Wednesday, January 7, 2015, 12:00 am News Flash Archive

Yesterday, Judge Samac Richardson recused himself from hearing the election contest between Sheriel Perkins and Mayor Carolyn McAdams.

Judge Richardson announced his decision in a hearing in Brandon yesterday. The order has been signed, but as of noon today, it had not been received by Leflore County Circuit Clerk Elmus Stockstill for official filing.

Once the order of recusal is received, Stockstill will transmit it to the Supreme Court for the appointment of a new judge to hear the case.

Richardson's recusal came in apparent response to Mrs. Perkins' motion requesting recusal which she filed last week. In that motion, Perkins alleges that the Judge's recent rulings limiting evidence to be presented in the election contest showed the judge to be prejudiced against Mrs. Perkins.

The trial of the contest was supposed to begin Monday morning at the Leflore County Courthouse. Now that trial is in limbo, with nobody to preside over the trial. Most observers believe that the trial will have to be postponed, even if a new judge is quickly appointed to replace Richardson.

Meanwhile, a large special jury has been summoned. Over 100 witnesses have been subpoenaed, but apparently most of those subpoenas have not yet been issued and served.

John Pittman Hey
The Taxpayers Channel

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