Supreme Court – Page 2 – Mississippi Appeals Blog

Mississippi Supreme Court Decisions of October 23 and October 30, 2025

My summaries of last week’s and today’s action from the Mississippi Supreme Court are below.

I will blame my tardiness in part on the fact that last week I had the privilege of presenting a civil case law update at the 2025 Law Clerk and Judicial Staff In-Person and Virtual CLE presented by The Bench-Bar Liaison Committee of the Mississippi Bar. It was a great time of catching-up with friends and presenting on something I am passionate about.

October 23, 2025

No Opinions

Other Orders

Harris v. Casino Vicksburg, LLC, 2023-CT-00959-SCT (denying cert)
Deer v. State, 2024-CT-00019-SCT (denying cert)
Hatchett v. State, 2024-CT-00100-SCT (denying cert)

October 30, 2025

Lakeland Premier Women’s Clinic, PLLC v. Jackson, 2024-IA-00445-SCT (Civil – Medical Malpractice)
Reversing the trial court’s denial of a clinic and doctor’s motion for summary judgment in a med mal case on interlocutory appeal, holding that the trial court abused its discretion in denying the defendants’ motion for summary judgment and granting the plaintiff additional time to obtain an expert affidavit where the plaintiff filed a response to the motion for summary judgment on the day of the hearing without supporting medical affidavit or testimony.
(9-0: Branning for the Court)

Practice Point – The Court drew a distinction between the rule 56(c) which allows affidavits opposing an MSJ to be served as late as the day before the hearing and the uniform rule requiring a response to be filed within 10 days.

Jones v. State, 2024-KA-01356-SCT (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of attempted aggravated-assault, holding that the evidence was sufficient to support the verdict and that the verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence where evidence showed that the defendant pointed a gun at his neighbor before firing it.
(9-0: Maxwell for the Court)

Elliott Land Developments, LLC v. Board of Supervisors of Jackson County, Mississippi, 2024-CA-01249-SCT (Civil – Real Property)
Affirming the circuit court’s affirmance the board of supervisors’ denial of a rezoning application, holding that the board had jurisdiction, that whether the developer met its burden was a fairly debatable issue based on substantial evidence presented by each side, and that the board’s denial was not arbitrary or capricious.
(9-0: Coleman for the Court)

Chung v. State, 2023-CT-00362-SCT (Civil – Other)
Reversing the Court of Appeals and reinstating the trial court’s judgment, holding that sufficient evidence supported the trial court’s decision finding that the State met its burden of proof required in civil-forfeiture proceedings.
(5-4: Branning for the Court; Sullivan dissented, joined by King, Coleman, and Ishee)

Note – A 5-4 Court of Appeals reversed the trial court and a 5-4 Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals.

Other Orders

1st Step Sober Living LLC v. Cleveland, 2023-CT-00665-SCT (denying cert)
In Re: Administrative Orders of the Supreme Court of Mississippi, 2025-AD-00001-SCT (directing the disbursement of $189,619.03, in civil legal assistance funds among the MS Center for Legal Services, MS Volunteer Lawyers Project, and North MS Rural Legal Services)

Mississippi Supreme Court Decisions of October 9, 2025

The Mississippi Supreme Court handed down one opinion today. It is a 5-4 decision on interlocutory appeal of an order denying a venue transfer.

Nat’l Health Ins. Co. v. Lever, 2024-IA-00112-SCT (Civil – Insurance)
Reversing the trial court’s denial of a motion to transfer venue in a lawsuit against a health insurance company, holding that venue was not proper where the medical treatment was rendered because the medical treatment was not a “substantial event” under the venue statute as it was not an act of the defendant.
(5-4: Randolph dissented, joined by King, Ishee, and Sullivan)

Other Orders

Culbertson v. State, 2023-CT-00588-SCT (dismissing cert petition that was previously granted)
Ladner v. Hinton Homes LLC, 2024-CT-00941-SCT (denying cert)

Mississippi Supreme Court Decisions of October 2, 2025

The Mississippi Supreme Court handed down two opinions today. One is a statute of frauds case and the other is an estate case involving real property. The latter includes a six-vote special concurrence.

