discretion to find aggravated circumstances warranting bypassing reasonable efforts for reunification and that there were no evidentiary errors.
(5-4: Wilson and Westbrooks dissented without writing; McDonnald dissented, joined by Westbrooks and McCarty)

October 29, 2024

Banks v. Banks, 2023-CA-00515-COA (Civil – Domestic Relations)
Dismissing appeal for want of an appealable judgment.
(9-0: Weddle did not participate)

Ware v. State, 2023-CP-00909-COA (Civil – PCR)
Affirming summary denial of PCR motion, holding that the motion was time-barred and successive.
(9-0: Weddle did not participate)

Morland v. Morland, 2023-CA-00237-COA (Civil – Custody)
Affirming the chancellor’s rulings in a divorce matter, holding that the chancellor did not err in finding that it was in the child’s best interest to be in the mother’s exclusive custody subject to visitation, in calculation and award of child support to the mother, or in awarding the mother attorney’s fees.
(9-0: Weddle did not participate)

Mallard v. State, 2023-CP-01155-COA (Civil – PCR)
Affirming denial of PCR motion, holding that the petitioner could not duck the successive petitions bar by proving any exceptions.
(7-1-1: Westbrooks concurred in result only without writing; McDonald concurred in part and dissented in part without writing)

Sessums v. Chicken Nugget, Inc., 2023-CA-00128-COA (Civil – Personal Injury)
Affirming summary judgment in a premises liability case where the plaintiff tripped over two parking curbs, holding that the plaintiff did not come forward with evidence to prove that two abutting parking curbs created an unreasonably dangerous condition.
(9-0: Weddle did not participate)

Scott v. State, 2023-KA-00559-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of one count of child abuse and conviction of life imprisonment without eligibility for parole for a father who abused his infant child, holding (1) that the admission of the father’s prior conviction for failure to register as a sex offender was not reversible error though it was error to refer to it as “failure to register as a sex offender” instead of “failure to register” which was the actual language in the prior sentencing order, (2) that the conviction was supported by sufficient evidence, and (3) the verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence.
(4-5-0: Wilson and Smith concur in part and in the result without writing; Westbrooks, McDonald, and Lawrence concur in result only without writing; Weddle did not participate)

Tisdale v. South Central Regional Medical Center, 2023-CA-00231-COA (Civil – Med Mal)
Affirming dismissal for failure prosecute, holding that the trial court did not err in reviewing the motion under Rule 41(b) instead of Rule 37, did not miscalculate the delay and correctly found clear delay with no activity occurring to advance the case to judgment in over two years, and did not abuse its discretion in determining that anything less than a dismissal would be unjust.
(6-3: McDonald concurred in part and dissented in part without writing; Lawrence dissented, joined by McCarty, and joined in part by McDonald)

NOTE – The dissent argued that the majority discounted the impact of COVID.

Other Orders

October 22, 2024

Weatherly v. Weatherly, 2022-CA-00804-COA (denying rehearing)
Signaigo v. Grinstead, 2022-CA-01212-COA (denying rehearing)
Jackson v. State, 2023-KA-00201-COA (denying rehearing)
Neal v. Cain, 2023-CP-00625-COA (denying rehearing)
Washington v. State, 2024-CP-00059-COA (granting pro se motion to recall mandate and accept untimely brief)

October 29, 2024

Wilson v. State, 2023-CA-00070-COA (denying rehearing)
Shanks v. State, 2023-CP-00271-COA (denying rehearing)
Davis v. State, 2023-KA-00636-COA (denying rehearing)
Bradley v. State, 2023-CP-0764-COA (denying rehearing)

Hand Down Page – October 22, 2024

Hand Down Page – October 29, 2024

Mississippi Supreme Court Decisions of October 17, 2024

The Mississippi Supreme Court handed down four opinions today. There is a petition for back pay from reinstated utility commissioners, a reversal of a personal injury verdict in Madison County because the trial court abused its discretion admitting expert testimony, an appeal of the denial of a motion for remittitur/new trial after plaintiff’s verdict in a contract case, and a direct appeal of a drug possession conviction.

