State Boards and Agencies – Mississippi Appeals Blog

Mississippi Court of Appeals Decisions of April 14, 2026

The Mississippi Court of Appeals handed down eight opinions yesterday. The Court reversed a capital murder conviction and also decided a will contest case, a custody case, three other felony appeals, a PCR case, and a divorce case.

Greene v. State, 2024-KA-00333-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Reversing conviction of one count of capital murder, holding that the trial court erred by failing to give the jury a cautionary instruction on accomplice testimony and remanded for a new trial.
(10-0: Weddle for the Court)

In the Matter of Estate of Williams: Williams v. Myles, 2024-CA-01114-COA (Civil – Wills, Trusts & Estates)
Affirming the chancellor’s decision in a will contest, holding that the chancellor did not err in finding that decedent lacked testamentary capacity when she executed her will and that the will was invalid because of undue influence.
(10-0: Weddle for the Court)

Singleton v. State, 2024-KA-01095-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of second-degree murder, holding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion instructing the jury and that the verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence.
(9-1-0: Emfinger for the Court; Westbrooks concurred in result only without writing)

In the Interests of J.S.: Betsi S. v. Mississippi Dept. of Child Protective Services, 2024-CP-01061-COA (Civil – Custody)
Affirming the youth court’s permanency decision, holding that the mother was not deprived or due process, that recusal was not required, that the motion for ADA accommodation was abandoned, and that the mother was not entitled to damages.
(9-1-0: McCarty for the Court; Westbrooks concurred in result only without writing)

Practice Point – When writing a response or reply, do not talk past the arguments made by the other side:

Gardner v. State, 2025-KA-00298-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming convictions of possession of a firearm by a felon, trafficking of fentanyl, and aggravated trafficking of meth, holding that the conviction of constructive possession of fentanyl was supported by sufficient evidence and that verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence.
(10-0: McCarty for the Court)

Stasher v. Stasher, 2024-CA-01302-COA (Civil – Domestic Relations)
Affirming the chancellor’s decisions in a divorce matter, holding that the chancellor did not manifestly or clearly err in granting divorce based on habitual cruel and inhuman treatment or in finding that the ex-husband had engaged in adultery during the marriage and that his claims about equitable distribution were without merit.
(10-0: Lawrence for the Court)

Jackson v. State, 2024-KA-01346-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of two counts of touching a child for lustful purposes, holding that the circuit court did not err in the admission of hearsay testimony and that although it was an abuse of discretion to admit a written statement that error was harmless.
(8-2-0: McDonald for the Court; Wilson and Emfinger concurred in part and in the result without writing)

Leggett v. State, 2024-CP-01214-COA, consolidated with 2024-CP-01215-COA (Civil – PCR)
Affirming summary dismissal of two PCR motions.
(10-0: Wilson for the Court)

Other Orders

Clark v. State, 2023-KA-01116-COA (denying rehearing)
Fraser v. State, 2023-KA-01129-COA (denying rehearing)
Seals v. State, 2024-KM-00448-COA (denying rehearing)
ABL Management, Inc. v. Rowell, 2024-CA-01007-COA (denying rehearing)
Daengbunga v. State, 2024-KA-01122-COA (denying rehearing)
Simoneaux v. State, 2024-CP-01127-COA (denying rehearing)
Pedrego v. State, 2025-TS-01282-COA (denying pro se motion for reconsideration of dismissal of appeal)
Reeves v. State, 2026-TS-00201-COA (order allowing appeal to proceed as timely)

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Mississippi Court of Appeals Decisions of April 7, 2026

The Mississippi Court of Appeals handed down six opinions today. There are two appeals of felony convictions, a breach of contract case, a medical malpractice/wrongful death/savings statute case, a zoning ordinance case, and a PCR case.

