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.
Edwin Pittman | |
|---|---|
 Pittman in 1981 | |
| Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi | |
| In office January 2001 – March 31, 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Lenore L. Prather |
| Succeeded by | James W. Smith Jr. |
| Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi | |
| In office 1989–2004 | |
| Succeeded by | Michael K. Randolph |
| 37th Attorney General of Mississippi | |
| In office 1984–1988 | |
| Governor | William Allain |
| Preceded by | William Allain |
| Succeeded by | Mike Moore |
| 32nd Secretary of State of Mississippi | |
| In office 1980–1984 | |
| Governor | William F. Winter |
| Preceded by | Heber Austin Ladner |
| Succeeded by | Dick Molpus |
| Mississippi State Treasurer | |
| In office 1976–1980 | |
| Governor | Cliff Finch |
| Preceded by | Brad Dye |
| Succeeded by | John L. Dale |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Edwin Lloyd Pittman January 2, 1935 Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | September 25, 2024 (aged 89) Ridgeland, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of Southern Mississippi (BS) University of Mississippi (JD) |
Early life and education
editPittman 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
editPittman 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
editPittman was first elected to the State Supreme Court in 1988 and reelected in 1996.[2]
Notable rulings
editIn 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
editPittman was married to Virginia Lund Pittman and had seven children.[5] He died on September 25, 2024, at the age of 89.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Chief Justice Edwin L. Pittman announces retirement" (PDF). courts.ms.gov. March 8, 2004. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
- ^ a b c Salter, Sid. "Chief justice has long track record of service". The Clarksdale Press Register. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
- ^ Reese, Andrew (January 15, 1976). "Evelyn Gandy takes office". The Delta Democrat-Times. United Press International. p. 8.
- ^ "Naacp Loses Ruling Over Mississippi State Flag". Chicago Tribune. May 5, 2000. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
- ^ "Judge profiles Law – Judicial Data Project". Judicial.mc.edu. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
- ^ Howell, Kaitlin (September 26, 2024). "Former Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Edwin Pittman dies". WJTV. Retrieved September 27, 2024.