Justice Department: Mississippi's Appointed Judges Discriminate Against Black Residents

The U.S. Justice Department has filed court papers stating that a new Mississippi law discriminates against Black residents in the capital city of Jackson by requiring the appointment of judges instead of allowing them to be elected. The department is seeking to join a federal lawsuit filed by the NAACP against the state. The law creates a "two-tiered system of justice" and violates the U.S. Constitution's equal protection guarantee, according to the Justice Department. The law has been temporarily blocked from taking effect, and the Mississippi Supreme Court is also hearing arguments against it.