Thursday, July 10, 2014

Judge Tomie Green orders county to give raises to her bailiffs.


Hinds County Circuit Judge Tomie Green ordered the county to provide raises to her two bailiffs.  Judge Green stated her bailiffs make less than the bailiffs assigned to the other circuit judges, and thus should be given raises of $411 per month.  She claimed Sheriff Tyrone Lewis refused to provide raises to the two bailiffs when she requested him to do so.

Deputy Roderick Thompson was hired in 2009 and earns a salary of $2,043 per month, while Deputy Bill Queen was hired in 2008 and makes $2,261 per month.  Judge Green states the average monthly salary is $2,445 for the circuit court bailiffs.  However, Judge Green does not state the average salary for all bailiffs.  Deputies Thompson and Queen are not certified law enforcement officers.

The Hinds County Board of Supervisors reviewed the request in executive session at the July 7 meeting but took no action.

Judge Green and Sheriff Tyrone Lewis have been engaged in a protracted court battle over control of the bailiffs for several years.  Judge Green asserts the Sheriff cannot fire or transfer bailiffs without her consent.  The Sheriff argues Mississippi law gives him sole authority over the bailiffs and that they serve at his will and pleasure.

Earlier post on Judge Green attempts to take control of bailiffs.
2012 post: Sheriff responds

Kingfish Note: Judges can interfere in budget matters? Is there a separation of powers issue in this case?  Then there is the fact a judge is telling the county to issue raises. Perhaps someone should watch this video of then-supervisor Phil Fisher setting one judge straight on budget matters:




16 comments:

Anonymous said...

This does seem like a separation of powers problem. Seems like it should be up to the sheriff to decide if they need a raise (assuming that the bailiffs are sheriff dept employees). And is this a proper use of a judge's order? If it is, looks like a judge can "order" any public official to do anything.

Anonymous said...

So the guy hired earlier makes more than the guy hired later? Shocker.

Anonymous said...

If she treats the bailiffs as badly as she does attorneys appearing before her, they probably deserve a whole lot more.

Anonymous said...

@10:21 nailed it. This is no surprise to anyone who has appeared before her.

Anonymous said...

Maybe Judge Green would be more effective if she wrote a poem about it. Perhaps a rap song this time...

Anonymous said...

I wish someone would investigate/address the fact that every single defendant out on bond assigned to her courtroom is forced to pay for electronic monitoring through her best friend/boyfriend/lunch buddy (Dennis Grant) or whatever you want to call him. I know of no other court in the state that requires every defendant to pay $ to be on house arrest while awaiting trial. Shady.. Shady..

Jackson voter said...

We DESPERATELY need a strong candidate to run against and unseat Tomie Green.

She is one of the most dysfunctional parts of the incredibly dysfunctional Hinds County court system.

She seems to think she holds a dictatorship and can just make up rules as she goes along.

I'm beyond sick of it.

Anonymous said...

Allow me to suggest a poem especially for the Sheriff for this situation

An Ode to the High Sheriff

Oh, Sheriff Tyrone with your glittery star.....
I have admired you......but only from afar.
My Bailiffs surely need more money...
So cough it up...what say you honey?

Anonymous said...

The Mississippi Supreme Court has ruled that a Circuit Judge can order the Board to spend money if they have refused to provide minimally necessary facilities for the court to function. [courtroom air conditioning was damaged BOS refused to repair, hot summer, criminal trial with windows opened for ventilation, loud traffic outside disrupted the trial. Circuit Judge ordered BOS to fix the AC, Supreme Court affirmed.]

Anonymous said...

@12:34

Your facts are not correct. Only defendants who are on bond for serious crimes against the person and sex offenses are required to be on house arrest. Defendants who are on bond for property crimes are only required to "check in" with Dennis Grant on a continuous basis while they await disposition of their case.

Judge Green sets lower bonds than any other circuit court judge. Should the defendant decide to post bond, reporting to Dennis Grant is a "condition" of their bond, and this is 100% acceptable under the law.

Defendants would much rather have a lower bond set so they could actually post that bond during pretrial detention.

Defendants who are on bond for cases in Judge Green's court have the lowest recidivism rate while on bond than any other Judge in Hinds county. I would think Hinds county residents would like this fact.

The law does not favor pretrial detention, and it's kinda the reason we have a Constitutional Amendment that addresses this issue.

I'm no apologist for any judge out there, but when comments are left that are simply untrue, those with information and facts have a responsibility to inform everyone that these are simply lies.

Anonymous said...

Hey 12:34 do the people who "just have to check in" with Dennis Grant pay a fee for that? Or just the "serious cases" on house arrest pay.. Once you have "all the facts" is like that answer..

Furthermore, can you send a link to where you got the information on recidivism rates per judge? Is love to see those "facts".. Ha!

Lastly, shouldn't there be transparency since only one judge requires defendants to "check in" with Dennis Grant and that one judge is routinely seen in public with him?

Anonymous said...

Last post ^^^^ meant 2:55 not 12:34

Anonymous said...

@2:55 You said:

Defendants who are on bond for cases in Judge Green's court have the lowest recidivism rate while on bond than any other Judge in Hinds county. I would think Hinds county residents would like this fact.

Can you give a source for this? I would like to know what data exists for Hinds County judges such as what you are stating. Thx.

Anonymous said...

Judge has no authority to do this.

Anonymous said...

Hearing Phil Fisher laying down the law gives me thrills up my leg.

Anonymous said...

It costs money every time you see Dennis Grant. And if you can't pay, you go to back to jail, whether you've committed another crime or not.



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.