"Unfortunately, despite my making you aware of the behavior exhibited by Ms. Kelly on more than one occasion, the problems continue and have significantly worsened."
— Hinds County Circuit Judge Jeff Weill in a letter to Public Defender Michele Purvis Harris about Assistant Public Defender Alison Kelly.
Why it stinks: Weill said in court documents that he was informed Kelly "unlawfully" maintains a private practice on the side, but he did not provide evidence of what he characterizes as Kelly's bad behavior. One can practically hear the groans of defense attorneys upon learning that their cases will be tried in the court of Judge Jeff Weill, a former Republican member of the Jackson City Council who has a reputation as a throw-the-book-at-you kind of guy, even when the law calls for less severe penalties. It's unlikely, however, that in our justice system, where defense attorneys would be foolhardy to file official complaints against judges, that Weill will face much public scrutiny for his behavior.
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