Daily Journal
JACKSON – Circuit Judge James L. Roberts Jr. of Pontotoc has been elected vice-chair of the Commission on Judicial Performance, the state’s judicial watchdog agency.
Rick J. Coulter of Columbia was named the new chairman when the commission elected officers on Feb. 12.
The Commission on Judicial Performance investigates allegations of judicial misconduct and makes recommendations for discipline to the Mississippi Supreme Court. The Commission includes seven members and seven alternates. An alternate takes the place of a member who is not able to participate in a particular judicial discipline case.
Judge Roberts has served at every level of the state judiciary. Since January 2007, he has been Circuit Judge of the seven-county First Circuit District, which includes Alcorn, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe, Tishomingo, Pontotoc and Prentiss counties. He previously served on the Supreme Court for seven years, resigning to run for governor.
He then served as municipal judge in his hometown, Pontotoc. His early career included 12 years as a county prosecutor and four years as Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety. He served as a chancellor of the First Chancery District for four years before he was elected to the Supreme Court.
He also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern Mississippi.