Palmer’s Grocery Inc. v. Chandler’s JKE, Inc., 2024-IA-00194-SCT (Civil – Contract)
Reversing the circuit court’s grant of summary judgment on seven of ten claims stemming from the sale of a grocery store that fell through, holding that the plaintiffs complaint plausibly invoked the merchants’ exception and the part-performance exception to the Statute of Frauds.
(9-0: Ishee for the Court)

Practice Point – This one provides a good opportunity to brush up on the Statute of Frauds.

In the Matter of the Estate of Johnson: Manners v. Estate of Johnson, 2023-CT-00823-SCT (Civil – Wills, Trusts & Estates)
Reversing the Court of Appeals and reinstating the judgment of the chancery court in an estate matter, holding that an Article of Agreement signed by the decedent did not operate as a deed was not a foundation for the basis of a claim against the estate.
(5-6*-3: Branning for the Court; Randolph specially concurred, joined by Maxwell, Ishee, Griffis, Sullivan, and Branning; Coleman dissented, joined by King and Chamberlin)

Practice Point – Chief Justice Randolph’s special concurrence garnered votes form five other justices, giving it precedential effect, however limited its reach may be. The special concurrence stated that Justice Branning’s “opinion is unassailably correct and consistent with the Court’s precedent” and took issue with the dissent.

Other Orders

In Re: The Rules of Civil Procedure, 89-R-99001-SCT (amending Appendix A to the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure to add the attached form subpoenas as follows: Exhibit A as Form 6, Exhibit B as Form 7, and Exhibit C as Form 8.)
In Re: Commission on Continuing Legal Education, 89-R-99011-SCT (granting Expedited Petition to Amend the Rules and Regulations for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education and the Amended Expedited Petition to Amend the Rules and Regulations for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education filed by the Mississippi Commission on Continuing Legal Education as set forth in Exhibit A.)
Clark v. State, 2022-DR-00829-SCT (denying rehearing)
United Services Automobile Association v. Estate of Minor, 2023-CA-000490SCT (denying rehearing by equally divided Court with Coleman not participating)
Chambers v. State, 2023-CT-00626-SCT (denying cert)
Craft v. State, 2023-CT-00915-SCT (denying cert)
Terry v. State, 2023-CT-00979-SCT (denying cert)
Rodriguez v. Diamondhead Country Club and Property Owners Association Inc., 2024-SCT-00238-SCT (denying cert)
Summers v. Big Black Land & Timber Company, LLC, 2025-M-00366-SCT (denying petition for interlocutory appeal)
Arnold v. Staffney, 2025-IA-00562-SCT (granting interlocutory appeal)

Mississippi Supreme Court Decisions of September 25, 2025

We didn’t hear much from the Fourth Floor yesterday.

No opinions handed down.

Other Orders

In Re: Commission on Children’s Justice, 89-R-99037-SCT (In its continuing efforts to improve court processes related to Mississippi’s child welfare system and in compliance with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ requirement for funding to the Supreme Court Administrative Office of Courts State Court Improvement Program (CIP), the Court relieves and discharges the members of the Commission on Children’s Justice from the duties conferred on them by the order of September 30, 2021, with the sincere appreciation of the Court; establishes a new advisory group, the CIP Statewide Multi-Disciplinary Task Force, to consist of the designated members from the Judiciary, the Executive Branch, Non-Governmental organizations; and other persons; and directs the Task Force to meet quarterly to provide feedback and consultation to the CIP manager by reviewing and discussing available child welfare data, by identifying opportunities for legal and judicial involvement in program planning, and by providing suggestions for improving our court processes and the overall functioning of our child welfare system.)
Frazier v. State, 2016-M-01363 (denying motion in the nature of a petition for post-conviction relief, finding it frivolous, and warning that future frivolous filings could be sanctioned)
Taylor v. State, 2023-CT-00245-SCT (denying cert)
Johnson v. Cleveland, 2023-CT-01011-SCT (granting cert)
McPhail v. McPhail, 2024-TS-00849 (denying motion to recall mandate)

Mississippi Supreme Court Decisions of September 11 and September 18, 2025

The Mississippi Supreme Court handed down two opinions on September 11 and two more on September 18. I think the most significant of the bunch is Pilot Travel Centers, LLC v. Womack where the Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals and granted a new trial in a premises liability case because improper expert testimony was admitted.