Slaughter v. City of Canton, 2023-CA-01102-SCT Civil – Other)
Affirming the circuit court’s denial of a petition of former commissioners of the Canton Municipal Utilities Commission seeking back pay, holding that the circuit court lacked jurisdiction after the case became final upon issuance of the mandate affirming the circuit court’s prior reinstatement of the commissioners.
(9-0)

Scarborough v. Logan, 2022-CA-00965-SCT consolidated with 2023-CA-00720-SCT (Civil – Personal Injury)
Reversing on cross-appeal a plaintiff’s verdict in a personal injury case, holding that the trial court abuse its discretion by allowing expert testimony from a witness who was never qualified or tendered as an expert witness and dismissing the direct appeal issues as moot.
(9-0)

Stribling Equipment, LLC v. Eason Propane, LLC, 2023-CA-00862-SCT (Civil – Contract)
Affirming the trial court’s decision denying a new damages trial and/or remittitur, holding that the amount of damages was high but not shocking and was supported by the evidence.
(9-0)

Vivian v. State, 2023-KA-00338-SCT (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of felony possession of meth and misdemeanor possession of marijuana, holding that there were no errors wanting reversal based on counsel’s Lindsey brief and the record.
(9-0)

Other Orders

Roley v. Roley, 2022-CT-01104-SCT (dismissing petition for cert)
Nettles v. Nettles, 2023-CT-00041-SCT (granting cert)

Hand Down Page

Mississippi Court of Appeals Decisions of October 15, 2024

The Mississippi Court of Appeals handed down five opinions today. Two are direct criminal appeals, one is a divorce case addressing child support and division of property, one is an easement case, and the other is a med mal case dismissed for lack of prosecution. Though he did not participate any of today’s decisions, newly minted Judge John D. Weddle made his debut on the hand downs today.

Chapman v. Chapman, 2023-CA-00615-COA (Civil – Domestic Relations)
Reversing findings of the chancellor in a divorce action, holding that the chancellor erred in his calculation of the father’s adjusted gross income and remanding for child support recalculation and holding that the chancellor erred concerning whether a boat was marital or non-marital property.
(5-4-0: Wilson and McCarty concurred in part and in the result without separate written opinion; Carlton and Westbrooks concurred in result only; Weddle did not participate)

Word v. U.S. Bank, 2023-CA-00160-COA (Civil – Real Property)
Reversing the chancellor’s judgment in an easement case, holding that the chancellor erred in awarding an easement by necessity because the plaintiff was not entitled to an easement by necessity and presented no evidence regarding the costs of using an available alternative access route.
(8-1-0: Wilson concurred in part and in the result without writing; Weddle did not participate)

Randall v. State, 2023-KA-00587-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of aggravated assault and first-degree murder, holding that the trial court did not err in excluding evidence of one victim’s postmortem toxicology report showing the presence of recreational drugs in his system or in applying the firearm enhancement.
(8-1-0: Westbrooks concurred in result only without writing; Weddle did not participate)

Eason v. South Central Regional Medical Center, 2023-CA-00261-COA (Civil – Medical Malpractice)
Affirming dismissal of a complaint for failure to prosecute a med mal case against a nursing home, holding that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in dismissing the case pursuant to Rule 41(b) after two years of delay.
(5-1-3: Westbrooks concurred in part and in the result without writing; McDonald dissented without writing; Lawrence dissented, joined by McDonald and McCarty; Westbrooks joined in part; Weddle did not particiapte)

N0te – The dissent’s position was that the COVID-10 pandemic was a mitigating factor and that the trial court’s failure to consider it was an abuse of discretion. It concludes:

Cauthen v. State, 2023-KA-00589-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of non-residential burglary, holding that the trial court did not err in refusing to instruct the jury on the lesser-included offense of trespass.
(8-0: Emfinger and Weddle did not participate)

Other Orders

Archer v. Harlow’s Casino Resort & Spa, 2022-CP-01060-COA (denying rehearing)
Doss v. State, 2022-KA-01185 (denying rehearing)
Black v. State, 2022-KA-01223-COA (denying rehearing)
Jiles v. State, 2023-CP-00383-COA (denying rehearing)

Hand Down Page

Mississippi Supreme Court Decisions of October 10, 2024

The Mississippi Supreme Court handed down just one opinion today. It is a youth court custody case involving adjudication of neglect and reunification efforts.

