/Bench blogger – Judge on the internet

Bench blogger – Judge on the internet

The former private-practice lawyer, now 66 years old, is an Internet blogger. This rare feat for a Mississippi judge. He explained that the Legislature had amended Mississippi’s adoption statute in 2005 or 2006. However, a few years later, he found that many attorneys still used the old statute. This is where the blog idea originated. Primeaux said that a judge called him to inquire if he was having trouble with the issue. He also suggested that he create his own blog to provide information and insights to the legal community. Primeaux decided that if he had a question on a topic, he could simply say, “Go read my blog.” Enters “The Better Chancery Practice Blog” found at https://chancery12.wordpress.com. It is posted every day in simple, straightforward language that doesn’t require any explanations. The site says, “This blog is for Mississippi’s chancery judges and lawyers.” The content is meant to be a resource for lawyers. It is open to lay people to browse its pages. However, it cannot replace the advice that you receive tailored to your specific circumstances. You can also search it for topics such as adoption, alimony, statutes, and the South. It’s also archived so you can find all previous posts. Watkins & Eager Jackson attorney Rebecca Lee Wiggs likes Primeaux blog for several reasons. One is that she doesn’t practice in chancery court very often. She says that she is an experienced litigator but doesn’t practice much chancery law. This blog is very useful for me. It’s easy to use the archive to find specific topics, but it’s also an inspiration of what kind of lawyer we all want: effective and respected.” She likes the judge’s approach – while he takes the law seriously, he reminds us to not take ourselves too seriously. “From photos of Mississippi’s courthouses, to Dispatches from the Farthest Outposts of Civilization, to thought-provoking observations on our surroundings, he reminds his readers that there is more to life than just a caseload.” Philip Thomas of Jackson, an attorney who blogs (Mississippi Litigation Review & Commentary www.mslitigationreview.com), terms Primeaux’ online posts “great.” “I read every new post – they are informative and thoughtful,” Thomas says. It’s a wonderful resource for chancery court practice. He posts a new post each day. Primeaux started his career in Legal Services and insists that he is looking for the practical. Primeaux says that he always brings it down to a practical level when writing about his posts. “I think about how this will affect me,” he says. He might be the only Mississippi judge to have a blog. The Louisiana native speculates that he is not aware of any other judges who do this. Some may find it too difficult or uncomfortable, while others might be reluctant to share their ideas. “I make it very clear that it is my view,” he said, noting that he never wrote any details about the cases in his 12th chancery district which includes Clarke or Lauderdale counties. Primeaux, who has 33 years of experience in legal practice before he was appointed to the Lauderdale County Chancery Bench in 2007, has much to offer. Primeaux stated that the blog provides a lot practical information for lawyers. He welcomes comments from the public, but deletes those asking for legal advice. He said, “This blog isn’t like that kind of blog.” Primeaux said that he takes breaks from court to write his blog posts. Sometimes, he will use more than one break to keep the content flowing. Primeaux says that he wants to be productive at work and be available to write on his blog when the case is over. He also believes the content will be useful and interesting. * ** Judge Larry Primeaux * ** Examples of Primeaux’s blog posts: “An interesting article on lawcrossing.com lists 25 reasons why law practice can be destructive and eat away your well-being. It can be found at this link. You will never find peace and contentment if you don’t look for them. You can read the statute if you are going to represent someone in a case of statutory appeal. I repeat: Read the statute. The statute contains everything you need to represent your client: the court with jurisdiction, the appeals deadline; what you must do (e.g. file a bond) in order to complete your appeal; the basis of an appeal; and any other pertinent information. Keep your eyes on the book and make a recurring donation to support this important work.