Four candidates running for justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court District 3 Place One spoke at a forum in Robert A. Weems Auditorium Wednesday evening.
The candidates who participated in the forum are John Brady, Bobby Chamberlin, Steve Crampton and Jim Kitchens.
Gregory Alston, president of the Ole Miss Law School student body, moderated the forum. Alston asked the candidates about experience, legal ethics, issues specific to the North Mississippi area and their opinion on what has been the most impactful U.S. Supreme Court decision.
Brady said he believes the Mississippi Supreme Court should not be a legislator or an activist. He said he would try to make sure this happens if he is elected.
“It is not the role of the Supreme Court, in my opinion, to legislate,” Brady said. “The Supreme Court should not be an activist court; I will not be an activist court juror if I am elected.”
Chamberlin spoke about the importance of the Mississippi Supreme Court having judges that will be deliberate, disciplined and decisive.
“We need to have judges that are going to deliberate on the law, be disciplined enough to apply the law and be decisive enough to make the decisions that have to be made,” Chamberlin said. “We need judges that are going to follow the law, not make the law. If I am elected your Supreme Court justice, I will make sure that is done.”
Crampton was straightforward about why he believes he is the right person for the job. He said that he is the best fit because these are extraordinary times.
“In ordinary times, certainly any of the candidates here would make fine justices for you,” Crampton said. “These are extraordinary times, and extraordinary times perhaps call for a different type of candidate, somebody with more experience in the types of issues that come before us.”
Kitchens said following legal ethics is vital. While most attorneys are good and ethical people, as a justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court, he would ensure that all working under him stay true to ethics of the law.
“Most of the attorneys I’ve worked with are good and decent people,” Kitchens said. “The times that I’ve had someone who I thought was maybe headed into the wrong direction, I’ve brought them into my chambers and said, ‘Is this really what you want to do?’ I think that is what, as a judge, you need to be able to do.”
An audience member asked the candidates if they would be able to put aside their personal beliefs, should the U.S. Supreme Court pass legislation that contradicts those beliefs.
Brady said the utmost responsibility of any attorney is to follow the law. However, he said he cannot ignore his morals and values.
“Before I could ever hear a case on Supreme Court, I have to raise my right hand and swear to follow the law,” Brady said. “That’s what I’ll do if I am elected: I’ll follow the law. In doing that and applying the law and interpreting the law, I cannot leave who I am at the door.”
Laura K. Cooper, an audience member and first-year law student, said she came to hear the candidates speak because being an educated voter is extremely important.
“It’s important to be informed about the positions of people who are called upon to represent citizens,” Cooper said.
Chamberlin said it’s a voter’s responsibility to look at all of the candidates’ past experience and decide who would do the best job.
“The diversity I brought to the circuit bench, I can bring to the Mississippi Supreme Court,” Chamberlin said. “I believe that diversity and judicial experience set me apart.”
In his closing statement, Crampton addressed some issues the country faces today.
“We’ve seen federal courts insist that teachers not be able to say ‘God bless you’ when a student sneezes,’” Crampton said. “We live in an extraordinary time. We must get back to a recognition and respect for the law.”
Polls open to voters 7 a.m. Tuesday.
