This week, there were overlapping criminal trial weeks in the 11th Circuit. 3 weeks of trials in Quitman County are ending, and 4 weeks of Tunica trials are beginning
Quitman County Criminal Trial Term Week 3 update:
One Aggravated Assault case was remanded to the file. No other pleas no trials
Tunica County Criminal Trial term Week 1 update:
One plea to manslaughter
3 defendant armed robbery dismissed
No trials.
6 cases remaining on docket
Two trials were held.
Trial 1 - receiving stolen property - defendant plead guilty on day 2 of the trial
Trial 2 - marijuana trafficking - defendant found guilty by jury.
16 remaining cases in the trial docket for this particular week
Armed robbery charges dropped against CLF client Rakiem Clark today after we announced trial - the victim no longer wanted to prosecute. Maybe it’s the luck of the Irish today. Looking forward to watching this young man get back on his feet.
CLF atty Jessica Carr and the work she is doing with many others to develop, fund, and physically build a Children’s Advocacy Center - and serve on its board. A critical need for the Delta as the nearest CACs are all more than 100 miles away and all are at capacity. One way to lower crime and make our communities better? Stop generational mental and physical trauma, prevent domestic violence, teach children self worth, and rebuild the family unit.
No trials or pleas due to no court reporter.
Thank you Ms. Martin for choosing our firm. We got the right result - Let’s get you back on your feet!
Our client’s jury trial set for tomorrow in Clarksdale on a charge from 2021 was unable to go forward due to a material witness being unavailable.
Thus ends Week 6 of the Coahoma Jan/Feb criminal trial term. No pleas. No trials.
Grand total Six Week Term summary:
0 jury trials to verdict.
Same as last year.
Week 5: no cases tried.
Week 3: One case started - ended in a mistrial on Day 2. 3 pleas taken.
Week 4: No cases tried. 2 pleas taken. 2 bonds called. 1 case dismissed.
Two weeks to go
Charges have been dismissed against a Mississippi town’s police chief who was indicted after a shootout in Southaven, his defense attorney Michael Carr said on Tuesday.
Enjoyed helping with the Boy Scout Merit Badge college in Cleveland this Monday, January 6. Big thank you to Circuit Judge and Scoutmaster Smith Murphey for presiding, attorneys Tom Morris, Chris Powell, Meg Coker, and Wes Ryals for coaching the prosecution and defense, BCSO Inv. Tavoris Williams for his presentation, and staff attorney Landon Phillips for coordinating everyone for multiple years now. And we were joined at the end by the class of 2046??
Counting so many blessings in 2024 at Carr Law Firm! Our busiest year yet! We tried 14 felony jury trials across 7 counties, as well as resolved many many more cases for our clients across north Mississippi in municipal, justice, circuit, and federal court.
We expanded with an office in Tunica and added defense attorney Meg Coker, paralegal Katelyn Lamb, office manager Amanda McCain, and intern Serenity Johnson. Hopefully future attorney Brady Keeton will be joining us after he takes the Bar in August 2025.
With our ever-growing team of attorneys and staff, in 2025 we hope to expand our foothold in the Mississippi Delta to provide representation for so many people in need.
That’s a wrap for this year! Today is our last day open - we will be back on January 6, 2025 energized to fight for our clients for another year.
Carr Law Firm: We work for justice. We get results.
Week 5: one case was tried where two defendants were both convicted of first degree murder and aggravated assault - both received life sentences.
Week 6: one case was tried where a defendant was convicted of first degree murder - received a life sentence
Note: the only sentence for first degree murder in Mississippi is life in prison without the possibility of parole.
This concludes our fall criminal trial term. Spring trial term in Cleveland will start May 2025.
Week 1: no jury trials. Multiple pleas
Week 2: 2 trials were held. Case 1 - the jury hung on three counts of sexual battery. Case will be re-tried in 6 mo. Case 2 which was tried by the Mississippi AG Office - jury voted guilty as to 3 counts of loan application fraud.
Week 3: one case was tried on 3 counts of aggravated assault (shooting) with a firearm. Defendant found not guilty on all counts.
Lead trial attorney Mike Carr tried two jury trials in two separate districts.
Trial 1 - Cleveland: Three counts of sexual battery - each carrying a possible penalty of life in prison. Court dismissed one count halfway through the trial for lack of evidence. Jury could not reach a decision on the two remaining counts therefore resulting in a hung jury.
Trial 2 - Greenwood: One count of aggravated assault where defendant alleged to have struck another man in the head with a chair. Jury found it was not aggravated assault but did vote guilty for misdemeanor simple assault.
Glad our firm could financially contribute along with so many other businesses and community leaders to support Friends of the Cleveland School District and Cleveland Central Middle School!
Thanks to the Mississippi Public Defender’s Association for choosing our hometown of Cleveland to host this year’s fall statewide conference. Good coverage by Delta News as the over 100 lawyers in attendance continue to improve the practice.
Approximately 80% of criminal defense statewide in Mississippi is indigent. This large and unpredictable expense falls to the coffers of individual counties. The counties of the Delta are disproportionately affected as we are one of the poorest areas of the state.
A fair solution? Have a defender system funded by the state - just like the prosecutors.
“There can be no equal justice where the trial a man gets depends on how much money he has.” - Justice Hugo Black
Read more here
Carr Law Firm is proud to introduce Serenity Johnson as its fall 2024 intern.
A graduate of Power Center Academy in Memphis, TN, Serenity began her journey at Delta State University in Fall 2021 and is set to graduate in May 2025 with a bachelor's degree in criminology and social justice. As a dedicated member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Serenity serves as the President of the Mu Gamma Chapter on campus.
Serenity is also a McNair Research Scholar, focusing her research on mental health interventions in the criminal justice system. She will present her work next month at the 2024 ASC Annual Meeting in San Francisco.
In addition to her research, Serenity is a first-year seminar navigator, helping new and transfer students acclimate to university life in Cleveland. A top-tier student, Serenity has made the President’s List for three consecutive semesters.
After graduation, Serenity plans to pursue law school or a master’s program at Ole Miss.
Congratulations to Serenity on all her accomplishments! We look forward to big things!
3 cases were tried by jury in 4 weeks
First Degree Murder, Second Degree Murder, and Burglary of a Building. All trials resulted in verdicts of not guilty.
Carr Law Firm is a boutique criminal defense and personal injury firm practicing in state and federal courts across Mississippi.
CARR LAW FIRM, PLLC
The Gallery Building
301 West Sunflower Road, Suite D
Cleveland, MS 38732
T 662.441.1LAW
F 662.441.1530
