Lincoln County Post One Justice Court Judge Ralph Boone receiveda public reprimand Tuesday morning in Lincoln County CircuitCourt.

The public reprimand was administered by Circuit Court Judge DavidStrong as part of an April 28 Mississippi Supreme Court rulingagainst Boone, who is in his first term as justice courtjudge.

The 25-page ruling was handed down over improper conduct by Booneinvolving a female defendant who appeared before his court in 2009.In the ruling, the high court found that Boone had violated severaljudicial canons but justices could not agree on sexual allegationsaspects of the case.

According to the ruling, Canons 1, 2A, 2B, 3B(2), 3B(4) and 4A ofthe Judicial Code of Conduct were violated by Boone with his exparte or out of the courtroom, discussions and the inappropriateway he handled the fine reduction. Strong both read from andparaphrased the ruling while administering Tuesday’sreprimand.

“Judge Boone’s actions constituted willful misconduct in office andconduct prejudicial to the administration of justice which bringsthe judicial office into disrepute,” he said.

Strong also briefly discussed each of the judicial canons and howthey were violated. He read the portion of the ruling thatdiscussed Boone’s ex parte communications with both the defendantand with Brookhaven Assistant Police Chief Nolan Jones.

“We take this opportunity to remind all judges and law enforcementofficials of the impropriety in having any ex parte communicationswith each other on the merits of pending litigation,” the judgesaid.

Boone, who remained stoic throughout the proceedings and leftquickly after being dismissed by Strong, was also ordered by thehigh court to be suspended from office without pay for 90 days andto pay $1,907.05 in court costs.

Circuit Clerk Terry Lynn Watkins said Boone’s suspension startedlast Thursday and will end on Aug. 17.

Boone, a Democrat, is seeking re-election. He is facing challengesfrom fellow Democrats Charles Ralph Smith, Joe Portrey, Harold Kingand Willie D. Hill. Art Likens and Ed Thompson are running asRepublicans and Raymond Boutwell is running as anindependent.

Party primaries will be held on Aug. 2. If necessary, runoffs willbe held on Aug. 23, with the general election to follow on Nov.8.