Vu v. State, 2024-KA-01117-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of burglary, holding that the conviction was supported by sufficient evidence and that the issue of whether prior bad acts were not properly admitted was waived, and dismissing the ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim without prejudice.
(9-1-0: Lawrence for the Court; Westbrooks concurred in part and in the result without writing)

Magdi Corporation v. Beruk Construction, Inc., 2024-CA-01310-COA (Civil – Contract)
Reversing the dismissal of a breach of contract case after a bench trial, holding that the chancellor manifestly erred by granting an involuntary dismissal based on a finding that the subject construction project had reached “substantial completion” and that the plaintiff’s failure to pay at that point put the plaintiff in breach.
(9-1-0: Lawrence for the Court; Wilson concurred in part and in the result without writing)

Burdine v. State, 2025-KA-00154-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of two counts of felony voyeurism and three counts of indecent exposure, holding that the trial court did not err in admitting the contents of the defendant’s cell phone, that there was sufficient evidence supporting the convictions, that the trial court did not err in admitting lay opinions, that the State proved the elements for habitual sentencing, and that the two life sentences were not constitutionally disproportionate.
(10-0: McDonald for the Court)

Humphrey v. State, 2024-CP-01444-COA (Civil – PCR)
Vacating and rendering the trial court’s judgment denying the petitioner’s Rule 60(b)(6) motion, holding that the circuit co0urt lacked jurisdiction.
(10-0)

Knight v. Glover, 2024-CA-01157-COA (Civil – Wrongful Death)
Reversing the dismissal of a medical malpractice case based on the statute of limitations, holding that the suit was not time-barred because it was filed within one year of the dismissal of the first suit without prejudice and was thus saved by the savings statute.
(6-4: Wilson for the Court; Emfinger dissented, joined by Barnes, Carlton, and McCarty)

Haman Construction, LLC v. Marshall County Board of Supervisors, 2025-CA-00340-COA (Civil – State Boards & Agencies)
Reversing the circuit court’s decision affirming the Board’s denial of a petition to amend zoning ordinances, holding that the decision was arbitration and capricious because it was based on the incorrect interpretation of controlling ordinances.
(6-1-2: Lassitter St. Pe’ for the Court; McCarty dissented, joined by Carlton, and joined in part by Barnes and McDonald)

Other Orders

Thornton v. Thornton, 2024-CA-00320-COA (denying rehearing)
Bodie v. State, 2024-KA-00634-COA (denying rehearing)
Polk v. State, 2025-CP-00260-COA (denying rehearing)

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Mississippi Court of Appeals Decisions of March 3, 2026

The Mississippi Court of Appeals handed down eight opinions today. The Court covered a lot of ground, including termination of parental rights, partition of real property, UM coverage, unemployment benefits, and direct criminal appeals.

James W. v. Jackson County Dept. of Miss. Dept. of Child Protective Services, 2024-CP-00420-COA (Civil – Custody)
Affirming the youth court’s judgment terminating parental rights, holding that the youth court judge did not err in denying a motion to recuse, that the decision was based on clear and convincing evidence, and that the youth court did not abuse its discretion admitting evidence.
(9-0: Weddle for the Court; Lawrence did not participate)

Breland v. State, 2024-KA-01022-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of first-degree murder and leaving the scene of an accident, holding that the conviction was supported by sufficient evidence and that there was no merit to the ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim.
(9-1-0: Weddle for the Court; Wesbtrooks concurred in result only without writing)

Parker v. United Services Automobile Association, 2024-CA-01419-COA (Civil – Insurance)
Affirming judgment denying a motion for declaratory judgment regarding entitlement to uninsured motorist benefits, holding that the trial court did not err in finding that the plaintiff’s motorcycle going over an oily substance and crashing did not constitute “physical contact” under the policy.
(9-1-0: Weddle for the Court; McDonald concurred in part and in the result without writing)

Willis v. State, 2024-KA-01203-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming convictions of three counts of possession of drugs and one count of trafficking, holding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion instructing the jury when the instructions were read as a whole or in denying a motion for new trial based on the doctrine of retroactive misjoinder, and holding that the verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence.
(9-1-0: Lawrence for the Court; Westbrooks concurred in result only without writing)

Winn v. State, 2024-KA-01280-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, holding that the evidence was sufficient to support the conspiracy charge and that there was no merit to the claim that trial counsel was ineffective.
(8-2-0: McDonald for the Court; Wilson concurred in part and in the result without writing; Lawrence concurred in result only without writing)

Dupree v. Mississippi Department of Employment Security, 2025-CC-00144-COA (Civil – State Boards & Agencies)
Reversing the circuit court’s decision affirming an MDES decision denying unemployment benefits after the petitioner was terminated for testing positive for THC, holding that there was not sufficient evidence that the petitioner violated the City’s drug policy.
(6-1-3: Westbrooks for the Court; Emfinger concurred in result only without writing; Carlton dissented, joined by Barnes, and Lassitter St. Pe’)

