Jackson Free Press

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Supreme Court says it will not yet reinstate the law license of a former appeals court judge.

The license of Ermea J. "E.J." Russell was suspended in July 2015 after nine complaints were filed by her clients. The Mississippi Bar found she failed to provide representation for which she was hired, failed to return client property and failed to properly withdraw from representation of clients.

Russell was a Mississippi Court of Appeals judge from May 2011 until January 2013, then returned to private law practice.

Supreme Court justices said Thursday that Russell has not proved that she has "rehabilitated herself" or "established the requisite moral character" to have her license reinstated.

She must wait another year before asking again to have the suspension lifted.