Judge Nell Cowart of Poplarville, MS; serial offender

The Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance found Nell guilty of engaging in the following misconduct.

Nell’s 1^st bite at the Judicial Misfit Apple Tree

In one matter, Nell issued a warrant for noncustodial kidnapping against the father of a child involved in a custody dispute. The mother of the child was both a campaign contributor and Judge Cowart's friend.

As a direct consequence of her misconduct, the enablers for Judicial Misfits sitting on the Mississippi Supreme Court punished Nell by gifting her with a complimentary admonishment.

Nell’s 2^nd bite at the Judicial Misfit Apple Tree

• Engaged in ilpril egal ex parte (one-sided) communications in a criminal matter
• Contacted an officer to fix a ticket for her neighbor
• Disposed of traffic violations with no hearing or notice to the issuing officer
• Presided over a case that involved a personal conflict of interest  

As a direct consequence of her misconduct, the enablers for Judicial Misfits sitting on the Mississippi Supreme Court punished Nell by gifting her with a complimentary reprimand.

Nell’s 3^rd bite at the Judicial Misfit Apple Tree

• Engaged in illegal ex parte (one-sided) communications in a criminal matter, despite being previously reprimanded for similar conduct
• Demanded that a Mr. Pearson be released from jail and in doing so exhibited partiality toward Pearson during his initial appearance in the case
• Failed to recuse herself from a criminal matter when recusal was mandatory
• Engaged in willful misconduct in office
• Engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice
• Pattern of conduct shows a disregard for the Code of Judicial Conduct
• Public's perception of the judiciary was harmed through the following actions by Judge Cowart

As a direct consequence of her misconduct, the enablers for Judicial Misfits sitting on the Mississippi Supreme Court punished Nell by gifting her with a 60-day suspension without pay from her judicial position and assessed her disciplinary costs of $2,239.63.

As we speak (ca. April 2021) Nell continues to practice her brand of jurisprudence as a judge of the Pearl River County Justice Court in Poplarville, Mississippi.