Judges Coleman and Hilburn to continue to preside over Judge Delaughter's cases
The Clarion-Ledger reported yesterday that the Mississippi Supreme extended the special appointments of retired Circuit Court Judges William Coleman and Breland Hilburn to preside over the Hinds County Circuit Court cases assigned to suspended judge Bobby DeLaughter. Judge Coleman handles the civil docket and Judge Hilburn the criminal docket.
The appointments now run through December 31. Hinds County is lucky to have these two experienced retired judges who are willing and able to serve in a temporary capacity. They will both hopefully be able to serve until Judge DeLaughter's situation is resolved.
On a Judge DeLaughter note, I recommend his book Never Too Late, which is about his re-opening and re-trial of Byran De La Beckwith for the civil rights murder of Medgar Evers. It is an interesting case and trial about an event of historical importance for Mississippi and the nation. The book is also well written--much better in that respect than the vast majority of books that I have read that were written by non-professional authors. It's worth the read.