Sloke v. Pierce, 2025-CA-00121-COA (Civil – Real Property)
Reversing the chancellor’s partition decision, holding that since the parties agreed that the final judgment erroneously attached an improper property description.
(10-0: Wilson for the Court)

Oates v. State, 2024-KA-00267-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of capital murder, holding that the State produced sufficient evidnece of the defendant’s sanity at the time of the murder, that the verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence, and that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting a gruesome autopsy photo.
(6-4: Weddle for the Court; Lassitter St. Pe’ concurred in part and dissented in part, joined by Westbrooks and McCarty and joined in part my McDonald; Westbrooks and McDonald dissented without writing)

Other Orders

Bumgardner v. State, 2024-KA-00090-COA (denying rehearing)
Ward v. State, 2024-KA-00341-COA (denying rehearing)
Carroll v. State, 2024-KA-00481-COA (denying rehearing)
Fields v. State, 2024-KA-00807-COA (denying rehearing)

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Mississippi Court of Appeals Decisions of February 10, 2026 (plus a bonus decision)

This is a catch-up post from the week I took off of blogging for my oral argument on February 11. The Mississippi Court of Appeals handed down five opinions on February 10 and one off-schedule opinion on Thursday, February 5. Read on for summaries…

February 5, 2026

Gray v. State, 2023-KA-01270-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of capital murder and sentence to life imprisonment but reversing the imposition of a fine, holding that the trial court did not clearly err in finding that the defendant’s second statement was voluntary or by denying the defendant’s motion in limine to exclude other evidence, that the evidence was sufficient to sustain the conviction, that the “flight instruction” issue was legally barred for failure to raise it in the trial court, and that there was no error and no prejudice regarding an alternate juror, but holding that there was not authority for the imposition of an assessment against the defendant as a partial reimbursement to the county for the defendant’s court-appointed counsel.
(5-5: Wilson for the Court; Barnes dissented, joined by Westbrooks, McDonald, McCarty, and Lassitter St. Pe’.

February 10, 2026

Lovern v. State, 2024-KA-01449-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of sexual battery and gratification of lust, holding that the evidence was sufficient, that the verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence, that the trial court did not err in excluding evidence of a victim’s prior behavior, that the trial court did not abuse its discretion regarding jury instructions, that the trial court did not err in allowing evidence of the defendant’s prior bad acts, that the trial court did not err in denying the defendant’s motion in limine that would have prevented the State from referring to the victim as “the victim,” that there was no abuse of discretion in the court’s limitations on voir dire questioning, that the trial court did not err in limiting the defendant’s references to the tyranny of the government during closing, that the trial court did not err in denying the defendant’s request to take possession of his phone to look for exculpatory text messages he alleged were missing from the extraction, that the trial court did not err in limiting the defendant to calling two character witnesses, that inconsistent verdicts (acquitting on one charge and convicting on two) was no basis for reversal, and that the cumulative error doctrine did not apply.
(9-0: Lassitter St. Pe’ for the Court; Emfinger did not participate)

Mize v. Nunmaker, 2025-CA-00089-COA (Civil – Contract)
Reversing the trial court’s decision granting summary judgment for the defendant in a breach of contract case, holding that there was a genuine fact issue regarding whether there was a binding agreement between the parties and regarding whether the claim was time-barred.
(10-0: Lassitter St. Pe’ for the Court)

Estate of Eaves: Schlesinger v. Eaves, 2024-CA-00692-COA (Civil – Wills, Trusts & Estates)
Affirming the chancellor’s decision in a probate matter, holding that the chancellor did not err in denying a request to set aside an inter vivos conveyance and assignment of a law firm based on an undue-influence argument and that the chancellor did not err by allegedly interfering with cross-examination at trial.
(8-2-0: Weddle for the Court; Wilson and McCarty concurred in part and in the result without writing)

Southeast Financial Credit Union v. Brown, 2024-CA-01390-COA (Civil – Contract)
Affirming the trial court’s dismissal of a debt collection claim for want of prosecution, holding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion dismissing the seven-year-old case after there were multiple periods of inactivity in excess of one year culminating in a two-year period of inactivity, a show cause order, and a non-appearance at the show cause hearing.
(10-0: McCarty for the Court)

