Judge Prevents Mississippi From Creating White-Elected Courts For Black Counties… For Now

// As time passes, the weight of a vote in Mississippi loses import. When electing politicians, the districts are so gerrymandered that the voter turnout has fallen. Why bother leaving the house when you know how it’ll go? Back in February, the state’s House decided to double down on the sentiment with HB 1020 and voted to create a separate court system and expanded police force to boot — all appointments being made by white officials. Thankfully, a federal judge had enough common sense to delay the damned thing from being the law of the land.

A federal judge on Monday extended his order that temporarily stops the Mississippi Supreme Court chief justice from appointing judges in the capital city of Jackson and the county where it’s located, both of which are majority-Black.

U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate’s new order could last until June 9, giving attorneys time to further develop arguments about citizens’ right to elect judges….The civil rights organization argues that the law passed by the majority-white and Republican-controlled state Legislature creates unequal treatment for residents of Jackson and Hinds County compared to residents of the rest of the state. The capital city and Hinds County are both majority-Black and governed by Democrats.

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In case you didn’t know, Mississippi has a rich history of trying to prevent Black people from having involvement in governance:

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Michael Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andrew Goodman traveled to Mississippi to register Black voters. They were murdered by the KKK. Black turnout will be a deciding factor. Civil Rights activists knew the risks but also knew the greater risk of not voting. #BlackHistoryWithLana… pic.twitter.com/gid4CPEvf4

— LanaQuest aka RosaSparks (@LqLana) May 18, 2023

It has already been pointed out that the spirit of the law seems to read from a Klan playbook:

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🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨 After nearly 5 hours of debating House Bill 1020 passes. “I was surprised they came half dressed, because they forgot to wear their hoods.” Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba reacts to the bill applauding those who fought for it to die, and those who didn’t. pic.twitter.com/LwUUqgP0Y6

— Michaila Franklin WAPT (@FranklinWapt) February 8, 2023

The stated reason for HB 1020 is to curb crime. I’m no criminologist, but there has to be some solution other than implementing a caste system in the courts and the police. You’d think that Mississippi’s constitution specifying that voters are the ones to elect judges for circuit courts would be enough, but Mississippi finds its way. I wonder if this is one of the civil liberties violations Justice Gorsuch had in mind when he made his COVID claim?

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Federal Judge Extends Temporary Halt On Appointed Judges In Mississippi Capital [Associated Press]

Earlier: I Did Not Have Mississippi Creating Whites-Only Courts On My Black History Month Bingo Card

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Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s.  He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who cannot swim, a published author on critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at [email protected] and by tweet at @WritesForRent.

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Courts, Gerrymandering, Henry Wingate, Mississippi, Voting