Ex. Judge Ellis Willard of Rolling Fork, MS; serial miscreant, certified moron
Unfortunately, Ellis Willard succeeded in duping the voters in Sharkey County into electing him to the Sharkey County Justice Court several years ago.
While sitting on the bench the Mississippi Judicial Commission found Judge Willard guilty of thirty-one (31) counts of improper conduct, which are set forth below.
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Accepting partial payment of fines payable to the justice court
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Suspending fines for violations of the Implied Consent Law
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Dismissing a DUI charge on his own motion
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Engaging in ex parte communications
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Dismissing 4 traffic citations for four defendants who failed to appear in court
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Rendering a verdict of not guilty relating to a hunting violation
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Conducting court business at his tire and pawn shop
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Rendering a not guilty verdict following ex parte communications
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Dismissed a 2nd DUI charge on his own motion without the defendant being present and without any testimony
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Dismissed a speeding charge after engaging in ex parte communications
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Conducted a hearing re: alleged probation violation in which the defendant did not receive notice and was not advised of his due process rights to an attorney or to remain silent
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Suspended a fine without the authority to do so and without knowledge of the underlying charges
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Utilized a criminal process to personally collect a civil debt
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Dismissed a criminal conviction and canceled an order of restitution’
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Contacted a law enforcement officer regarding a pending criminal case
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Issued an arrest warrant for someone who did not actually owe any fines
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Reduced the interest rate in a contract which was the subject of a civil action’
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Dismissed a speeding charge in the absence of both the defendant and arresting officer
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Granted a continuance in a civil case
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Made improper comments regarding court personnel
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Conducted ex parte communications with a defendant re: citations for hunting violations
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Conducted a contempt hearing where there had been no sworn affidavit or warrant issued
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Issued a contempt citation without provided the defendant any notice or advising her of her rights
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Convicted a defendant without creating a file and without notice or holding a hearing
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Interfered with the administrative functions of the justice court by refusing to allow the court clerk or deputy clerk to appear in court while he was conducting court business
The Commission ruled that Willard’s conduct constituted willful misconduct in office, willful and persistent failure to perform the duties of his office and conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice which brings the judicial office into disrepute. What disrepute are these folks talking about?
As a consequence of his serial misconduct, the Mississippi Supreme Court ordered that Willard be removed from his judicial office.
How in the world did a certified loser like Willard ever become a judge? One can only imagine the number of victims of his outrageous abuses.
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