Admitted: 1985, Mississippi; 1987, U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi; 1989, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 2004, U.S. Supreme Court
Law School: University of Mississippi, J.D.
Member: The Mississippi Bar (Chairman: Labor and Employment Law Section, 1995; Gaming Law Section, 2005 and 2011); Fifth Circuit Bar Association.
Biography: Law Clerk: Judge Walter L. Nixon, Jr., 1985-1986; Magistrate Judge Britt R. Singletary, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Mississippi 1986-1987.
Cases: Barbour v. Berger, 2008 Miss. Lexis 476 (Miss. Sept. 25, 2008) (upholding circuit court's declaratory judgment against Governor and Secretary of State on improper placement of the special United States Senate election on the official sample ballot); Bayview Land, Ltd. v. State, 950 So.2d 966 (Miss. 2006) (casino; public trust tidelands lease); City of Jackson v. Greene, 869 So.2d 1020 (Miss. 2004) (school board appointments, standing; ethics); Miss. Gaming Comm'n v. Freeman, 747 So.2d 231 (Miss. 1999) (casino patron dispute); Broadhead v. Bonita Lakes Mall, Limited Partnership, 702 So.2d 92 (Miss. 1999) (Sixteenth Section land lease); Miss. State Gaming Comm'n v. Imperial Palace of Miss., Inc., 751 So.2d 1025 (Miss. 1999) (sports book, statutory interpretation, testimony as expert witness); Marx v. Broom, 632 So.2d 1315 (Miss. 1994) (state income tax imposed on federal retirees); Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. v. Marx, 594 So.2d 615 (Miss. 1992) (commerce clause, use tax on natural gas transmission); Young v. Stevens, 968 So.2d 1260 (Miss. 2007) (election contest); Moore v. Parker, 962 So.2d 558 (Miss. 2007) (election contest); Esco v. Scott, 735 So.2d 1002 (Miss. 1999) (election contest); Cummings v. Benderman, 681 So.2d 97 (Miss. 1996) (election contest); Hatcher v. Fleeman, 617 So.2d 634 (Miss. 1993) (election contest); Miss. Real Estate Comm. v. Falls, 620 So.2d 974 (Miss. 1993) (real estate broker's license revocation); Miss. Real Estate Comm. v. Geico Financial Services, Inc., 602 So.2d 1155 (Miss. 1992) (regulation of time share plans); Miss. Employment Security Commission v. Sanderson Plumbing Products, 604 So.2d 615 (Miss. 1992) (unemployment benefits for striking workers replaced by employer); Miss. Real Estate Comm. v. White, 586 So.2d 805 (Miss. 1991) (real estate broker's license revocation); Holland v. Kennedy, 548 So.2d 982 (Miss. 1989) (real estate broker's license revocation); Hearn v. City of Jackson, 110 Fed. Apx. 424 (5th Cir. 2004); 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26166 (S.D. Miss. 2003) (Title VII employment discrimination, disparate impact; police sergeant's exam); Kelly v. Moore, 376 F.2d 481 (5th Cir. 2004) (City of Jackson; false arrest; violation of civil rights); Smith v. City of Jackson, 544 U.S. 228, 125 S. Ct. 1536 (2005) (City of Jackson police pay plan; age discrimination); American State Ins. Co. v. Natchez Steam Laundry, 131 F.3d 551 (5th Cir. 1998) (insurance coverage; duty to defend; sexual harassment matter); Smith v. Alumax Extrusions, Inc., 868 F.2d 1469 (5th Cir. 1989) (union breach of duty of fair representation); Picou v. City of Jackson, 153 F.Supp.2d 891, 91 Fed. Appx. 340 (S.D. Miss. 2002) (Sex discrimination; job transfer); American Financial Services Group v. Treasure Bay Gaming & Resorts, Inc. 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8668 (S.D. NY 2000) (commercial fraud case); THH Real Estate Service Corp. v. Mississippi Real Estate Commission, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24060 (S.D. Miss. 1997) (real estate licensure matter); Freeman v. AT&T Fitness and Accident Plan, 823 F. Supp. 404 (S.D. Miss. 1993) (health and welfare benefits coverage); Raju v. Rhodes, 809 F. Supp.1229 (S.D. Miss. 1992) (due process; employment contract); Hughes v. Hollywood Casino Corp. (N.D. Miss. 2008) 2007 WL 3256583, 2008 WL2164570 (sexual harassment; statute of limitations); Watkins Strategy and Resource Group v. WLC, LLC, 443 F.Supp.2d 778 (S.D. Miss. 2006) (venue); Ameristar Casino v. Duckworth, 990 So.2d 758 (Miss. S. Ct., June 19, 2008) (patron dispute jurisdiction) (amicus curiae brief filed in behalf of Miss. Casino Operators Association); Columbia Land Development, LLC v. Secretary of State, 868 So.2d 1006 (Miss. 2004) (tidelands lease for casino development) (amicus curie brief filed in behalf of Treasure Bay Corp.).