PhotosBiographyFacebookTwitter

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edwin Pittman
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi
In office
January 2001 – March 31, 2004
Preceded by Lenore L. Prather
Succeeded by James W. Smith Jr.
Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi
In office
1989–2004
Succeeded by Michael K. Randolph
37th Attorney General of Mississippi
In office
1984–1988
Governor William Allain
Preceded byWilliam Allain
Succeeded by Mike Moore
32nd Secretary of State of Mississippi
In office
1980–1984
Governor William Allain
Preceded by Heber Austin Ladner
Succeeded by Dick Molpus
Mississippi State Treasurer
In office
1976–1980
Governor Cliff Finch
Preceded by Brad Dye
Succeeded by John L. Dale
Personal details
Born
Edwin Lloyd Pittman

(1935-01-02) January 2, 1935 (age 89)
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Alma mater University of Southern Mississippi ( BS)
University of Mississippi ( JD)

Edwin Lloyd Pittman (born January 2, 1935) is an American jurist and politician who served as a justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi from 1989 to 2001 and chief justice from 2001 to 2004. He also served as the state's attorney general, secretary of state, and treasurer. [1] Pittman reached the rank of brigadier general in the Mississippi National Guard.

Early life and education

Pittman was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, in 1935. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1957 and his J.D. from the University of Mississippi in 1960.

Political career

Pittman was first elected to the Mississippi State Senate in 1964 and was reelected in 1968 from Forest County. [2] In 1975, he was elected as the State's Treasurer.[ citation needed] He was sworn in on January 14, 1976. [3]

In 1980, he was elected as Mississippi's Secretary of State. In 1984, he was elected attorney general.

Pittman ran for the 1987 Democratic nomination for governor, finishing fifth. [2]

Judicial career

Pittman was first elected to the State Supreme Court in 1988 and reelected in 1996. [2]

Notable rulings

In 2000, Justice Pittman ruled that the courts are not in the position of determining the state flag. He wrote, "In this case, the NAACP failed to offer any proof that the flying of the state flag deprived any citizen of a constitutionally protected right." [4]

Family

Pittman is married to Virginia Lund Pittman and they are the parents of seven children. [5]

References

  1. ^ "Chief Justice Edwin L. Pittman announces retirement" (PDF). courts.ms.gov. March 8, 2004. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Salter, Sid. "Chief justice has long track record of service". The Clarksdale Press Register. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  3. ^ Reese, Andrew (January 15, 1976). "Evelyn Gandy takes office". The Delta Democrat-Times. United Press International. p. 8.
  4. ^ "Naacp Loses Ruling Over Mississippi State Flag". Chicago Tribune. May 5, 2000. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  5. ^ "Judge profiles Law – Judicial Data Project". Judicial.mc.edu. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Secretary of State of Mississippi
1979
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court
2001–2004
Succeeded by
Preceded by Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court
1989–2001
Succeeded by