Mississippi SB 2353: Circuit court; prohibit political candidates from addressing the public during court terms.

Bill Text

SB2353 (As Introduced) - 2021 Regular Session 

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2021 Regular Session

To: Judiciary, Division A

By: Senator(s) Tate

Senate Bill 2353

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES FROM PROVIDING ANY 
POLITICAL CANDIDATE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC DURING COURT TERMS; TO 
AMEND SECTION 23-15-973, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT CIRCUIT JUDGES 
FROM ALLOWING ANY POLITICAL CANDIDATE TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC DURING COURT TERMS; 
AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

���� BE IT ENACTED BY THE 
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

���� SECTION 1.� No 
judge of any circuit court shall provide an opportunity for any political 
candidate to address the public during court terms.

���� SECTION 2.� Section 
23-15-973, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

���� 23-15-973. * * *� It shall be the duty of the judges of the circuit court 
to give a reasonable time and opportunity to the candidates for the office of 
judge of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals, circuit judge and 
chancellor to address the people during court terms.� In order to give further 
and every possible emphasis to the fact that the said judicial offices are not 
political but are to be held without favor and with absolute impartiality as to 
all persons, and because of the jurisdiction conferred upon the courts by this 
chapter, the judges thereof should be as far removed as possible from any 
political affiliations or obligations.� No judge of any circuit 
court may provide an opportunity for any candidate for justice of the Supreme 
Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, circuit judge or chancellor to address 
the public during court terms.� It shall be unlawful for any candidate for * * * any of the offices mentioned in this section the 
office of justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, circuit 
judge or chancellor to align himself with any candidate or candidates for 
any other office or with any political faction or any political party at any 
time during any primary or general election campaign.� Likewise it shall be 
unlawful for any candidate for any other office nominated or to be nominated at 
any primary election, wherein any candidate for any of the judicial offices in 
this section mentioned, is or are to be nominated, to align himself with any 
one or more of the candidates for said offices or to take any part whatever in 
any nomination for any one or more of said judicial offices, except to cast his 
individual vote.� Any candidate for any office, whether nominated with or 
without opposition, at any primary wherein a candidate for any one (1) of the 
judicial offices herein mentioned is to be nominated who shall deliberately, 
knowingly and willfully violate the provisions of this section shall forfeit 
his nomination, or if elected at the following general election by virtue of 
said nomination, his election shall be void.

���� SECTION 3.� This act 
shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.