The Mississippi Bar v. Paul Minor
Annotate this Case
Download PDF
Serial: 167266
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
No. 2007-BD-01653-SCT
THE MISSISSIPPI BAR
Appellant
v.
Appellee
PAUL S. MINOR
ORDER
¶1.
These matters came before the Court en banc on the Motion for Disbarment filed by
the Mississippi Bar and the response and motions filed by attorney Paul S. Minor (“Response
to Motion for Disbarment and Motion for Permission to File or Submit Additional
Information,” and “Supplement to Motion for Permission to File or Submit Additional
Information.”)
¶2.
The Bar filed a formal complaint against Minor based on his felony convictions in
the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. By order handed
down January 17, 2008, this Court granted the Bar’s subsequent Motion for Indefinite
Suspension Pending Appeal, Striking from the Rolls, Suspending and Staying Proceedings.
On December 11, 2009, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed
Minor’s conviction for federal program bribery, but affirmed his convictions on all other
counts. See U.S. v. Whitfield, 590 F.3d 325 (5th Cir. 2009). On October 4, 2010, the United
States Supreme Court denied Minor’s petition for writ of certiorari.
¶3.
Thereafter, the Bar filed this Motion for Disbarment. The Bar asserts that Minor’s
appeal has been concluded and asks this Court to disbar him pursuant to Rule 6 of the
Mississippi Rules of Discipline. Minor then filed his “Response to Motion for Disbarment
and Motion for Permission to File or Submit Additional Information,” and followed this
response and motion, by filing a “Supplement to Motion for Permission to File or Submit
Additional Information.” After due consideration, this Court finds that the Bar’s motion
should be granted and Minor’s Motion for Permission to File or Submit Additional
Information should be denied.
¶4.
Minor’s argument regarding the ripeness of the Bar’s motion is without merit. Minor
argues that the motion is premature pending his sentencing hearing and possible subsequent
collateral attack upon his convictions. The United States Supreme Court denied Minor’s
petition for writ of certiorari. Whitfield v. U.S., 131 S. Ct. 136, 178 L. Ed. 2d 83 (Oct. 4,
2010). Upon that denial, “all appeals [had been] concluded without reversal . . . .” M.R.D.
6(d). “[T]he Court shall forthwith enter an order of disbarment.” Id.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that:
1.
Paul S. Minor is hereby permanently DISBARRED from the practice of law in the
State of Mississippi.
2.
This order shall constitute notice of permanent disbarment in this cause.
3.
The Clerk of this Court shall forward certified copies of this order to Paul S. Minor
and the Executive Director of the Mississippi Bar.
2
4.
Paul S. Minor shall, within thirty days following entry of this order, notify clients and
affected courts of his disbarment and comply with all other requirements applicable
to disbarred attorneys pursuant to Rule 11 of the Mississippi Rules of Discipline.
5.
Paul S. Minor shall, within forty-five days following entry of this order, file an
affidavit with this Court stating that all of his clients have been notified of his
disbarment and his consequent inability to practice law in Mississippi and that he has
complied fully with all of the requirements set forth in Rule 11 of the Mississippi
Rules of Discipline.
6.
The Clerk of this Court shall immediately forward certified copies of this order to the
Chancery Clerk and the Circuit Clerk of Harrison County and to the senior chancellor
of the Chancery Court of Harrison County and the senior circuit judge of the Circuit
Court of Harrison County, and the order shall be entered upon the minutes of those
courts in accordance with Rule 8.6(iii) of the Mississippi Rules of Discipline.
7.
The Clerk of this Court likewise shall immediately forward certified copies of this
order to the Clerks of the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern
Districts of Mississippi, the Clerk of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth
Circuit, and the Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States.
8.
Minor’s Motion for Permission to File or Submit Additional Information is denied.
9.
Costs of these proceedings are hereby assessed to Paul S. Minor.
SO ORDERED, this the 11 th day of February, 2011.
3
/s/ Michael K. Randolph
MICHAEL K. RANDOLPH, JUSTICE
FOR THE COURT
KITCHENS, J., NOT PARTICIPATING.
4
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.