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Edwin L. Pittman

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Edwin Pittman
Pittman in 1981
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi
In office
January 2001 – March 31, 2004
Preceded byLenore L. Prather
Succeeded byJames W. Smith Jr.
Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi
In office
1989–2004
Succeeded byMichael K. Randolph
37th Attorney General of Mississippi
In office
1984–1988
GovernorWilliam Allain
Preceded byWilliam Allain
Succeeded byMike Moore
32nd Secretary of State of Mississippi
In office
1980–1984
GovernorWilliam F. Winter
Preceded byHeber Austin Ladner
Succeeded byDick Molpus
Mississippi State Treasurer
In office
1976–1980
GovernorCliff Finch
Preceded byBrad Dye
Succeeded byJohn L. Dale
Personal details
Born
Edwin Lloyd Pittman

(1935-01-02)January 2, 1935
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S.
DiedSeptember 25, 2024(2024-09-25) (aged 89)
Ridgeland, Mississippi, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materUniversity of Southern Mississippi (BS)
University of Mississippi (JD)

Edwin Lloyd Pittman (January 2, 1935 – September 25, 2024) was an American jurist and politician who served as a justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi from 1989 to 2001 and chief justice from 2001 to 2004. He also served as the state's attorney general, secretary of state, and treasurer.[1] Pittman reached the rank of brigadier general in the Mississippi National Guard.

Early life and education

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Pittman was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on January 2, 1935. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1957 and his J.D. from the University of Mississippi in 1960.

Political career

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Pittman was first elected to the Mississippi State Senate in 1964 and was reelected in 1968 from Forest County.[2] In 1975, he was elected as the State's Treasurer.[citation needed] He was sworn in on January 14, 1976.[3]

In 1980, he was elected as Mississippi's Secretary of State. In 1984, he was elected attorney general.

Pittman ran for the 1987 Democratic nomination for governor, finishing fifth.[2]

Judicial career

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Pittman was first elected to the State Supreme Court in 1988 and reelected in 1996.[2]

Notable rulings

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In 2000, Justice Pittman ruled that the courts are not in the position of determining the state flag. He wrote, "In this case, the NAACP failed to offer any proof that the flying of the state flag deprived any citizen of a constitutionally protected right."[4]

Personal life and death

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Pittman was married to Virginia Lund Pittman and had seven children.[5] He died on September 25, 2024, at the age of 89.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Chief Justice Edwin L. Pittman announces retirement" (PDF). courts.ms.gov. March 8, 2004. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Salter, Sid. "Chief justice has long track record of service". The Clarksdale Press Register. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  3. ^ Reese, Andrew (January 15, 1976). "Evelyn Gandy takes office". The Delta Democrat-Times. United Press International. p. 8.
  4. ^ "Naacp Loses Ruling Over Mississippi State Flag". Chicago Tribune. May 5, 2000. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  5. ^ "Judge profiles Law – Judicial Data Project". Judicial.mc.edu. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  6. ^ Howell, Kaitlin (September 26, 2024). "Former Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Edwin Pittman dies". WJTV. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Secretary of State of Mississippi
1979
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court
2001–2004
Succeeded by
Preceded by Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court
1989–2001
Succeeded by