September 11, 2025

Patterson v. State, 2024-CA-00788-SCT (Civil – Wrongful Death)
Affirming the trial court’s grant of summary judgment dismissing an MTCA wrongful death claim, holding that the immunity requirements of Section 11-46-9(1)(l) were met and that the statute passed constitutional muster.
(9-0: Sullivan for the Court)

Watkins Construction v. Miss. Dept. of Revenue, 2024-SA-00662-SCT (Civil – State Boards & Agencies)
Affirming the chancery court’s decision denying a taxpayer’s motion for summary judgment “for reconsideration, clarification, and alternative relief,” finding that the chancellor properly denied the company’s post-judgment request and declining to “give advisory opinions about unraised legal questions.”
(9-0: Maxwell for the Court)

Other Orders

The Mississippi Bar v. Valley, 2008-BD-01884-SCT (granting motion to reopen case and file amended formal complaint)
Shelton v. State, 2010-M-01801 (denying petition to review issues re: possible judicial and/or criminal misconduct for possible impeachment and/or prosecution directed at the trial judge, finding that the filing was frivolous, and restricting the petitioner from filing in forma pauperis)
In Re: Judicial Election Oversight Committee, 2021-M-01306-SCT (appointing Spence Flatgard, James H. Heidelberg, and David F. Delgado to four-year terms as members of the judicial election oversight committee)
Carr v. State, 2023-DR-00503-SCT (granting motion to vacate stay and granting open time motions and giving 30 days to file post-conviction application)

September 18, 2025

In Re Estate of Ivision: Malouf & Malouf, PLLC v. Estate of Ivison, 2024-CA-00421-SCT (Civil – Wills, Trusts & Estates)
Affirming the chancery court’s denial of a motion for payment of past due interest, holding that this second probated claim for compound interest was a new claim and was untimely filed.
(9-0: Griffis for the Court)

Pilot Travel Centers, LLC v. Womack, 2023-CT-00035-SCT (Civil – Personal Injury)
Reversing the Court of Appeals’ decision that held that the trial court’s error admitting expert testimony was harmless, holding that the expert was unqualified and his testimony was unhelpful where he read the defendant’s policies and identified alleged violations of them.
(9-0: Chamberlin for the Court)

Practice Point – This is a big Daubert case (though the opinion did not cite Daubert). The Supreme Court agreed with the Court of Appeals that admitting the expert testimony was error, but the Supremes held it was not harmless. The Court adopted the rationale from Judge Wilson’s Court of Appeals dissent:

Other Orders

Crawford v. State, 2024-DR-01386-SCT (granting the State’s motion to dismiss a petition for post-conviction relief)
Galloway v. State, 2025-DR-00129-SCT (granting the State’s motion to dismiss successive motion for leave to proceed)
In Re: Rules of Discipline for the Mississippi Bar, 89-R-99010-SCT (appointing Robert R. Morris III as member of the Complaint Tribunal)
Crawford v. State, 24-DP-01016-SCT (granting renewed motion to set execution date)

Mississippi Supreme Court Decisions of August 21, August 28, and September 4

I have been swamped the last few weeks and find myself behind on summaries. One contributing factor is that my firm, Wilkins Patterson, relocated at the end of August. In one form or another, the firm has resided at One LeFleur’s Square on Old Canton Road in Jackson for decades. That location served the firm well, and it was not left without a heap of nostalgia and a tinge of sadness. But as Bob Dylan reminds us, “He not busy being born is busy dying.” This move marks an exciting chapter of growth and opportunity for the firm that we are immensely thankful for. You can find us at 690 Towne Center Boulevard in Ridgeland.