R.W. v. Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services, 2023-CP-00543-SCT (Civil – Custody)
Affirming the youth court’s adjudication that twins were neglected and ruling that CPS was allowed to bypass reasonable reunification efforts, holding that the youth court had subject matter jurisdiction and personal jurisdiction, that venue was proper, that adjudication of neglect was supported by sufficient evidence where the twins and the mother tested positive for amphetamines shortly at birth, and that the decision to bypass reasonable efforts to reunify was supported by sufficient evidence where the parents’ parental rights had been involuntarily terminated for at least one other sibling and the father had been convicted of attempted sexual assault of a child and had failed to register.
(9-0)

Other Orders

Carroll v. State, 2021-CT-00959-SCT (dismissing cert petition as untimely)
In Re: Judicial Election Oversight Committee, 2021-M-01306-SCT (reappointing LaToya T. Jeter and James L. Weir, Jr. and appointing Thomas L. Carpenter as members of the Judicial Election Oversight Committee for new four-year terms)
Smith v. State, 2023-CT-00185-SCT (denying cert)
Rambo v. Kelly Natural Gas Pipelines, LLC, 2023-CT-00402-SCT (denying cert)

Hand Down Page

Mississippi Court of Appeals Decisions of October 8, 2024

The Mississippi Court of Appeals handed down eight opinions today. There are four direct criminal appeals, a workers’ comp case, a civil asset forfeiture case, a real property case regarding a short-term rental, and an attorney fee claim against an estate.

Body v. State, 2023-KA-00495-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of statutory rape, holding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion refusing the defendant’s alibi instructions where the “alibi defense was nothing more than attempt to cloak his simple denial of the crime charged.”
(8-1-0: Wilson concurred in part and in the result without writing)

Lepard v. State, 2022-KA-01159-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of fondling, holding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in instructing the jury on the elements of the offense and that the indictment was not defective and included all the essential elements.
(9-0)

In the Matter of the Estate of Stimley: Morton Law Firm, PLLC v. Merchant, 2023-CA-00940-COA (Civil – Contract)
Reversing the chancery court’s award of attorney’s fees and expenses payable by the estate, holding that the record did not show a consideration of the McKee factors and remanding for further proceedings.
(8-1-0: Carlton did not participate)

Chung v. State, 2023-CA-00362-COA (Civil – Other)
Reversing the circuit court’s decision in a civil asset forfeiture after a bench trial, holding that the owner gave plausible explanations for having the cash and that the State presented insufficient evidence to demonstrate a connection between the owner and drug activity.
(5-4: Wilson dissented, joined by Carlton, Lawrence, and Emfinger)

Norton v. State, 2023-KA-00475-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of possession of meth and possession of a firearm by a felon, declining to address the lone issue of ineffective assistance of counsel on direct appeal and leaving it to be pursued through a PCR motion.
(8-1-0: Emfinger concurred in result only without writing)

Arnold v. State, 2023-KA-00519-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of three counts of sexual battery, holding that the trial court did not allow improper character evidence from two witnesses that testified the defendant made advances or abused them as children because that testimony showed proof of motive and established a common plan or scheme and holding that there was no merit to the defendant’s claim of prosecutorial misconduct.
(8-0: Smith did not participate)

City of Biloxi v. McDonald, 2023-CA-00777-COA (Civil – Real Property)
Affirming the circuit court’s judgment which reversed the City Council’s decision denying property owners’ application seeking a conditional-use permit for a short-term rental, holding that the Council’s decision was “the epitome of arbitrary and capricious” where the adjacent property on the same parcel of land had been approved and the owners had spent $70,000 on improvements to address neighbors’ expressed concerns.
(6-2: Carlton dissented, joined by Wilson and Lawrence)

Doukas v. Kiln Self Storage, 2023-WC-01195-COA (Civil – Workers’ Comp)
Affirming a finding that the claimant was not entitled to indemnity benefits for her left left leg and that the injury to her right leg did not render her permanent and totally disabled, holding that the Commission’s decision was supported by substantial evidence.
(5-4: Lawrence dissented, joined by Westbrooks, McDonald, and Smith; McDonald also noted a separate dissent without writing)