DeCuir v. City of Laurel, 2024-CC-01055-COA, consolidated with Valentine v. City of Laurel, 2024-CC-01379-COA (Civil – Other)
Affirming the circuit court’s dismissal of police officers’ appeals challenging the promotions of other officers, holding that the appeal was not perfected because the appellant filed a notice of appeal rather than a petition for writ of certiorari with the circuit court as is required to obtain judicial review of a civil service commission’s decision to promote.
(8-2-0: Wilson for the Court; Barnes and McDonald concurred in part and in the result without writing)

Practice Point – This one is like a Final Jeopardy appellate jurisdiction question. Here is the Court’s conclusion:

Other Orders

Bird v. Ladner, 2024-CA_00245-COA (denying rehearing)
Thompson v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, 2024-CA-00393-COA (denying rehearing)
Moody v. State, 2024-CA-00407-COA (denying rehearing)
Carter v. State, 2024-CP-013828-COA (recalling mandate and allowing pro se motion for rehearing to proceed)
Pedrego v. State, 2025-TS-01282-COA (dismissing appeal as untimely filed)
Buchanan v. State, 2025-TS-01445-COA (allowing appeal to proceed as timely)

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Mississippi Court of Appeals Decisions of January 27, 2026

The Mississippi Court of Appeals handed down ten opinions yesterday. There is subject-matter variety, including a decision in the controversial case of the educator who was terminated for reading a certain book to second graders.

Daengbunga v. State, 2024-KA-01122-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming convictions of murder and tampering with evidence, holding that the trial court did not err in finding no Miranda violation and denying a motion to suppress statements and that the trial court did not abuse its discretion admitting evidence of prior bad acts.
(9-1-0: Lassitter St. Pe’ for the Court; Westbrooks concurred in part and in the result without writing)

Wright v. Brisco, 2025-CP-00258-COA (Civil – Contract)
Affirming the chancery court’s decision where the appellant filed a brief with no citations to the record or case law except for two cases that were referenced by name only with no reporter citation and the appellee did not file a brief.
(10-0: Lassitter St. Pe’ for the Court)

Note – This is the Court’s conclusion:

Wilson v. P.L. Marketing, Inc., 2025-WC-00158-COA (Civil – Workers’ Comp)
Affirming the Commission’s order affirming an order denying a motion to reopen that was filed more than a year after the claim was dismissed for the claimant’s failure to appear at a hearing on the merits.
(10-0: McCarty for the Court)

Price v. Hinds County School District, 2024-CA-00841-COA (Civil – States, Boards & Agencies)
Reversing the chancery court’s decision that had affirmed the School Board’s decision to terminate an assistant principal, holding that the decision to terminate the assistant principal for reading “I Need a New Butt!” to a second-grade class.
(9-1-0: Lawrence for the Court; Emfinger concurred in result only without writing)

Williams v. Williams, 2024-CA-00718-COA (Civil – Domestic Relations)
Affirming in part and reversing in part a chancellor’s judgment of divorce and contempt, holding that the ex-husband waived the issue of denying a motion to amend to add a ground after previously voluntarily-dismissing that ground, that the chancellor erred in classifying marital asserts and debt, that the chancellor erred in only awarding half a mortgage arrearage on a finding of contempt, that the chancellor erred in not awarding the full deficiency on a vehicle, and that the chancellor did not err in finding that the sale of the parties’ boat did not violate a court order or dissipate a marital asset.
(7-3-0: McDonald for the Court; Wilson and Emfinger concurred in part and in the result without writing; Weddle concurred in the result only without writing)

Dodson v. State, 2024-KA-00424-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit auto theft, holding that the trial court did not err by refusing to give a jury instruction on aggravate assault as a lesser-included offense of attempted murder.
(10-0: Wilson for the Court)

City of Clinton v. Johnston, 2023-CA-01105-COA (Civil – PCR)
Dismissing the City’s appeal of the circuit court’s decision granting a motion for PCR, holding that the City lacked standing where it was not a party to the proceedings below and failed to intervene.
(10-0: Carlton for the Court)’

Brown v. Mississippi Real Estate Commission, 2024-CC-01207-COA (Civil – State Boards & Agencies)
Affirming the Commission’s decision to not renew a real estate license, holding that the decision based on untruthful and fraudulent representations to the Commission and felony conviction was supported by substantial evidence and was not arbitrary or capricious.
(8-2-0: Carlton for the Court; Wilson and McDonald concurred in part and in the result without writing)

