Mississippi's newest Supreme Court Justice says he looks forward to applying the law equally to all. MPB's Ezra Wall reports.
Justice David Ishee takes the oath of office from Chief Justice Bill Waller, Junior. The Gulfport native says he will apply the law equally to all people.
"Justice is something that is equal to everyone; no one buys justice in this country," says Ishee. "Unlike a lot of countries, it's not a commodity that is traded; it's something that we earn by birth."
Ishee's father, Roger Ishee, was a former State Representative.
Governor Phil Bryant appointed Justice Ishee to replace Justice Jess Dickinson, who served twelve years on the court. Bryant appointed Dickinson to head Mississippi's child protection services agency. Governor Bryant says he's confident in the new Justice's commitment to the law.
"The Constitution of the State of Mississippi says that all power is invested in and derived from the people," says Gov. Bryant. "It is the people that we all serve. And I know from Justice Ishee's history, his background, that he fully understands that."
Ishee will serve the remainder of Dickinson's term, which is set to end in 2019. Mississippi Supreme Court terms are eight years.
Justice Ishee says a formal investiture ceremony will take place on the Gulf Coast at a later date.
