Former Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Edwin Lloyd Pittman has passed away at the age of 89.
Officials report that Pittman died at his home in Ridgeland. In his 40 years of public service, Pittman was elected to positions in all three branches of state government. He began on the Mississippi Supreme Court in January 1989 and became chief justice in January 2001 ahead of his retirement in 2004.
Pittman, a Pine Belt native, was Mississippi’s attorney general from 1984-88. He began his public service as a state senator from Hattiesburg, serving from 1964-72. He served as state treasurer from 1976-80 and as secretary of state from 1980-84. He also retired from the Mississippi National Guard as a Brigadier General with 30 years of service.
“Even though he served in all these important government positions, he never lost his common touch. I regret that I didn’t get to serve with him,” Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Randolph, who was appointed to take Pittman’s post on the bench, said. “I hope that when I’m done, that I will be as well thought of as he was.”
During his more than three years as head of the state’s high court, Pittman sought to improve the efficiency and transparency of the courts, protect judicial independence, and strengthen ethics, impartiality, and fairness within the judiciary and the legal profession. He also believed in improving access to justice for the poor.
The late justice joined the Ridgeland firm of Pyle, Mills, Dye, and Pittman, now known as Mills, Scanlon, Dye, and Pittman, shortly after he retired from the Mississippi Supreme Court. After joining the private sector, Pittman was awarded the Mississippi Medal of Service by then-Gov. Haley Barbour for his upstanding public service.
Ahead of his career as a public official, Pittmam attended Hattiesburg public schools. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in history and government from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1957. He later earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1960.
Pittman practiced law in Hattiesburg for 16 years. His law partner was the late Justice Michael Sullivan. They served together on the state’s high court, as well.
The storied public servant was the recipient of the Humanized Education Award 1982-83 from the Mississippi Association of Educators. He received the University of Southern Mississippi’s HUB Award recognizing outstanding community and public service in 1989 and was a charter member of the Southern Miss Alumni Association Hall of Fame.
The Mississippi State University Pre-Law Society named Pittman as the recipient of the Distinguished Jurist Award for 2002. The Hinds County Bar Association and the Jackson Young Lawyers Association honored him with the Judicial Innovation Award in 2003.
Funeral arrangements for the late justice have not been announced at this time.
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