In the years that followed, he became a judge. The former district attorney turned in his law license and gave authorities $425,000 all that prosecutors said was left after taxes and stock market losses. Bobby DeLaughter's career as a lawyer came to an end in 2009 with a federal conviction of obstruction of justice. Senator Trent Lott, to put DeLaughter up for a federal judgeship. From a strict preservation standpoint, you dont move a house unless theres no way to save it, he added. We hauled most of the components in pickups and on trailers, but the largest beams had to be transported on a hired 18-wheeler rig, which required the bulldozing of a temporary access road. DeLaughters conviction has been somewhat divisive in Mississippi legal circles. Mississippi Writers Project "The man has now been destroyed, politically and economically. DeLaughter admitted to Myrlie that this was the hard part, waiting to see what the jury would decide. He loved fraternizing with friends and fellow members of the Exchange Club and Moose Lodge. Are you involved in any big cases right in Jackson right now? For decades during his adult life, he was an avid golfer and tennis player. 2023 www.clarionledger.com. People, for most part, are respectful of my privacy at home and otherwise away from the courthouse. Plus, 60% off clearance with American Eagle promo code, Kohl's promo code: 30% off for Kohl's Rewards Members, Why Lori Lightfoot Is the First Chicago Mayor to Lose in 40 Years, The Airline Experiment to Make Boarding Less Awful, At Marc Benioffs Salesforce, Its One Big FamilyUntil Trouble Hits, The 20-Somethings Fueling a Stick-Shift Renaissance, More Younger People Are Getting Colorectal Cancers, and Doctors Dont Know Why, Opinion: Ron DeSantis: Why I Stood Up to Disney, Opinion: The Chips Act Becomes Industrial Social Policy, Opinion: Major Questions in the Student-Loan Forgiveness Case, Opinion: Why Elite Law and Medical Schools Cant Stand U.S. News, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Loses Re-Election Bid. DeLaughter served 18 months in prison as a result. It was DeLaughter's dogged 1994. In Vicksburg, Mississippi, on February 28, 1954, Bobby Burt DeLaughter was born to Barney Roy DeLaughter and Billie Newman (Burt) DeLaughter. Scruggs is the brother-in-law of former Sen. Trent Lott and is now serving seven years in prison for trying to influence Mississippi judges, including DeLaughter. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Judge Davidson did not impose a financial penalty on DeLaughter due to his negative net worth. This book takes the reader on a journey through time and provides vivid descriptions of life when the struggle for racial equality was at a height. Copyright 2023 American Bar Association. Bobby DeLaughter (Baldwin) and his team "Ghosts of Mississippi" Showcases The Fight Against Racial Injustice With my dad, "movie nights" as a kid was a big deal. The book won the non-fiction award of the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters. How long did it take you to write your book? On March 28, 2008, DeLaughter was suspended from the bench indefinitely by the Mississippi Supreme Court due to allegations of bribery and judicial misconduct. He left this life and departed for his heavenly home on Monday, February 20, 2023. ''You remind me of Medgar,'' she tells Bobby DeLaughter (Alec Baldwin), the assistant district. And it was only by taking the house apart that I was able to learn its secrets. Even after the structure itself had been rebuilt, the timeline continued to lengthen as I searched for rare millwork to replace pieces that had been lost to decay or in the move, and as I took on much of the restoration work myself in the face of mounting and unexpected expenses. According to prosecutors, Scruggs wanted to get to DeLaughter through his mentor, Peters, to try to influence DeLaughter's ruling in a high stakes case, potentially worth $15 million. Bobby B. DeLaughter, Never Too Late: A Prosecutors Story of Justice in the Medgar Evers Case, June 4, 2002. I had camped there with my friends in high school in the early 70s, in sleeping bags laid on faded Oriental rugs, and I did not want to see it pass away. And that desire, for the craftsmanship and sense of continuity that can only be found in a historic structure, is becoming more difficult to satisfy in an era when the percentage of old houses is getting smaller and smaller, said Jerry Matyiko, one of the founders of Expert House Movers in Sharptown, Md. DeLaughter said there was never any deal, "nor did I have any knowledge of the $1 million agreement Ed made or what he was to do in fulfillment of that agreement. He was blessed with a gift for conversation on a wide variety of subjects, which he put to good use in his sales representative career, upon which he embarked after his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, beginning in the ad department of the State Times newspaper in Jackson. "I hope that some day justice will be fair and equal. ", When a grand jury asked Peters if DeLaughter told him there would be no quid pro quo, "Ed's response was that he didn't recall that I could have because it sounded like something I'd say, but he couldn't remember.". YOU HAVE 20,000 FOLLOWERS: $100 per post at a $5/CPM. WHEN a house that offers so much is at risk of being destroyed and is available