Jones v. State, 2024-KA-01426-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of possession of a firearm by a felon, holding that based on counsel’s Lindsey brief, the defendant’s pro se brief, and the Court’s review of the record that there was no error.
(10-0: Carlton for the Court)

Banks v. State, 2024-KA-00881-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of manslaughter with a firearm enhancement, holding that the verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence.
(6-1-3: McCarty for the Court; Wilson concurred in part and in the result without writing; McDonald dissented without writing; Westbrooks dissented, joined by McDonald and joined in part by Carlton)

Other Orders

Goodloe v. State, 2023-KA-00960-COA (denying rehearing)
Lovelace v. Board of Trustees, 2023-CA-01341-COA (denying rehearing)
Cameron v. Miller, 2023-CA-01388-COA (denying rehearing)

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Mississippi Supreme Court Decisions of January 22, 2026

The Mississippi Supreme Court handed down two opinions today. One is a certificate of need case and the other is a direct criminal appeal.

Singing River Health Systems v. Mississippi State Department of Health, 2025-SA-00614-SCT (Civil – State Boards & Agencies)
Affirming the chancellor’s decision affirming the state health officer’s approval of a CON application, holding that there was substantial evidence that the the CON application complied with the requirements, that there was substantial evidence that the hearing officer substantially complied with procedure, that the hearing officer’s determination of economic vitality was not arbitrary and capricious, that the hearing officer was within her discretion to weight conflicting evidence regarding adverse impact, and that substantial evidence supported that the proposed project would not have a significant adverse effect on another facility’s ability to provide charitable care.
(7-0)

Pegues v. State, 2024-KA-01001-SCT (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of possession of a firearm by a felon, holding that the State did not commit prosecutorial misconduct by commenting on the defendant’s failure to call witnesses or the defendant exercising his right to a jury trial and holding that there was sufficient evidence of constructive evidence.
(7-0)

Other Orders

Parrott v. Frierson, 2023-CT-01245-SCT (denying cert)
Fisher v. All About Painting and Cleaning, Inc., 2023-CT-01289-SCT (denying cert)
Mohiuddin v. Jackson County, Mississippi Board of Supervisors, 2024-CA-00759-SCT (denying rehearing)
Crabtree v. Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company, 2024-FC-00827-SCT (denying rehearing)

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Mississippi Court of Appeals Decisions of January 13, 2026

The Mississippi Court of Appeals handed down six opinions today. There is a couple of domestic relations cases, one of which turns on an appellate jurisdiction issue. Then there are two direct criminal appeals, an MTCA case, and attorney’s fees case.

In Re Guardianship of K.G.W.: Garland v. Bunch, 2024-CA-01325-COA (Civil – Domestic Relations)
Dismissing appeal stemming from a guardianship, holding that the Court lacked jurisdiction on the appeal taken under section 11-43-53 because there had been no trial of a habeas corpus.
(10-0: Lassitter St. Pe’ for the Court)

O’Quin v. Davaul, 2024-CP-01327-COA (Civil – State Boards & Agencies)
Affirming dismissal of a complaint against the county tax assessor and granting judgment on the pleadings for failing to comply with MTCA requirements, holding that the pro se appellant’s arguments were without merit and were procedurally barred for failing to comply with the rules of appellate procedure.
(10-0: Lassitter St. Pe’ for the Court)

Fraser v. State, 2023-KA-01129-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of culpable negligence manslaughter, holding that even if admission of emails and photographs from the victim’s phone showing past abuse was error it was harmless, that the trial court did not err in admitting an email from the defendant into evidence or in limiting the defendant’s expert witness’s testimony, and that the evidence was sufficient to support the conviction.
(8-2-0: Emfinger for the Court; Westbrooks and McDonald concurred in part and in the result without writing)

Elkins v. State, 2024-KA-00597-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of aggravated assault, holding that there were no issues warranting reversal after reviewing counsel’s Lindsey brief and the record.
(10-0: Emfinger for the Court)

Covington County Bank v. Scott Tractor & Equipment Company, 2024-CA-01071-COA (Civil – Contract)
Reversing the circuit court’s denial of attorney’s fees, holding that the trial court abused its discretion in denying the request for attorney’s fees that was sought after the defendant paid the debt with accrued interest on the same day the creditor filed a motion for entry of default.
(7-3: Westbrooks for the Court; Emfinger dissented, joined by Wilson and Lawrence)

