Gene Barton
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Gene Barton, an attorney from Okolona, Mississippi, is running for the 3rd District's 1st seat on the Mississippi Supreme Court. He is running against incumbent Ann Lamar.
Legal Education and Experience
Barton received his B.A. in Psychology with a Minor in Political Science and English from the University of Mississippi in 1975. He received his Juris Doctor from the same institution in 1977.
Barton was elected City Alderman in Tupelo, Mississippi in 1985. As a trial lawyer and appellate lawyer, he has been admitted to practice in all Mississippi Courts. This includes Justice Courts, Chancery Courts, Circuit Courts, Court of Appeals, Supreme Court of Mississippi, Federal Courts, Northern District of Mississippi, Southern District of Mississippi, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and U.S. Supreme Court. He has represented both prosecution and defense. He is a member of the Mississippi Prosecutor's Association. Barton is presently both the City Attorney and City Prosecutor for the City of Okolona, MS. He has been a public defender for 10 years and a lawyer for 30.
He is a past member of the Common Cause organization and has actively worked against weakening the ethics laws in the State of Mississippi.
2008 Campaign
Candidates disagree over faith in the courtroom
During a question and answer session with four of the candidates for Mississippi Supreme Court, Barton said that while faith is important, it should not dictate judicial decisions. To highlight this, Barton said, “I am pro-choice. (But) you have to put your faith on hold. I didn’t leave it (my faith) at home, but I have to uphold the law.”
His opponent, sitting Justice Ann Lamar objected, saying she has never experienced a situation where her faith got in the way of a ruling.
Barton later addressed the issue of judicial campaigns and said the current system--i.e., that of electing judges--is flawed, but cautioned against gubernatorial appointments as well. “There is something wrong with getting money from special interest groups," he said, probably a subtle attack on Lamar, who accepts PAC monies.[1]
(Justice Oliver Diaz and Ceola James were not present.)
Campaign Finances
In July, with four months left in the Supreme Court elections, Barton's campaign finance report in mid-July show that he loaned (*)$42,000 to his campaign, along with $75,000 in credit card debt, as he seeks to raise funds for the campaign against Lamar.[2]
(*) (Later reports have Barton contributing $50,000 of his own inheritance to his quest for the court.)[3]
External Links
- Gene Barton's Blog
- Mississippi Supreme Court Election Information
- Campaign Finance Report
- Follow the Money: Gene Barton.
- Rivals outraise sitting justices
