Gov. Haley Barbour on Monday appointed James "Jimmy" McClure III to the District 17 Circuit Court in northwest Mississippi.
McClure, 51, of Sardis, will serve through January 2009 in the seat vacated by Ann Hannaford Lamar, who was appointed to the state Supreme Court.
What they don't tell you is that he is a partisan Republican with a history of making thousand dollar donations to Republican candidates.
A quick search of federal campaign finance information showed me a $1,000 donation to both Republican Senators Lott and Cochran with an additional $500 to Senator Lott. This comes to an early total of $2,500. State campaign finance data is far harder to navigate.
The Sun Herald Story
Update 7/11/2007:
Steve writing in the comments over at MississippiPolitics/Y'allPolitics? shares this info:
I had wondered what ever happened to Jimmy McClure. He was chairman of the Hinds County Young Republicans and was very active in Haley’s 1982 campaign against Sen. John Stennis.
Jimmy ran for the state House in ‘83. He led the Republican primary but lost the runoff to Jack Wertz, a State Farm Insurance agent.
Did you expect Barbour to appoint someone that wasn't a Republican? There are very few judges that didn't participate in political parties or donate to them at one time or another in their careers. $2500 dollars is a lot of money to a lot of people, but it isn't trial lawyer type money.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you contend this guy bought his seat, at least he bought his seat the right way, instead of funneling money through Paul Minor.
Musgrove appointed judges that gave to the Democratic party or its candidates. This is extremely common.
I encourage anybody who reads this blog to read the article. This man has legal credentials that are solid. Please don't judge him based on past partisanship - judge him on his past and future judicial experience. Remember, one of the most famous liberal Supreme Court Justices was appointed by President Eisenhower.
Judgeships are always political, whether appointed or elected. So the guy is a Repub! Lets just hope that he is a good steward of the law and performs his job correctly and is very adept and astute and learned with all things legal. If he is or turns out to be a good judge, I wouldn't mind having to appear before him and I am a pretty big Dem. politically! Lets pray he fulfills his duties to the citizens well, regardless of political stripes!
ReplyDeleteI'm just adding information to the debate that wasn't previously present.
ReplyDeleteHe could prove to be an excellent judge.
just remember, Musgrove gave us Faye and Melton.
ReplyDelete