FILED

~ 11r,

Serial: 207496
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI

State of Mississippi

04 2016

OFFICE OF THE CLERK

SUPREME COURT
COURT OF APPEALS

Plaintiff

v.

No. 2016-AP-01102

Robert Shuler Smith

Defendant

No. 16-624; In the County Court of Hinds

County, Mississippi, First Judicial District

ORDER APPOINTING SPECIAL JUDGE

THIS MATTER is before the Court, en bane, upon request by the Judges for the
County Court of Hinds County, Mississippi, First Judicial District, for the appointment of a
Special Judge to preside over the proceedings in the above numbered and styled cause, which
is presently pending in the County Court ofHinds County, Mississippi, First Judicial District.
Senior Status Judge James D. Bell, has agreed to accept this case and shall preside and
conduct proceedings until such time as the case is concluded. This request is necessitated by
the recusal of the Judges for said Court by virtue of Orders ofRecusal executed in said case
on July 10, 2016, July 11, 2016, and August 1, 2016.
Having fully considered the matter, the Court finds that the request is proper pursuant
to Miss. Code Ann. Section 9-1-105.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Honorable James D. Bell,
Senior Status Judge, be, and he is, hereby specially appointed Special Judge to preside and

conduct proceedings in the above referenced case pursuant to and by authority of Mississippi
Code Ann. Section 9-1-105; which states that the Chief Justice may, with the advice and
consent of a majority of the Justices of the Mississippi Supreme Court, appoint a Special
Judge.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of this Court transmit copies of this order
to the Honorable James D. Bell, Special Judge; the Honorable William L. "Bill" Skinner; the
Honorable Melvin V. Priester, and the Honorable LaRita Cooper-Stokes, Judges of and for
the County Court of Hinds County, and, to the Clerk of the County Court of Hinds County,
who is directed to file this Order and deliver copies to all counsel of record in said case and
to parties not represented by counsel.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that upon the conclusion of this case in the trial court,
the Special Judge shall promptly forward a copy of the final judgment or other order of final
disposition by mail or email to the Court Administrator, Supreme Court of Mississippi, P.O.
Box 117, Jackson, MS 39205, hsaunders@courts.rns.gov.
SO ORDERED, this the

4th

day of August, 2016.

WILLIAM L. WALLER, JR.,

CHIEF JUSTICE
FOR THE COURT

AGREE: ALL JUSTICES.

2

Serial: 207491

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI

No. 2016-AP-01079

FILED

IN RE: DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR THE

SEVENTH CIRCUIT COURT DISTRICT

~11(.j

04 2016

OFFICE OF THE CLERK

SUPREME COURT
COURT OF APPEALS

Hinds County Circuit Court Nos. 25CII: 16cv-00220; 25CII: l 6-cv-003 55; 16-0-00624;
16-9002; 16-0-543; In the Circuit Court of
Hinds County, Mississippi, First Judicial
District

ORDER APPOINTING SPECIAL JUDGE

THIS MATTER is before the Court, en bane, upon request by all Circuit Court Judges
for the Circuit Court of Hinds County, Mississippi,

7th

Circuit Court District, for the

appointment of a Special Circuit Judge to preside over the proceedings in the above
numbered and styled causes, which are presently pending in the Circuit Court of Hinds
County, Mississippi, First Judicial District. All Circuit Judges have recused in the subject
actions. Senior Status Judge Larry E. Roberts, has agreed to accept these cases and shall
preside and conduct proceedings until such time as these cases are concluded. This request
is necessitated by the recusal of the Judges for said Court.
Having fully considered the matter, the Court finds that the request is proper and
should be granted.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Honorable Larry E.

Roberts, Senior Status Judge, be, and he is, hereby specially appointed Special Judge to
preside and conduct proceedings in the above referenced cases pursuant to and by authority
of Mississippi Code Annotated, Section 9-1-105; which states that the Chief Justice may,
with the advice and consent of a majority of the Justices of the Mississippi Supreme Court,
appoint a Special Judge.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Honorable Larry E. Roberts shall preside as
Special Circuit Judge for any and all matters, motions, or actions involving the grand jury
and/or administrative duties of Robert Shuler Smith, the Hinds County District Attorney,
pending or subsequently filed, including any related criminal actions, until further order of
the Court.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of this Court transmit copies of this order
to the Honorable Larry E. Roberts, Special Circuit Judge; the Honorable Winston L. Kidd;
the Honorable Jeff Weill, Sr.; the Honorable Tomie T. Green, and the Honorable William A.
Gowan, Jr., Judges of and for the Circuit Court of Hinds County, and, to the Clerk of the
Circuit Court of Hinds County, who is directed to file this Order and deliver copies to all
counsel of record in said case.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that upon the conclusion of these cases in the trial court,
the Special Judge shall promptly forward a copy of the final judgments or other orders of

final disposition by mail or email to the Court Administrator, Supreme Court of Mississippi,
P.O. Box 117, Jackson, MS 39205, hsaunders(a),courts.ms.gov.
SO ORDERED, this the

4th

day of August, 2016.

WILLIAM L. ALLER, JR.,

CHIEF JUSTICE
FOR THE COURT
AGREE: ALL JUSTICES