Barbara Dunn, the Circuit Clerk of Hinds County, gets a big wet kiss from the Clarion Ledger, not anchored to any news whatsoever. Well into it, the story does note that among the folks less-than-content with her performance are the justices on the Mississippi Supreme Court:
But Dunn hasn’t escaped some criticism for the way she runs her office. Since 2008, she has been sanctioned three times by the state Supreme Court for failures in her office.
Dunn hasn’t tried to hide from the sanctions. She acknowledged that some of her employees made mistakes and she is responsible since it was on her watch.
That’s certainly a kind way to describe the interaction between Dunn and the Court.
I found very peculiar the story’s constant focus on the race of every person who pops up in it.
Jimmie would’nt be the first to fall under the spell of the undead. Next time you see him look for bite marks on his neck.
Dunn is the Circuit Clerk.
I had the same reaction this morning, NMC. There was no overt purpose for the huge spread on Dunn and the race comment came out of nowhere. Race is an angle in everything Hinds County. It’s disgusting and diminishes both the relevant topic and the race topic.
That theory in Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter about the *real* motivation for slavery … hm, Gates’s article may be indirect confirmation!
knew that, CPR, and not sure why I didn’t type it.
Dunn means well, but she’s incompetent and several of her key employees are incompetent as well; however, they have improved a great deal after the sanctions. I was amazed that she was re-elected after being challenged by a very competent AA woman with much experience in the SD Federal Court Clerk’s office.
I was amazed that she was re-elected after being challenged by a very competent AA woman with much experience in the SD Federal Court Clerk’s office.
Me too. I couldn’t believe the local law firms didn’t get together and get her elected.
Leave it to the Un-Dead, perhaps, to know where the bodies are buried.
Hinds County is all about establishment & connections. Media and party connections count in the capital.
Charlie – not just Hinds County. There is always an incumbency factor. And Dunn’s opponent ran an incompetent campaign. Made a couple of ‘serious’ campaign mistakes. And there is no “party” connections here – except that Dunn’s opponent was – in fact – supported by the “party” in Hinds County that matters, the Democrat Party. Leave it to say – the black population and black vote.
Dunn may not be competent – especially with the lawyer communityu that cares about her responsibilities as “clerk of the court:. There are other responsibilities to us “non-lawyers” – and those cross both ‘parties’ especially as to elections.
Either way – not defending her job performance, or those of her employees. But – BIG but – her opponent did not sell herself as being any better.
Don’t agree with Charlie’s or Hootie’s analysis – in that there is a lot more at issue in an election than their comments. Or NMC for that matter.
Granted, lawyers might not be happy – for good reason. But – question is – why do we elect “CLERKS”? They file. What do you want – “I can file better than you can file”? If you want to continue the concept in Missiissippi that we elect all these officers we get what we get!!
Lawyers can cry about the problems in Hinds – and if they want to, many other counties – about the failure of elected clerks (or assessors, or collectors, or many other officers that are elected.) Not just lawyers, BTW, but we started this conversation about lawyers should band together.
Dunn won because her opponent was “also” incompetent. And also most folks don’t give a damn about the clerk. Incumbency grants incumbency. You want to keep electing all officers – you get what you get!
Vicky Munford wouldn’t be any better. Probably wouldn’t – in most respects that commenters here care about – wouldn’t be much worse. You want to solve this problem, and the same problem in many other counties, agree that clerks should be hired – not elected. Otherwise, accept the campaigns that “I can file better than you can” and tha most people don’t have things filed.
Hinds County elects on race – and after that, on partisan – and then after that on race. Net effect – she was a white Democrat – she got some Dem vote, some white vote, and won. Who can file better? It doesn’t matter. It’s an elected office.
James, I agree that the Clerks shouldn’t be elected, rather should be appointed by the…… hmmmm, well never mind that thought.
The Clerk does more than just “file”. The position requires a ton of knowledge about statutory law and court rules, as well as those pesky tasks such as elections and issuing marriage licenses. The Clerk should probably be an experienced attorney in a large jurisdiction such as Hinds; not so much in Noxubee and other small case load counties.
Agree that clerk’s have much more to do than “file”. My concern is that the “electorate” doesn’t consider any of the job requirements – especially those beyond “filing”. As to “appointment”, I would suggest the term “hired”; and probably by a consortium of the Judges.
As to the elections – another whole discussion of how that should be revamped but they should be totally removed from elected officials.
Marriage license issuing – how much knowledge and ability does that take?
Speaking of marriage license why do you get yours from the Circuit Court Clerk instead of the Chancery Clerk? Esp. since divorce is handled by the Chancery Court.
I’m trying to figure out what I’ve said in this post that constitutes “analysis” with which James does not agree. That the story is odd because of the way it mentions race? That there’s no news hook for this puff piece? That the Supreme Court has been unhappy with her job performance?
There’s a whole lot more to being court clerk on either chancery or circuit side than putting papers in files. If we aren’t going to elect them, who is going to appoint them? The Board of Supervisors? That would really work well. I guess the judges could.
Well NMC, if you lived in Hinds County, you might understand why the black reporter wrote the story: Ms. Dunn is the only elected white democrat at any level in Hinds County but for Margaret Barrett-Simon. She will probably be the last one you see in Hinds County for a long time to come.
In other news, white elected officials are scarce in Ghana, Uganda, and Nigeria.
Anderson!
Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot Cecil Brown. My apologies. If the NAACP wins their suit, that seat will go R so maybe we shouldn’t count him.
I believe there’s also a dearth of black elected officials in Sweden, Switzerland, and Italy.
Here’s a question, Kingfish: Did this news-flash of no other white elected officials occur this week?
Somehow, I had the impression it occurred last year when the sheriff’s office changed hands.
You’re talking about Gannett.
Everything the Clarion Ledger does has a race angle. Including its sensitivity-based decision not to print the race of crime suspects.
I didn’t know Cecil Brown was white!
Everything in Hinds County is about race. Now is as good a time as any to bring it up. I’m just not horribly offended by the story.
Although, I see your point in that I thought it was a little unnecessary to mention that Rocky Wilkins is white and Sylvia Bennett is black.
YAY! Hinds County finally has black bigots as supervisors.
And, the liberals don’t care that they are bigots because they are black and democrat.
yay.
Wanted, your comment raises an interesting question, indeed one probably incapable of being discussed in this day of PC. That is, whether expectations of public officials different for white and black. I suspect there is a difference and one which does not fare well for blacks. I wish there were a hue and cry for Stokes’s resignation, as i assume there would be if a white supervisor were to act as he does.
My experience with Dunn & staff is they can find a judgment or case file in 3-5 minutes. Evidence storage is as good as can be expected. She seats herself in the courtroom on occasion and is always present in jury selection days to welcome the prospects to the courthouse. She is a good, professional politician which is why she gets the vote here.