James L. Roberts Jr.
James Lamar Roberts Jr. (born June 8, 1945)[1] is an American retired jurist who served as a justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi from 1992 to 1999.[2]
Born in Pontotoc, Mississippi, Roberts received a J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1971,[3] and served as the prosecuting attorney for Pontotoc County, Mississippi from 1972 to 1983. In 1984, Governor Bill Allain appointed him State Commissioner of Public Safety, a position he held for four years.[4]
Roberts became a justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi in 1992.[5] In April 1999, Roberts resigned form his seat on the Supreme Court to campaign for the office of governor in that year's election.[4] He sought the Democratic nomination, facing Lieutenant Governor Ronnie Musgrove.[6] Roberts did little to build a gubernatorial platform and spent most of his time attacking Musgrove for his use of state vehicles for campaign activities.[7] Musgrove won the August 3 Democratic primary, taking 57 percent of the vote to Roberts' 26 percent.[8]
In January 2019, Roberts suffered a stroke. He tendered his resignation from his circuit court judgeship effective February 29, 2020.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ Who's Who in American Law, 2002-2003. Marquis Who's Who. 2002. p. 541.
- ^ Leslie Southwick, Mississippi Supreme Court Elections: A Historical Perspective 1916-1996, 18 Miss. C. L. Rev. 115 (1997-1998).
- ^ Moore, William (January 23, 2020). "Circuit Judge James Roberts resigns". Daily Journal.
- ^ a b c Helms, David (January 29, 2020). "Judge James L. Roberts, Jr., tenders resignation". Pontotoc Progress. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
- ^ "State of Mississippi Judiciary". courts.ms.gov.
- ^ Watson & Campbell 2003, p. 133.
- ^ Watson & Campbell 2003, p. 134.
- ^ Ammerman, Joseph (August 4, 1999). "It's Musgrove vs. Parker for Governor's Mansion". The Clarion-Ledger. pp. 1A, 6A.
Works cited[edit]
- Watson, Robert P.; Campbell, Colton C., eds. (2003). Campaigns and Elections: Issues, Concepts, Cases. Lynne Rienner Publishers. ISBN 9781588261441.
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