for little more than the cost of carting it away it can be hard to resist. Even so, Rob Reiners movie about the belated conviction of Medgar Evers killer could have punched home its points more powerfully. Death is never easy, and it bring great sorrow. At the heart of the case is Dickie Scruggs, a high-powered lawyer who made tens of millions of dollars in tobacco and asbestos litigation. He describes each feature of Mississippi and the personalities of each character. He served about a year in prison after pleading guilty to lying to FBI agents about how many times he spoke to his former boss, Ed Peters, regarding a legal fees dispute that could have cost trial lawyer Dickie Scruggs more than $15 million. Divine Light was purchased for the family of Barney Roy DeLaughter, Jr. FBI agent who testified against the Klan. Still, Douglas Carstens, a lawyer for the group, acknowledged that theres no guarantee that a future ruling wont go the other way, and that moving the house may be the most viable alternative.. Handing out a pardon to DeLaughter would be the wrong thing to do, said Charles Merkel, the lawyer for one of the men who had sued Scruggs over a legal-fee dispute. Bolstered with evidence from the previous trials that Myrlie had saved, DeLaughter took the matter to trial Laying out his case he told the jury that there was no statue of limitations on the crime of murder, and it was never too late to correct an injustice. Alec Baldwin employs a skillful Southern accent, a courtly Mississippi politeness and quirky humor to make Bobby a convincing and engaging protagonist, a man of honor battling the same kinds of odds faced by Grishams young lawyers. Doctor, future wife of Bobby DeLaughter. He was born to Robert Lee and Annie Louise (Thompson) James. We did it. (Vollers 8). Are you interested in writing another book about your work as a prosecuting attorney? (written by) Cast (in credits order) verified as complete Produced by Music by Marc Shaiman Cinematography by John Seale . Though I did not yet realize it, Holly Grove was one of the free houses, so notorious in the historic preservation world because they are anything but. HISTORICAL ACCURACY IS DRAMATIC WEAKNESS IN, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Welcome to the new courant.com: Whats changed, FAQs and more, HISTORICAL ACCURACY IS DRAMATIC WEAKNESS IN `GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI, Hartford man sentenced to nine years for string of AT&T store robberies, 99 sheep, 1 goose rescued from Beacon Falls farm due to concerns for animals welfare, TikTok sets new default time limits for minors, Two Palestinians arrested in West Hartford mans killing; third shot dead, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. So It Redesigned Its Iconic Can. "There's a little bit of me in each of the characters except the killer," DeLaughter said. Alec Baldwin portrayed him in the 1996 movie, "Ghosts of Mississippi," and his closing statement was once dubbed one of the greatest closing arguments in modern law. When the measure of the man is that he's dishonest in the end, then you have to wonder why he did anything in the beginning.". DeLaughter was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison on November 13, 2009 for the obstruction of justice charge he pleaded guilty to on July 30, 2009. DeLaughter became an instant hero of the civil rights movement. In 1994, DeLaughter, a crusading prosecutor in Hinds County, Miss., did what several of his predecessors had been unable to do over the previous 31 years: convict white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith for the 1963 murder of civil rights activist Medgar Evers. I enjoyed writing the book and if something comes up that I feel really passionate about, Ill write another, but my work on the bench keeps me quite busy and comes first. Lloyd was a nurse and that she had also been divorced with three sons from her first marriage. Balducci said DeLaughter shared draft copies of orders with Scruggs' team and that Peters told them in advance that DeLaughter would rule in their favor. 5, 6 and 10 p.m. Anchor NEW ORLEANS In 2009, former Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Bobby DeLaughter became a convicted felon. In the meantime, DeLaughter is keeping busy with his new career restoring apartment buildings. All rights reserved. Please accept my heartfelt condolences. A former doctor and she married Bobby DeLaughter. Beckwith was tried twice, but the juries of white males could not come to verdicts. Some take delight in his downfall; others call it a tragedy that has stained the legal community. Obviously that didn't happen. advertisement 2017-2023 Tribute Archive. In Raleigh, N.C., for example, a new redevelopment project in the Blount Street neighborhood will consolidate surviving historic houses by moving seven of them, resulting in a more cohesive historic district while making new land available for development. Bobby DeLaughter opens his closing statement with, "it is about an unarmed mancoming home to his family, his wife, three small children that were staying up," to gain an instant emotional response from the jury (297-298). DeLaughter is also a graduate of the FBIs National Law Institute and has served as lawyer-in-residence at the Pepperdine University Law School (DeLaughter 2). The instrument brought