Aultman v. Aultman, 2024-CA-00746-COA (Civil – Domestic Relations)
Affirming in part and reversing in part in a divorce case, holding that the chancellor erred with respect to the valuation of a home and remanding to reconsider valuation and equitable distribution but holding that the chancellor did not err in valuing an ESIP, retirement, and PERS accounts, did not err in awarding attorney’s fees for successful contempt proceedings.
(8-1-0: Carlton for the Court: Wilson concurred in part and in the result without writing; Lassitter St. Pe’ did not participate)

Other Orders

Ryals v. State, 2023-KA-01192-COA (ordering the circuit clerk to supplement the appellate record with the transcript of the jury instruction conference by a date certain and further ordering that if it is not received by that date that the court reporter shall appear before the Court at a show cause hearing)

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Mississippi Court of Appeals Decisions of November 25, 2025

The Mississippi Court of Appeals served a seasonally-appropriate portion of twelve opinions on Tuesday with nine other orders on the side. You can read about the lot below.

Cummings v. State, 2024-KA-00909-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of two counts of first-degree murder, holding that the conviction was supported by sufficient evidence, the verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in the jury instructions given, the trial court did did not abuse its discretion in allowing evidence of other bad acts, the ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim was without merit, and that the cumulative error doctrine did not apply.
(7-3: Weddle for the Court; Wilson dissented, joined by Westbrooks and McDonald)

In the Interest of K.B.: A.B.B. v. E.B.S., 2024-CA-00313-COA (Civil – Custody)
Affirming the youth court’s decision terminating parental rights, holding that the natural mother exercised all of the rights that she complained on appeal that the trial court failed to give her including her right to court-appointed counsel.
(8-2-0: Emfinger for the Court; Westbrooks and McCarty concurred in part and in the result without writing)

Bivins v. Ellisville State School, 2024-SA-01098-COA (Civil – State Boards & Agencies)
Affirming the circuit court’s decision affirming the Mississippi Employee Appeals Board’s decision affirming an employee’s termination, holding that the former employee failed to show that the order was not supported by substantial evidence or was arbitrary and capricious.
(10-0: McCarty for the Court)

Dortch v. State, 2024-KA-01102-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of capital murder while engaged in the commission of a robbery after reviewing counsel’s Lindsey brief and independently reviewing the record.
(10-0: McCarty for the Court)

Latham v. State, 2024-KA-00719-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of sexual battery after reviewing counsel’s Lindsey brief and independently reviewing the record.
(10-0: Lawrence for the Court)

Day v. Day, 2024-CA-00771-COA (Civil – Custody)
Affirming the chancery court’s custody modification order, holding that there was evidence to support the chancellor’s finding of a material change in circumstances and awarding the mother custody and visitation rights for the father.
(9-0: Lawrence for the Court; Weddle did not participate)

Higdon v. Pinkston, 2023-CP-00685-COA (Civil – Real Property)
Affirming the chancellor’s grant of summary judgment in a property-line dispute, holding that the chancellor’s decision where the motion for summary judgment was not opposed by a response or evidence at the hearing.
(10-0: Carlton for the Court)

McLaurin v. State, 2024-KA-00138-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of possession of meth but reversing sentence as a nonviolent habitual offender, holding that the conviction was supported by sufficient evidence and the verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence, that there was no plain error in admission of hearsay testimony from an officer, that the ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim lacked merit, that the trial court properly excluded proposed hearsay testimony, that the trial court did not err in qualifying the jury venire in the defendant’s absence, that the spousal privilege did not apply to certain testimony, and that matters not raised in the trial court were procedurally barred, but holding that the trial court erred in finding that it lacked sentencing discretion.
(6-4-0: Carlton for the Court; Wilson, McDonald, Emfinger, and Weddle concurred in part and in the result without writing)

Bodie v. State, 2024-KA-00634-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of two counts of sexual battery and one count of touching a child for lustful purposes, holding that the defendant’s rights under the Double Jeopardy Clause were not violated.
(10-0: Carlton for the Court)

CNRS&Z Inc. v. Bridgecrest Acceptance Corporation, 2024-CA-00365-COA (Civil – Contracts)
Affirming the trial court’s decision granting a motion to compel arbitration, holding that the trial court did not err in finding a valid and binding arbitration agreement with one of the defendants and that the “close legal relationship” between that defendant and two others allowed them to enforce the arbitration agreement as well.
(5-5: Barnes for the Court; McCarty concurred in part and dissented in part, joined by Westbrooks, McDonald, Lawrence, and Lassitter St. Pe’)

