Post by Logan on Jun 27, 2016 5:25:47 GMT -6
Hinds County Circuit Judge Jeff Weill has issued an administrative order temporarily removing Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith from participating in cases on his court docket after Smith's arrest Wednesday for allegedly providing information to assist criminal defendants.
"While the district attorney.and all citizens, are entitled to the presumption of innocence, the district attorney's status as a public official and the undersigned's duty to uphold the independence and integrity of judicial system requires the administrative action ordered herein," Weill said in the order issued Thursday."The district attorney faces at least six separate criminal charges alleging improper use of his office."
Weill said in a footnote in the six-page order that the ruling doesn't extend to the dockets of any other judges. However, Weill said in the order that in addition to removing Smith from prosecuting cases on his docket, he is temporarily disqualifying the district attorney from any and all participation in grand jury proceedings in Hinds County.
"The additional temporary disqualification is made necessary by two central facts," Weill said. "First, the state constitutional provision cited herein provides that the district attorney may be presented to the grand jury concerning his action or inactions in office, creating an unavoidable conflict of interest between the district attorney and the grand jury. Second, and even more significantly, sealed proceedings in Cause Nos. 251-16-26 and more recently 251-355 and 251-16-543, support this finding disqualifying the district attorney from all proceedings and decisions regarding the grand jury."
Read more: www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2016/06/23/weill-issues-order-remove-da-smith/86305168/
"While the district attorney.and all citizens, are entitled to the presumption of innocence, the district attorney's status as a public official and the undersigned's duty to uphold the independence and integrity of judicial system requires the administrative action ordered herein," Weill said in the order issued Thursday."The district attorney faces at least six separate criminal charges alleging improper use of his office."
Weill said in a footnote in the six-page order that the ruling doesn't extend to the dockets of any other judges. However, Weill said in the order that in addition to removing Smith from prosecuting cases on his docket, he is temporarily disqualifying the district attorney from any and all participation in grand jury proceedings in Hinds County.
"The additional temporary disqualification is made necessary by two central facts," Weill said. "First, the state constitutional provision cited herein provides that the district attorney may be presented to the grand jury concerning his action or inactions in office, creating an unavoidable conflict of interest between the district attorney and the grand jury. Second, and even more significantly, sealed proceedings in Cause Nos. 251-16-26 and more recently 251-355 and 251-16-543, support this finding disqualifying the district attorney from all proceedings and decisions regarding the grand jury."
Read more: www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2016/06/23/weill-issues-order-remove-da-smith/86305168/