With this post, we are caught up on Mississippi Supreme Court decisions. We may not ever catch up on the Court of Appeals decisions from the past three weeks. This is due, in part, to the fact that over that period of time the Court of Appeals handed down twenty opinions and the Supreme Court handed down four. If you are so inclined, you can follow these links to the COA hand downs: August 19, August 26, and September 2. Read on for Supreme Court decisions…

August 21, 2025

No Opinions

Other Orders

Parker v. State, 2023-CT-00550-SCT (denying cert)
Mount v. State, 2023-CT-00807-SCT (denying cert)
Turner v. State, 2023-CT-01167-SCT (denying cert)
Lynch v. State, 2024-M-01275 (finding that the application for leave to proceed in the trial court was frivolous and warning that future frivolous filings may result in sanctions)
Priority One Bank v. Hall, 2025-IA-00939-SCT (granting emergency petition for interlocutory appeal)

August 28, 2025

Reyes v. State, 2024-KA-00590-SCT (Criminal- Felony)
Affirming conviction of capital murder and life sentence, holding that the trial court did not err in denying the defendant’s motion suppress statements he made to law enforcement, that the State did not vouch for a witness’s credibility, that the issue of whether it was error to allow the State to play portions of a witness’s interview with law enforcement was procedurally barred, and that the ineffective-assistance-of-counsel arguments did not require reversal.
(9-0: Griffis for the Court)

Busby Outdoor LLC v. Ditto, 2024-IA-00209-SCT, consolidated with No. 2024-CA-00258-SCT (Civil – Other)
Reversing the chancery court’s injunction enforcing the City’s sign ordinance on a billboard situated on state-owned land, holding that “[t]he zoning ordinances must yield in this case to state sovereignty.”
(9-0: King for the Court)

Note – I thought for a moment that the Mississippi Supreme Court was about to tackle some big theological issues.

Though it passed on the issue of God’s sovereignty, the Court did hold in this case that that the created could not regulate its creator.

Other Orders

Sims v. State, 2017-M-01379 (finding that the application for leave to proceed in the trial court was frivolous and warning that future frivolous filings may result in sanctions)
Chamberlin v. State, 2022-DR-00546-SCT (granting cert)
Boone v. State, 2023-CT-00684-SCT (denying cert)
Burnette v. State, 2023-SCT-01330-SCT (denying cert)

September 4, 2025

Smith v. State, 2024-KA-00675-SCT (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of aggravated assault, holding that the trial court did not err in admitting lay opinion testimony from the victim’s treating physicians and that trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to object to that testimony.
(9-0: Chamberlin for the Court)

Sunshine Mills, Inc. v. Nutra-Blend, LLC, 2023-CA-01208-SCT (Civil – Torts)
Reversing the trial court’s grant of summary judgment for the defendant, holding that the Mississippi Products Liability Act did not govern the claims for breach of contract and implied warranty because they sounded in contract and did not allege damage stemming from a defective product.
(9-1-0: Coleman for the Court; Randolph concurred in the result only without writing)

Other Orders

In Re: Rules of Discipline for the Mississippi Bar, 89-R-99010-SCT (appointing or reappointing Hon. Haydn J. Roberts, John G. Holaday, Amy K. Taylor, Hon. Jennifer T. Schloegel, David A. Pumford, Jeremy T. England, Hon. Kelly D. Mims, Jason D. Herring, and Rachel Pierce Waide to three-year terms (9/01/25 to 8/31/28) as members of the Complaint Tribunals.)
In Re: Commission on Continuing Legal Education, 89-R-99011-SCT (denying Petition of the Mississippi Commission on Continuing Legal Education to Amend Rule 1(d) of the Rules and Regulations for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education)
In Re: Rules Governing Admission to The Mississippi Bar, 89-R-99012-SCT (reappointing Pieter Teeuwissen, Marcie Fyke Baria, and Gwendolyn Baptist-Rucker to three-year terms (11/1/25 through 10/31/28) as members of the Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions)
Weatherly v. Weatherly, 2022-CT-00804-SCT (dismissing cert)
Star v. State, 2023-CT-00788-SCT (denying cert)
Haynes v. State, 2023-CT-00861-SCT (denying cert)
Brown v. Madison County Board of Supervisors, 2024-EC-01059-SCT (denying rehearing)

Mississippi Supreme Court Decisions of August 14, 2025

The Mississippi Supreme Court handed down three opinions yesterday. I can report that the “minutes rule” is alive and well and is not to be trifled with.

