Hinds County Judge Suspended

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – The Mississippi Supreme Court has suspended Hinds County Court Judge Houston Patton for 30 days without pay for violating the judicial code of ethics. The court on Thursday also ordered a public reprimand and a $1,000 fine. The Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance filed a complaint last August against Patton. The commission alleged Patton had conversations about cases outside the courtroom with litigants or their attorneys. The commission said Patton also held hearings and issued orders without notifying the parties involved in the cases. The commission had recommended a public reprimand and fine. The Supreme Court majority, however, said Patton’s actions denied people coming into his court their rights. (Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)