Note – The dissent agreed that the claims against the defendant who signed the arbitration agreement were bound to arbitration, but took issue with binding the claims against the other two defendants:

Estate of Price v. St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital, 2024-CA-00582-COA (Civil – Med Mal)
Affirming the circuit court’s dismissal of a med mal action finding that it was barred by the statute of limitations and that it was an impermissible duplicative action, holding that the plaintiff waived any challenge to the dismissal as an impermissible duplicative action by failing to address it on appeal and that it was therefore unnecessary for the Court to address the statute of limitations issue.
(6-2-0: Wilson for the Court; McDonald concurred in result only without writing; Lassitter St. Pe’ specially concurred, joined by Westbrooks; Barnes and Weddle did not participate.)

Avery v. State, 2024-CP-01044-COA (Civil – PCR)
Reversing summary dismissal of a PCR motion, holding that the motion was sufficient to survive summary dismissal and required the State to answer to motion and provide an explanation for its calculate of the parole eligibility date.
(8-2: Wilson for the Court; Lawrence dissented, joined by Weddle)

Other Orders

In the Interest of J.S.: P.S. v. Pearl River County Dept. of CPS, 2023-CA-00932-COA (denying rehearing)
Swims v. State, 2023-KA-01244-COA (denying rehearing)
Jackson v. State, 2023-KA-01280-COA (denying rehearing)
Hinds v. PERS, 2023-SA-01400-COA (denying rehearing)
Patterson v. State, 2024-KA-00268-COA (denying rehearing)
Brown v. State, 2024-CA-00307-COA (denying hearing)
Varnado v. State, 2024-KA-00338-COA (denying rehearing)
Polk v. State, 2024-KA-00591-COA (denying rehearing)
Wright v. State, 2025-TS-00986-COA (dismissing appeal as untimely)

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Mississippi Supreme Court Decisions of November 20, 2025

The Mississippi Supreme Court handed down one opinion today in a dispute between the Mississippi Department of Medicaid and a group of providers. There was also a bunch of orders related to various sets of rules.

Hattiesburg Medical Park Management Corp., v. Mississippi Division of Medicaid, 2024-SA-00253-SCT (Civil – State Boards & Agencies)
Reversing the chancellor’s decision affirming DOM’s adjustments to providers’ 2015 cost reports, holding that DOM’s change to its internal policy of not offsetting the dividends received by certain providers without public notice was arbitrary and capricious.
(7-2: Griffis for the Court; King dissented, joined by Coleman)

Other Orders

In Re: The Rules of Civil Procedure, 89-R-99001-SCT (amending MRCP’s introductory statement for Appendix A Forms)
In Re: Local Rules, 89-R-99015-SCT (dismissing motion to adopt Local Rule Governing Indigent Counsel Appointment)
In Re: Local Rules, 89-R-99015-SCT (granting motion to Amend or in the Alternative, Adopt Local Rule out of the 23rd Circuit Court District)
In Re: Local Rules, 89-R-99015-SCT (granting Motion to Amend Local Rules for the 4th Circuit)
In Re: Rules of Professional Conduct, 89-R-99018-SCT (granting Petition to Amend Certain Rules of the Mississippi Rules of Appellate Procedure and the Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct in Order to Define the Practice of Law in Mississippi and Exceptions Thereto and to Prohibit the Unauthorized Practice of Law in Mississippi)
Rules for Court Reporters, 89-R-99021-SCT (denying Motion to Amend the Rules and Regulations Governing Certified Court Reporters)
In Re: Mississippi Rules of Criminal Procedure, 89-R-99038-SCT (denying Motion to Amend MRCrP 7.2 and Comment Thereto)
Roncali v. State, 2023-CT-00173-SCT (granting cert)
Davis v. State, 2023-CT-00884-SCT (denying cert)
Harris v. State, 2024-CT-00231-SCT (denying cert)

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Mississippi Court of Appeals Decisions of November 18, 2025

The Mississippi Court of Appeals handed down ten opinions today. Eight of the opinions are “new” and two of them follow a rehearing grant.