But before we jump into summaries, I should acknowledge that the biggest appellate news in Mississippi this week is the appointments of Justice Maxwell and Justice Chamberlin to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi. If they are confirmed, that will create two vacancies in the Supreme Court District 3. That district is comprised of Alcorn, Attala, Benton, Calhoun, Carroll, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clay, Coahoma, Desoto, Grenada, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Leflore, Lowndes, Marshall, Monroe, Montgomery, Oktibbeha, Panola, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Tunica, Union, Webster, Winston, and Yalobusha Counties.

Since two new justices (Branning and Sullivan) joined the Mississippi Supreme Court this year, we could have four justices joining the nine-justice court within a year. This has court-reshaping potential and will be an interesting process to watch.

K.S. v. M.D., 2023-CA-01118-SCT, consolidated with No. 2024-CA-00707-SCT (Civil – Custody)
Affirming the chancellor’s decision terminating parental rights and denying a Rule 60(b) motion to set aside adoption, holding that the chancellor had jurisdiction to terminate parental rights and that the chancellor did not abuse his discretion in terminating parental rights, and that as a result the adoption did not have to be vacated for lack of jurisdiction.
(9-0: Ishee for the Court)

The Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport v. Yilport Holding A.S., 2024-IA-00140-SCT, consolidated with No. 2024-IA-00149-SCT (Civil – State Boards & Agencies)
Affirming in part and reversing in part the circuit court’s rulings in a case following failed negotiations after a letter of intent was signed concerning a port expansion, holding that the trial court did not err in applying the “minutes rule” and finding that the LOI was not properly spread upon the minutes of the board and was therefore unenforceable, that estoppel did not apply, that the circuit court did err in allowing the unjust enrichment claim to go forward, and that the trial court did not err in denying summary judgment on the misappropriation-of-trade-secrets claim under the MTCA.
(9-0: King for the Court)

Sardin v. State, 2024-KA-00319-SCT (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of trafficking a controlled substance, holding that there were no arguable issues after reviewing counsel’s Lindsey brief and the record.
(9-0: Randolph for the Court)

Other Orders

In Re: the Rules of Civil Procedure, 89-R-99001-SCT (granting motion to amend M.R.C.P. 3)
In Re: Commission on Continuing Legal Education, 89-R-99011-SCT (appointing Helen Morris, Amanda B. Seymour, and Katherine K. Farese to three-year terms as members of the Commission on Continuing Legal Education)
Frazier v. State, 2016-M-01363 (denying motion for reconsideration of denial of motion to recuse)
Armistad v. State, 2023-CT-00799-SCT (denying cert)
Young v. Martin, 2023-CT-00980-SCT (denying cert)
Doby v. South Park Village Apartments, 2023-CA-01095-SCT (denying rehearing)
Phillips v. State, 2023-KA-01218-SCT (denying cert)
Tucker v. State, 2024-KA-00255-SCT (dismissing appeal as moot)
Mississippi Methodist Hospital & Rehabilitation Center, Inc. v. Mississippi Department of Health, 2925-SA-01113-SCT (denying motion to award costs and attorneys’ fees)
Rogers v. The Mississippi Bar, 2025-BD-00833-SCT (accepting irrevocable resignation as a member of the Mississippi Bar, tendered under Rule 11(a) of the Rules of Discipline for the Mississippi Bar)

Double Issue: Mississippi Supreme Court Decisions of July 31, 2025 and August 7, 2025

The Mississippi Supreme Court handed down one opinion last week and one this week. Both were direct criminal appeals, but this week’s decision is a death penalty case. You can read about them below.