Other Orders

White v. The Home Depot, 2022-WC-00894-COA (denying rehearing)
Frazier v. State, 20222-CT-00896 (denying pro se motion to recall mandate)
Brown v. State, 2023-CP-00171-COA (denying untimely pro se motion for additional time to file motion for rehearing and request for appointed counsel)
Haley v. Brewer, 2023-SA-00571-COA (denying rehearing)
Fortner v. Bratcher, 2023-CP-00663-COA (granting appelle’s motion for appellate attorney’s fees)
Thornhill v. Thornhill, 2023-CA-00714-COA (denying appellee’s motion to dismiss the appeal and granting appellee’s request for additional time to file a responsive brief)
Quilantan v. State, 2024-CP-00357-COA (granting pro se motion to reinstate appeal)
Johnson v. State, 2024-TS-00650-COA (remanding appellant’s motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis)
Riley v. State, 2024-TS-00833-COA (dismissing appeal for lack of appealable judgment)

Hand Down Page

Mississippi Supreme Court Decisions of October 3, 2024

The Mississippi Supreme Court handed down just four orders today. In the words of the old store clerk in Raising Arizona, “It’s self-contained and fairly explanatory.”

In Re: Rules Governing Admission to The Mississippi Bar, 89-R-99012-SCT (reappointing J. William Manuel, Michael C. McCabe, Jr., and Walter Alan Davis to three-year terms as members of the Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions)

Daly v. Raines, 2022-CT-00600-SCT (denying cert)

Jordan v. State, 2022-DR-01243-SCT (denying successor petition for post-conviction relief)

The City of Jackson v. Jones, 2023-IA-00394-SCT (denying rehearing)

Hand Down Page

Mississippi Court of Appeals Decisions of October 1, 2024

The Mississippi Court of Appeals handed down nine opinions yesterday. There is just one criminal case and the rest are civil cases that run the gamut of practice areas from the statute of frauds to a hunting club dispute.

Smith v. Estate of Watson, 2023-CA-00761-COA (Civil – Wills, Trusts & Estates)
Reversing the chancellor’s judgment ordering the payment of creditor’s claims, disbursement of remaining assets, and closing the estate, holding that the chancellor failed to follow the statutory procedure for administering the insolvent estate.
(8-0: Lawrence did not participate)

Lowe v. Wall Doxey State Park, 2023-CA-00828-COA (Civil – Personal Injury)
Affirming dismissal of an MTCA personal injury case, holding that the trial court properly found that the State was not properly served with presuit notice because Plaintiff did not sent notice to the correct state entity.
(9-0)

Stallworth v. Mississippi Department of Employment Security, 2022-CC-01300-COA (Civil – State Boards & Agencies)
Affirming MDES Board of Review’s decision finding that the claimant was disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits, holding that the Board’s decision was substantial evidence and was neither arbitrary nor capricious where evidence showed that the claimant voluntarily left work without good cause.
(7-2-0: Westbrooks and McDonald concurred in result only without writing)

Mazie v. Boozier-Mazie, 2023-CA-00470-COA (Civil – Domestic Relations)
Affirming order granting a motion to enforce a judgment of divorce and finding the ex-husband in contempt and denying a new trial, holding that the chancellor acted within her discretion to find the ex-husband in contempt for not complying with the court’s judgment.
(8-0: Westbrooks did not participate)

Walker v. Hasty, 2023-CA-00675-COA (Civil – Custody)
Affirming the chancery court’s judgment modifying visitation and increasing child support obligation, holding that arguments that the trial was unfair were waived and without merit, that modifying visitation was not a change in custody, that there was substantial evidence to support the chancery court’s findings, and that the court did not prohibit one party from making a proffer and that party failed to make a proffer.
(8-0: Westbrooks did not participate)

Howard v. Nelson, 2023-CA-00947-COA (Civil – Contract)
Affirming dismissal of a case seeking specific performance enforcing an oral contract to sell land, holding that the statute of frauds applied.
(9-0)

Gandy v. State, 2023-KA-01017-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of two counts of sexual battery and two counts of gratification of lust, holding that the verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence.
(9-0)

Short v. The Break Land Company, LLC, 2022-CA-01180-COA (Civil – Torts)
Affirming judgment on the pleadings in a dispute between landowners and an LLC that owned adjacent property for a hunting club of which the landowners were members that arose from the landowners wanting to shoot deer that were damaging their crops and the hunting club’s apparent retaliatory rule adoption and ultimate revocation of the landowner’s membership, holding that the landowners failed to state a claim for any causes of action, that the operating agreement barred the landowners’ claims, and that the trial court did not err not allowing the landowners to amend their complaint where they made no request of the trial court.
(8-0: Lawrence did not participate)