Eaglin v. Burse, 2024-CA-00808-COA (Civil – Custody)
Reversing the chancellor’s decision in a custody dispute, holding that the chancellor abused her discretion in denying a motion to continue and a motion in limine.
(9-0: Lassitter St. Pe’ for the Court; Westbrooks did not participate)

In Re Conservatorship of Mayberry: Mayberry-Johnson v. Mayberry, 2024-CA-00649-COA (Civil – Wills, Trusts & Estates)
Affirming the chancellor’s decision granting a petition to be appointed guardian and conservator of the petitioner’s husband over the objection of their daughter, holding that the chancellor did not abuse his discretion or commit clear error.
(10-0: Weddle for the Court)

Hall v. State, 2023-KA-01363-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming convictions of conspiracy and aggravated assault, holding that the trial court did not err in admitting video and then admitting witness testimony identifying the defendant in the video.
(8-2-0: Emfinger for the Court; Westbrooks and McDonald concurred in the result only without writing)

Longino v. State, 2024-KA-00772-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of first degree murder, holding that the trial court did not err in excluding the defendant’s complete law enforcement interview or in prohibiting the defendant’s father from testifying regarding the defendant’s history of mental health and treatment.
(9-1-0: Emfinger for the Court; Westbrooks concurred in part and in the result without writing)

Clarksdale Municipal School District Board of Trustees v. Montgomery, 2024-CA-00611-COA (Civil – Contract)
Reversing the chancery court’s decision to reverse the school board’s decision upholding a teacher’s contract non-renewal, holding that because the teacher did not comply with the statute’s requirements no hearing was necessary for the school board to uphold the non-renewal.
(9-1: McCarty for the Court; McDonald dissented without writing)

Manning v. State, 2024-CP-00853-COA (Civil – PCR)
Affirming the trial court’s order denying a motion for PCR based on a finding that it was successive.
(5-1-4: Lawrence for the Court; McCarty concurred in part without writing; Wilson and McDonald dissented in part without writing; Westbrooks dissented, joined by Barnes and McDonald and joined in part by Wilson and McCarty.)

McKnight v. State, 2024-KA-00779-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of possession of a weapon by a habitual offender, holding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by refusing to give a jury instruction proposed by the defendant because it was an inaccurate statement of the law or in denying a new trial.
(9-1-0: Westbrooks for the Court; Wilson concurred in part and in the result without writing)

Yates v. State, 2024-KA-00371-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of burglary of a dwelling, holding that claim of error in excluding testimony was procedurally barred for lack of a proffer and that the conviction was supported by sufficient evidence.
(9-1-0: Wilson for the Court; Westbrooks concurred in the result only without writing)

Taylor v. State, 2023-CA-00738-COA (Civil – PCR)
Granting a motion for rehearing and reversing the trial court’s denial of a PCR motion, holding that the trial court exceeded its jurisdiction when it sentenced a man to a term that exceeded the maximum and that its actions in doing so are void.
(8-2: McCarty for the Court; Emfinger concurred in part and dissented in part without writing; Wilson dissented, joined by Emfinger)

Note – Here is how the Court summarized its holding:

McDonald v. Pruwitt, 2023-CA-01312-COA (Civil – Custody)
Granting rehearing and affirming the chancellor’s findings regarding the statutory criteria for grandparent visitation rights but reversing and remanding for specific findings regarding the Martin factors.
(10-0: Emfinger for the Court)

Other Orders

Nelson v. State, 2023-CP-00647-COA (denying rehearing)
Walker v. State, 2023-KA-01012-COA (denying rehearing)
Howard v. Howard, 2023-CA-01029-COA (denying rehearing)
Briggs v. Jackson, 2023-CA-01241-COA (denying rehearing)
Gombak0-Amos v. Amos, 2023-CA_01253-COA (denying rehearing)
Brodie v. Brodie, 2023-CA-01397-COA (denying rehearing)
Bhatti v. Board of Supervisors of Coahoma County, Mississippi, 2024-CA-00027-COA (denying rehearing)
Martin v. Martin, 2024-CA-00222-COA (denying rehearing)
Pickens v. State, 2025-TS-01084-COA (suspending Rule 4(a)’s deadline and allowing the appeal to proceed on the merits)
Lee v. State, 2025-TS-01099-COA (finding pro se response to show-cause notice well-taken and allowing appeal to proceed)
Fisher v. State, 2025-TS-01174-COA (granting appellant’s pro se motion to proceed out-of-time)

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