July 31, 2025

Harrelson v. State, 2024-KA-00600-SCT (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of statutory rape, holding that the defendant was not deprived of a fair trial by improper comments by the State because there was no objection at trial and there was substantial evidence of guilt, and holding that the verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence.
(9-0: Chamberlin for the Court)

Other Orders

Miller v. State, 2023-CA-00322-SCT (denying cert)
United Emergency Services of Mississippi, Inc. v. Miller, 2023-IA-00767-SCT (denying rehearing)
J.S. v. Ocean Springs School District, 2023-CA-01009-SCT (denying rehearing)
Tubbs v. State, 2023-KA-01124-SCT (denying rehearing)
In Re: Administrative Orders of the Supreme Court of Mississippi, 2025-AD-00001-SCT (directing the disbursement of $216,005.10, in civil legal assistance funds among the MS Center for Legal Services, MS Volunteer Lawyers Project, and North MS Rural Legal Services)
Liberty Mutual Insurance Company v. Body, 2025-IA-00510-SCT (granting interloc)

August 7, 2025

Abram v. State, 2023-DP-00614-SCT (Criminal – Death Penalty)
Affirming conviction of two counts of capital murder and one count of attempted murder and his death sentence, holding that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion by admitting evidence from locations other than the crime scene, that the evidence was sufficient to support the capital murder convictions, and that the capital-murder convictions were not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence, and declining to abandon the M’Naghten Rule.
(9-0: Ishee for the Court)

Other Orders

Nailer v. State, 2023-CA-00627-SCT (denying cert)
Estate of Roberts: Herd v. Stokes, 2023-CT-00713-SCT (denying cert)
Gardner v. State, 2023-CT-00903-SCT (granting cert)
Wilson v. State, 2023-CT-01050-SCT (denying cert)
Grimes v. State, 2023-CT-01254-SCT (denying cert)

Mississippi Supreme Court Decisions of June 19 and June 26, 2025

The Mississippi Supreme Court handed down two opinions last week and three this week. Among them, two election contests, a death penalty PCR case that was remanded, an MTCA personal injury case on interlocutory appeal, and a felony conviction.

June 19, 2025

Brown v. Madison County Board of Supervisors, 2024-EC-01059-SCT (Civil – Election Contest)
Affirming the circuit court’s decision in an election contest, holding that the circuit court did not err in denying a motion to disqualify the Board’s attorney and in affirming the Board’s decision approving the candidate’s candidacy.
(9-0: Randolph for the Court)

Clark v. State, 2022-DR-00829-SCT (Civil – Death Penalty – PCR)
Granting motion for PCR in a death-penalty case, holding that the case should be remanded to the circuit court for an Atkins hearing but otherwise denying relief under Batson and other issues.
(5-3-1: Sullivan for the Court; Randolph concurred in part and in the result, joined by Griffis and Branning, joined in part by Maxwell; King concurred in part and dissented)

Other Orders

Melom v. Stone County, Mississippi, 2024-KM-00782-SCT (per curiam affirmance)
In Re: Rules Governing Admission to The Mississippi Bar, 89-R-99012-SCT
Clark v. State, 2022-DR-00829-SCT (granting in part and denying in part motion for PCR or for leave to proceed in trial court with PCR motion)
Chung v. State, 2023-CA-00362-SCT (granting cert)
Powers v. State, 2023-DR-00895-SCT (denying cert)
Lawson v. State, 2023-CT-01008-SCT (denying cert)
Mississippi Baptist Medical Center, Inc. v. Tobias, 2024-M-01395-SCT (denying petition for interlocutory appeal)
The Progressive Corporation v. Hanberry, 2025-IA-00109-SCT (granting interlocutory appeal and deciding the case on the petition and response, affirming the denial of a motion to sever but reversing the trial court’s grant of partial summary judgment in the plaintiff’s favor insurance policy dec action)
The Mississippi Bar v. Horne-Murry, 2025-BD-00616-SCT (granting petition to transfer respondent to inactive disability status and referring to LJAP)

June 26, 2025

In Re: Republican Primary Runoff for Pearl River County Tax Collector/Assessor, Jo Lynn Houston v. Sandy Kane Smith, 2024-EC-00015-SCT (Civil – Election Contest)
Affirming on direct appeal and dismissing cross-appeal in an election contest, holding that the trial court did not err in ordering a special election in two precincts or in finding that certain vote challenges were mere technicalities.
(9-0: Branning for the Court; Randolph did not participate)

