Commission Says Sheffield Engaged In Judicial Misconduct

Daily Journal District 2 Justice Court Judge John Hoyt Sheffield engaged in judicial misconduct and should be reprimanded, fined and suspended without pay, according to the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance. The state agency, which investigates judicial misconduct, made its recommendation Tuesday. It says Sheffield, whose district covers Lee County, should be punished for ordering a man to serve six months in a Work Center on an old case that had been appealed and resolved for 17 years. The Commission recommended Sheffield be publicly reprimanded, fined in the amount of $3,000, suspended from the office of Justice Court Judge for 120 days without pay, and be assessed costs of the proceeding, in the amount of $2,928.83. The case in question involved a man who attempted to explain to Sheffield that his case had been resolved, but Sheffield ignored those protests and sentenced him to the Work Center, all the while holding in his hand the file containing the notice of the appeal. The man served four months in the Work Center and contracted an infection while there, resulting in two hospitalizations. The Commission’s recommendations for Sheffield are filed with the state Supreme Court, which will consider them and determine the appropriate final action. It’s not the first time Sheffield has run afoul of the Commission.