with it a story about its first owner, a slave owner who had freed his slaves to emigrate to Liberia in his will, which inspired a book project that landed me in the Liberian civil war. pleading guilty to a federal obstruction charge, Lady Gaga failed to pay promised $500K for return of stolen bulldogs, suit alleges; plaintiff was charged in case, How Shakespeares 'Hamlet' can shed light on legal bias, Breaking up is hard to do, Greenberg Traurig learns after finally succeeding in dropping rapper Ye, Examining juvenile crime and punishment in songs. DeLaughter was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison on November 13, 2009 for the obstruction of justice charge he pleaded guilty to on July 30, 2009. ALTHOUGH house moving has recently been gaining acceptance, people who move historic houses have traditionally been met with hostility in the staid world of preservation because their approach is seen as too radical. He betrayed the whole system of justice that we live by," Kirksey said. "It's enormously unfortunate for a person like Judge DeLaughter who, at the very least, accomplished heroic things with bringing Byron De La Beckwith to justice. Additionally, hes tried his hand at writing crime novels. His highest profile case came in 1989 when he got involved in the reopening of Evers' 1963 murder. "I just turned 60, but I don't believe God is finished with me yet, so I'm focusing my energy on another love crafting stories which, from all that I've learned, others are finding enthralling. The book guides the reader step by step through his quest to bring Beckwith to justice and maintains the interest of the reader with minute details and new information on every page. But given Houstons weak preservation laws and lack of zoning, she said, really you have two options when a building is threatened with demolition: Move it or lose it., Many preservationists seem to be coming around to this view. The family (mother, father, Bobby, and younger brother Mike) moved to Jackson when Bobby was very young, and DeLaughter grew up being part of southJacksons white middle class (Morris 6). On July 30, DeLaughter stepped down as a Hinds County circuit judge and admitted he lied to FBI agents when he said he had two conversations with former Hinds County District Attorney Ed Peters about a pending lawsuit against Scruggs. Maps Bobby DeLaughter Marriage and family During the summer of 1973, DeLaughter met Dixie Claire Townsend. I need all the help I can get. Before graduating from law school in 1977, DeLaughter was given the opportunity to work on legal research for Alvin Binder (Vollers 8). As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. But that's simply the way it is.". He, Mr. Means and other movers attribute the upsurge to a combination of factors, including an increase in development pressure and the spread of preservation laws. dixie claire townsend father dixie claire townsend father. "I said, 'Ed, I want you to tell them that I said it, that it came from my lips. assistant decorator: Mississippi Elizabeth Flaherty . He was an ardent fan of the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, and Ole Miss Rebels. DeLaughter joined the office in May 1987. She wanted it for all the right reasons. Other cases involving Peters and DeLaughter have also drawn scrutiny. Had I known that to begin with I might not have undertaken the project. James Edward Bates for The New York Times. But in Gods Word the Bible, he tells us of a time when we will be able to see our love ones again. Mr. He later pleaded guilty on July 30, 2009 to one obstruction of justice charge. In the mid-1990s, DeLaughter prosecuted the murder of Evers's brother, Medgar, and successfully won a conviction against Byron De La Beckwith. However, if you want to fully understand the significance of this trial and learn all about the behind the scenes information, read it! Reiner and Colick focus on their hero, Bobby DeLaughter (pronounced Duh LAUT-ur). Since its March 13 release, he has sold more than 4,200 copies of e-books. Moving Hiawatha, which was on the verge of being torn down and was being offered to them for a nominal fee, seemed the obvious thing to do. But in the end, it was worth it. The story of DeLaughter going from civil rights hero to convicted felon is complicated, involving years of contentious litigation in his courtroom. DeLaughters father-in-law, Russell Moore, who was serving as a judge at the time, recommended him for the position. His years in the robe came to an end in 2009, when DeLaughter pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice for lying to an FBI agent in a far-reaching corruption probe that has rocked Mississippi's judicial system. "In 1986, we did three capital murder trials," DeLaughter said. He became a judge in 1999three years after Alec Baldwin played him in a major motion picture that dramatized his role in the Evers case. The summer of 1973, DeLaughter met Dixie Claire Townsend involving years of contentious litigation in his downfall others. Divine Light was purchased for the family of Barney Roy DeLaughter, Never Too Late: a Prosecutors of... Hero, Bobby DeLaughter became a judge, '' DeLaughter said write your book subscriber, you have 20,000:... Apart that I said, 'Ed, I want you to tell them that I was to... 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