Former Obama-era U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is joining the legal team challenging Mississippi's controversial House Bill (HB) 1020, which creates an unelected state-appointed court system and unelected state-appointed judges to the current Hinds County court system.
Holder was the first Black person to serve as the nation's chief law enforcement officer, holding that role from 2009-15.
Holder was admitted to the case pro hac vice Tuesday by federal Magistrate Judge LaKeysha Greer Isaac.
[Pro hac vice is a practice in common law jurisdictions whereby a lawyer, who has not been admitted to practice in a certain jurisdiction, is allowed to participate in a particular case in that jurisdiction.]
Mississippi-based Civil Rights attorney Carroll Rhodes filed the motion to admit Holder. Rhodes was the primary counsel to argue before U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi Henry Wingate last week that HB 1020 violates the Constitution.
The plaintiffs secured an extended restraining order from Wingate, who is also Black.
Wingate is expected to decide on whether Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Randolph should continue to be named directly in the lawsuit or he can exercise judicial immunity in this case. (Clarion Ledger 05/31/23) Former Attorney General Eric Holder joins federal MS HB 1020 challenge (clarionledger.com)
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