Court Won't Rehear Decision Allowing Judge to Refuse Recusal in Silica Cases

JACKSON, Miss. - The Mississippi Supreme Court has refused to reconsider a recent decision denying two silica defendants' motion to recuse a judge it says is biased against the firm that represents the company. In Re: Parmelee Industries, et al., No. 2003-M-01634 (Miss. Sup. Ct.).

By order entered March 3, the high court effectively determined that it would stand by its Feb. 19 ruling that allows Jones County Circuit Court Judge Billy Joe Landrum to hear eight cases filed by plaintiffs allegedly injured as a result of silica exposure. The court also denied as moot the defendants' motion to stay …