Attorneys claim violation of code of judicial conduct

The attorneys representing more than 200 Singing River Health System retirees in the state’s case over retirement benefits are asking the state supreme court to hold an emergency hearing, claiming major ethical violations by key court officials involved in the case.  

The 57 page motion was filed today by attorneys Harvey Barton and Earl Denham. It claims presiding Judge Breland Hilburn, Magistrate Brit Singletary, and several other attorneys representing Singing River Health System, communicated with each other about the case…without the knowledge of the opposing party.   

Attorneys for the retirees claim just three days ago, "Judge Hilburn attended a clandestine, ex parte meeting the very day of his extraordinary order, January 12th, 2016, with numerous members of the defense counsel and other attorneys with interest adverse to the plaintiffs."

WXXV has obtained exclusive video of what Barton and Denham say is the meeting, which allegedly occurred at Singletary’s office in Biloxi. They also claim that less than an hour after this meeting ended…the judge entered an e-mail order staying the plaintiff’s litigation and three other orders.

Barton and Denham tell News 25 they were never notified of this meeting and did not attend. They claim the meeting clearly violated the code of judicial conduct, which forbids either party to the case to communicate directly with the judge without the other parties’ knowledge.

No word yet on a hearing on today’s motion. News 25 reached out to Judge Hilburn and Special Master  Singletary. We have not received a response as of time of this report.

News 25 will keep you updated on this developing story.