Long v. State, 2023-KA-00351-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, holding that the claim trial counsel committed a Batson violation was procedurally barred and without merit, that the trial court did not err in denying the motion for directed verdict, and that the spoliation argument that the State lost photographs of the crime scene was procedurally barred and without merit, and declined to address Plaintiff’s ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim on direct appeal.
(7-2: Wilson and Emfinger concurred in part and in the result without writing)

Other Orders

Clemmons v. State, 2022-CA-00700-COA (denying rehearing)
Designer Custom Homes, LLC v. U.S. Coating Specialties & Supplies, LLC, 2023-CA-00207 (denying rehearing)

Hand Down Page

Mississippi Supreme Court Decisions of September 26, 2024

The Mississippi Supreme Court handed down three opinions today. There is a breach of contract case, a direct criminal appeal, and a utility rate case.

ACE American Insurance Company v. Hetsco, Inc., 2023-CA-00127-SCT (Civil – Contract)
Reversing summary judgment in a negligence action stemming from an explosion at a plant where the defendant argued that the suit was barred by a contract, holding that there was a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the person who signed the agreement had apparent authority to bind the former plant owner to the agreement and whether the former plant owner had ratified the agreement, and that the contractually shortened statute of limitations provisions was not enforceable.
(9-0)

Howard v. State, 2022-KA-00430-SCT (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming convictions of possession of cocaine with intent to sell and conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to sell, holding that evidence was sufficient to support both convictions, that there was no Confrontation Clause violation when the trial court limited cross-examination, that acquittal on prior charges did not create a double jeopardy violation, that it was not plain error to allow testimony that a co-conspirator pleaded guilty, that there was no prosecutorial misconduct, that trial counsel was not ineffective for not seeking to remove a sleeping juror, that the verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence, and that no error mean that the cumulative-error doctrine did not apply.
(9-0)

Rankin County, Mississippi v. Mississippi Public Service Commission, 2022-UR-00803-SCT (Civil – Utility Rate)
Affirming the Commission’s order authorizing a rate increase for Entergy, holding that the County did not show that the Commission’s formula rate plan regulatory scheme resulted in unfair or unjust rates and that the Commission’s order was supported by substantial evidence and was not arbitrary or capricious.
(9-0)

Other Orders

White v. White, 2022-CT-00823-SCT (denying cert)
Tepikian v. The Mississippi Bar, 2024-BD-00588-SCT (granting leave to resign in good standing)

Hand Down Page

Mississippi Court of Appeals Decisions of September 24, 2024

The Mississippi Court of Appeals handed down four opinions today. Three are PCR cases and the other is a direct criminal appeal.

Walker v. State, 2023-CP-00787-COA (Civil – PCR)
Affirming dismissal of a PCR motion, holding that the trial court properly dismissed the motion for failure to first seek relief through MDOC’s ARP regarding the calculation of a sentence.
(9-0)

Farris v. State, 2023-CP-00845-COA (Civil – PCR)
Affirming denial of PCR motion, holding that the trial court did not err in finding that the trial court did not err with regarding to sentence enhancements and that there was no prejudice in the trial court no recusing sua sponte such that there was a reversible abuse of discretion.
(9-0)

Ward v. State, 2023-CA-00378-COA (Civil – PCR)
Affirming denial of PCR motion, holding that the trial court did not err in finding that the motion was time barred by the UPCCRA.
(7-1-0: Westbrooks concurred in result only without writing; Emfinger did not participate.)

Simmons v. State, 2023-KA-00518-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of second-degree murder, holding that the trial court did not err in the self-defense instructions given and that there was sufficient evidence to sustain the conviction.
(9-0)

Other Orders

Course v. State, 2022-KA-00760-COA (denying rehearing)
Holt v. State, 2023-KM-00121-COA (denying motion to correct the court’s prior opinion)
Hamer v. State, 2023-CP-00701-COA (denying rehearing)

Hand Down Page

I had a hearing in Copiah County Circuit Court yesterday and that was my first time in the courthouse in Hazlehurst. It is a beautiful, three-story building with a central rotunda and a dome that is visible from the ground floor. I did not get a good picture of the courtroom, but it is circular with gallery seating wrapped-around on the ground floor and on a second-floor balcony. A great, small-town Mississippi courthouse!