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Jackson-based legal blogger Philip Thomas, in his Mississippi Litigation Review & Commentary, has interesting observations about what happens now that MS Supreme Court justice James Graves moves to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Here's what Thomas sees happening, as well as a prediction on whether it will be a bellweather for Gov. Haley Barbour's presidential intentions...... patsy
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PER PHILIP THOMAS:
With the U.S. Senate approving Justice James Graves' appointment to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday, attention turns to who Governor Barbour will appoint to replace Graves on the Miss. Supreme Court. I posted on this issue in this post last June. I've had lines in the water for weeks on this issue and do not really have any fresh information on this topic.
Speculation in Jackson legal circles continues to center on Barbour appointing Graves' replacement from the Mississippi Court of Appeals. Under this theory Barbour will appoint Court of Appeals Chief Judge Leslie King to the Supreme Court, a sitting trial judge to the Court of Appeals and an attorney to replace the trial judge. Hinds County Chancery Judge Denise Owens is a name that I hear as the favorite to replace King on the Court of Appeals if it this happens. Others speculate that Owens could replace Graves on the Supreme Court.
I've gotten mixed signals on the possibility of Jackson attorney La'Verne Edney getting the Supreme Court appointment. I've heard that she does not want the position. And I've heard that she is campaigning for the job. So I've got no idea.
One interesting scenario would be for Barbour to appoint former Hinds County Circuit Judge Malcolm Harrison to one of the available positions. Word on the street is that Barbour was upset with Judge Bill Gowan for running against—and unseating Harrison. Appointing Harrison to another slot would at least put Harrison back into public service.
With Barbour still in the 2012 Presidential race, expect the position to go to an African-American. If Barbour appoints a white person to the Supreme Court, then he's not running for President.
At this point, I have no prediction on what's going to happen here. Let me know if you've heard any interesting rumors on the Supreme Court seat. If requested, I do not reveal the identity of sources.
Straight from Washington: The Hill.com reports the likelihood of a Senate floor vote Monday on Mississippian James Graves' nomination to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
(I also like the action on the Green Bay Packers.... prb)
Here's what they say:
The Senate adjourned at 5:04 p.m. after a little more than an hour of business Thursday afternoon.
The Senate is scheduled to return at 2 p.m. on Monday to continue consideration of amendments to S. 223, the Federal Aviation Administration re-authorization bill.
At 4:30 p.m. on Monday, the Senate will consider the judicial nominations of James Graves and Edward Davila. At 5:30 p.m., the Senate will hold a voice vote on the Graves nomination, followed by a roll call vote on the Davila nomination. Further roll call votes on FAA amendments are possible.
Prior to adjourning on Thursday, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) passed a resolution by unanimous consent honoring the Green Bay Packers for winning the Super Bowl.
If you thought the tale of disgraced financier R. Allen Stanford couldn't get more complicated, think again.
This week, court-appointed receiver Ralph Janvey in Dallas, Texas, went after the PGA Tour for $13 million.
As you recall, Stanford was indicted in June 2009 on multiple counts that he operated a $7.2 billion Ponzi scheme on certificate of deposit investors in his Stanford International Bank in the Caribbean.
“PGA did not provide reasonably equivalent value for the transfers of CD proceeds to it and cannot establish that it is a good faith transferee,” Janvey said in the filing.
David Toms and Vijay Singh (through IMG), both sponsored by Stanford, have also had writs filed against them for sums of $900,000 and $10.5 million, respectively, Bloomberg reports.
Singh remained loyal to Stanford even after his indictment, wearing the Stanford Financial logo without fee and offering to pay a half-million dollar bond for Stanford.
Stanford's Jan. 24 criminal trial in Houston, Texas, was delayed so that he could be weaned off anti-anxiety drugs.
Thousands of investors, including many in Mississippi, lost their life savings and retirement funds when the Stanford financial empire collapsed in early 2009 under the weight of an investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Four others – including Baldwyn native Laura Pendergest-Holt – face trial on similar charges after Stanford's prosecution.
James M. Davis, also of Baldwyn, was Stanford's chief operating officer and pleaded guilty to the charges in August 2009. He is expected to be the prosecution's chief witness, when trials begin.
He will not be sentenced until those proceedings are over.
... Watch this blog for more as it develops.
... patsy
James Graves of Clinton may finally be on his way to a full Senate vote for the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
This morning, the Senate Judiciary Committee gave the OK to his nomination, along with a bunch of others who weren't acted on by the time Congress shut down in 2010.
Now, Mississippi Sens. Roger Wicker and Thad Cochran will lend their helping hands before their colleagues for Graves, the state Supreme Court's only black jurist.
They announced their support for him months ago, so that should help mightily with their GOP members.
Earlier today, Sen. Leahy said these nominations needed to get moving.
Perhaps they have.
Stay tuned... patsy