City of Jackson, Mississippi v. Maxie, 2023-IA-01314-SCT (Civil – Personal Injury)
Reversing the trial court’s denial of summary judgment in an MTCA personal injury action, holding that the plaintiff did not come forward with evidence that there was a dangerous condition of which the defendants had actual or constructive notice and time to correct or warn against.
(9-0: Coleman for the Court)

Cole v. State, 2024-KA-00041-SCT (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of one count of attempted statutory rape, holding that the admission of the victim’s interview did not violate the Confrontation Clause or amount to error under the evidentiary rules, that the admission of the CAD report with a date that was off by one century was not plain error, that there was no plain error in the admission of the State’s expert’s testimony on the victim’s veracity or the State’s characterization of that testimony, and that the cumulative error doctrine did not apply.
(9-0: King for the Court)

Other Orders

In Re: The Mississippi Access to Justice Commission, 89-R-99032-SCT ((1) directing the Mississippi Bar, effective July 1, 2025, to remit all pro hac vice fees received under M.R.A.P. 46(b)(5) monthly to the Administrative Office of Courts with two-thirds of the fees to be deposited in the Civil Legal Assistance Fund established by Miss. Code Section 9-21-43 (Rev. 2019) and one-third of the fees to be deposited in the Access to Justice Fund, and (2) directing the Mississippi Bar on or before November 1 of each year to file with this Court an annual report accounting for the receipt of all pro hac vice funds under Rule 46(b)(5))
In Re: The Mississippi Access to Justice Commission, 89-R-99032-SCT (order (1) directing the Mississippi Bar, effective July 1, 2025, to remit all funds received by it under Mississippi Rule of Professional Conduct 6.1 monthly to the Administrative Office of Courts to be deposited in the Access to Justice Fund, (2) directing the Mississippi Bar, effective July 1, 2025, to remit all funds currently held in Guaranty Bank Checking Account No. *2492 (The Mississippi Bar Access to Justice account) to the Administrative Office of Courts to be deposited in the Access to Justice Fund, and (3) directing the Mississippi Bar on or before June 1 of each year to file with this Court an annual report accounting for the receipt of all funds under Mississippi Rule of Professional Conduct 6.1.)
Ambrose v. State, 2022-DR-00949-SCT (granting State’s motion to dimiss)
Ambrose v. State, 2024-CA-00897-SCT (granting motion for voluntary dismissal)

Mississippi Supreme Court Decisions of June 12, 2025

The Mississippi Supreme Court handed down three opinions today. One is a unique decision addressing sovereign immunity, full faith and credit, and comity. One is a chapter in a post-foreclosure eviction saga. The last is an appeal of a felony conviction with a Lindsey brief.

The Promenade D’Iberville, LLC v. Jacksonville Electric Authority, 2023-CA-01273-SCT (Civil – Other)
Reversing dismissal of a claim against a utility from another state for lack of subject matter jurisdiction based on sovereign immunity, holding that the suit for damages against the utility did not violate full faith and credit or comity principles.
(9-0: Sullivan for the Court)

Federal National Mortgage Association v. Carbo, 2024-CA-00277-SCT (Civil – Real Property)
Affirming the county court’s decision granting a homeowner’s motion to dismiss a claim for eviction and back rent filed by the company that purchased the home in a foreclosure sale but subsequently sold it, holding that the trial court did not err in denying the company’s motion to substitute the subsequent purchaser as plaintiff, in dismissing the company’s suit for lack of standing, or in finding that the company’s suit was barred by res judicata.
(9-0: Coleman for the Court)

Clark v. State, 2024-KA-00446-SCT (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of trafficking eutylone, holding that after reviewing counsel’s Lindsey brief, the pro se brief, and the record, that the appeal lacked merit and no issues warranted supplemental briefing.
(9-0: King for the Court)

Other Orders

Jordan v. State, 1998-DP-00901-SCT (denying motion for rehearing as to execution date)
Arnold v. State, 2023-CT-00519-SCT (denying cert)
Federal National Mortgage Association v. Carbo, 2024-CA-00277-SCT (denying motion to dismiss for lack of standing)
Jordan v. State, 2024-DR-01272-SCT (denying rehearing)