Buffington Orders Retirement, With Budget Bust on the Side

Jimmie Gates at the Clarion Ledger did a great story on Buffington's latest exploit.

Former state Supreme Court Justice Oliver Diaz Jr. has been appointed as a Simpson County Youth Court public defender, though the county doesn't have enough money set aside to pay him.

A chancery judge ordered that Diaz, who lost a re-election bid last year, be given the job.

Diaz, a former appeals court judge and lawmaker, had told Chancery Judge Larry Buffington of Collins he needed one more year to qualify for the state retirement system.

But Buffington explained that Diaz will fill a position that had been cut out of the budget that he he had told Simpson County officials he wanted restored.

"I needed someone, and (Diaz) needed a job," Buffington said.

County Administrator Rhuel Dickinson said because Diaz's part-time position was ordered by a judge, the county will have to come up with the funds to pay him.

Buffington ordered on Jan 6 that Diaz work as of Jan. 1st $400 per month, plus retirement.

Dickinson says only $2,000 was put in this fiscal year's budget for a Youth Court public defender. For the remainder of this fiscal year, which ends in October, Diaz's position will cost the county $4,300 in unbudgeted funds. That figure includes retirement.

For the calendar year, it will cost roughly $5,750, Dickinson said.

He said the county has two other appointed public defenders.

Buffington said Diaz, in a meeting after the November general election, told him he lacked about a year's employment to qualify for the state retirement system and asked him for consideration should a position open up.

Youth Court meets once a month in Simpson County.

But the best part of the stories are the comments on the online edition. There are a bunch. Here are a few.

There are two from "Begood":

The more I think about this the more upset I get. What happened to announcing job vacancies and letting all the local attorneys apply? Why not give young attorneys a way to make a few extra bucks. Why force Simpson Co,. to contribute to someone out the counties retirement. I will do all I can to defeat Judge Buffington. I wonder how long he has to draw a state retirement...This stinks to high heaven. Diaz is not from any of the counties in this Judicial District. How can a Judge order a County to hire someone that he wants to help out? Forget the $400 monthly pay. It's the years of retirement he will draw afterwards. Want to see how much public service he does then. I have nothing againist either man, but this is totally wrong. The Simpson County Board of Supervisors should refuse to fund this position.

"OldBallard" wrote:

You've got these two trial lawyer judges (Buffington and Diaz) in cahoots to get taxpayer dollars. Meanwhile on the same page in the Clarion Ledger is an article about Hinds County Special Judge Breland Hiburn who is now going to volunteer his time and not get paid, but still be a judge. Hinds County can't pay but he is helping out and when asked why he said, "Hinds County has been good to me." That is public service. Not like Buffington and Diaz who are making their decisions based on money not judicial service.

These thoughts from "SharonD23":

This is outrageous. We're in a major economic recession. Simpson County has cut its budget. It doesn't even have the money for this position. Now Judge Larry Buffington, in violation of judicial ethics, has ordered Simpson County to give his friend Oliver Diaz a job, so he can finish out his state retirement. Simpson County taxpayers will be paying Oliver Diaz for a year, so Mississippi taxpayers can pay him for the rest of his life. Arrogance and abuse of power. Taxpayers should not be paying Diaz OR Buffington!

"PaulWBrown" opines:

A bargain price for a former supreme court justice who escaped prosecution and prison as some of his buddies, but that is not the point. An arrogant judge appoints Diaz so he can get his retirement. The county does not have the money. No matter, the good old boys take care of each other. Just another example of why people have so little faith in politiicans and bureaucrats. Begood is right, the supervisors should stand tall and refuse to fund the position.

WLOX-Biloxi and WLBT-Jackson both reported on the matter.

Diaz says Chancery Judge Larry Buffington called him up and asked him to take the position. Diaz will also qualify to be part of the state retirement system with the new job. He said he "lacked a little bit of time" to qualify for full retirement.

The AP also had a story.