Former Mississippi Chief Justice Edwin Lloyd Pittman Dies at 89

Former Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Edwin Lloyd Pittman died on Sept. 25 at his home in Ridgeland. He was 89.

Memorial services will be conducted at a later date.

Pittman, who served more than 40 years in public service, was elected to positions in all three branches of Mississippi state government. He joined the Mississippi Supreme Court in January 1989 and became chief justice in January 2001. He retired from the court on March 31, 2004.

During his tenure as chief justice, Pittman worked to improve efficiency and transparency within the state’s judicial system, protect judicial independence, strengthen ethics, and improve access to justice for low-income people.

“Chief Pittman provided exemplary leadership to the Mississippi Judiciary as Chief Justice,” said former Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. “His accomplishments for efficiency, transparency, and access to justice profoundly affected our legal system. Today’s court system is better for his untiring efforts and dedication to duty.”

Judge James Graves of the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals called Pittman “a consummate politician and public servant.” Graves served alongside Pittman on the state Supreme Court and began public service in the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office when he was attorney general. “He hired me as a special assistant attorney general when he was AG,” Graves said.

Pittman served as attorney general from 1984 to 1988. He began public service as a state senator from Hattiesburg from 1964 to 1972. He also served as state treasurer from 1976 to 1980 and secretary of state from 1980 to 1984. Additionally, he retired from the Mississippi National Guard as a brigadier general after 30 years of service.

Gov. Haley Barbour awarded Pittman the Mississippi Medal of Service in 2011. At the ceremony, Pittman said, “The people of this state have honored me with a wonderful trip through life.”

“Even though he served in all these important government positions, he never lost his common touch,” said Chief Justice Mike Randolph. “I hope that when I’m done, I will be as well thought of as he was.”

Attorney Danny Cupit said, “He served with distinction in all three branches of government for almost a half-century. His loss is Mississippi’s loss.” Cupit, a longtime Democratic Party activist, recalled Pittman’s willingness to support presidential candidate Jimmy Carter when other state officials hesitated. “I admired that. He did what he thought was right,” Cupit said.

Law partner Jerry Mills described Pittman as “a lawyer of vast experience,” Attorney John Scanlon said, “We were very fortunate to have the benefit of Justice Pittman’s vast experience in all three branches of government.”

Former Mississippi Bar President Jennifer Ingram Johnson recalled the longtime friendship between her father, Hattiesburg attorney Carroll Ingram, and Pittman. “They were loyal, good friends, and my dad greatly appreciated that friendship,” she said.

Pittman’s legacy is reflected in the rule changes he oversaw as chief justice. He believed in government transparency and public access, leading efforts to publish the dockets of the state’s appellate courts online in 2001 and initiating internet broadcasts of oral arguments later that year. He also worked to establish aspirational time standards for trial courts, revise the Code of Judicial Conduct, and improve access to civil legal services for low-income people.

Edwin Lloyd Pittman was born on Jan. 2, 1935, in Hattiesburg. He earned a Bachelor of Science in History and Government from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1957 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1960. He practiced law in Hattiesburg for 16 years, partnering with the late Justice Michael Sullivan, with whom he later served on the Supreme Court.

Pittman received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Humanized Education Award from the Mississippi Association of Educators, the University of Southern Mississippi’s HUB Award, and the Distinguished Jurist Award from Mississippi State University’s Pre-Law Society.

Pittman is survived by his wife, Virginia; daughters Melanie Wakeland and Jennifer Martin; grandchildren Edwin Lloyd “Tad” Pittman III, Christian Reid Pittman, Barbara Byrd, Lucy Haag, and Trey Wakeland. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Barbara Peel Pittman, and his son, Edwin Lloyd “Win” Pittman Jr.

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