Thompson Law Firm

Mississippi Family Law [phone] www.BowTieLawyer.ms

[wmatthewt]

Caught One-Handed; Law Enforcement & a Lack of Common-sense Erode the Public's Confidence

Florida woman cited for driving while holding and using her cell phone in her right hand, as observed by the Sheriff’s Deputy… Bodycam screenshot. Deputy Gonzalez, with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department stopped Kathleen Thomas for distracted driving. The deputy stated, in a roadside video, that he observed her driving with her phone in her “right hand.” However, there was a huge…

View On WordPress

[wmatthewt]

Afroman & Lemon Pound Cake; An American Justice Story...

Afroman, born Joseph Edgar Foreman, won a Defense-Verdict in a civil lawsuit filed against him by 7 Adams County, Ohio sheriff’s deputies. The deputies sued him for defamation and false light, seeking $4 million in damages over his parody songs and music videos that included their images from his own home security footage. In August of 2022, deputies from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office…

View On WordPress

[wmatthewt]

LUNCH! The highlight of the day.

I frequently find myself counting the minutes until lunchtime. Salmon burger and homemade, baked chips from Adobophoto by Matthew Thompson I often joke that lunch is the highlight of my day with the only competition being “Quittin’ Time!” Why is lunch the highlight?  It is a welcome respite for days which are routinely emotional and tough.  Days in which you never know what the next call will be,…

View On WordPress

[wmatthewt]

Remembering Memorial Day

Wilbert M. “Dickie” Carr, Lt. Colonel U.S. Army, Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Day is a day to remember and honor those who have died in service to this Country.    On Memorial Day, the flag of the United States is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the…

View On WordPress

[wmatthewt]

Why I care who the Judge is and why YOU should too!

Chancery Judges are some of the most powerful judges in the state. A Mississippi Chancellor (Chancery Court judge) holds broad judicial power over cases of equity; including domestic relations (divorce, custody, child support), wills, estates, land disputes, and cases involving minors or persons of unsound mind. They have authority to grant injunctions, punish for contempt (fines, sanctions…

View On WordPress

[wmatthewt]

UPDATE: Hinds Judge, Tametrice Hodges Linzey, KICKED OFF CASE by SUPREME COURT

Do NOT assume that your Judge knows the law. It’s dangerous when they don’t,…it’s worse when they do know the law and choose to ignore it! In a recent Mississippi Supreme Court Opinion, every Justice agreed that Hinds Chancellor, Tametrice Hodges Linzey, should have recused herself, but did not. Recusal means the Judge can longer hear the case or the issue and in some instances it is mandatory.…

View On WordPress

[wmatthewt]

Hinds Judge, Tametrice Hodges Linzey, REVERSED and her ORDER is VACATED by SUPREME COURT

Reported PUBLIC Opinion: Believe it or not, some Judges ignore the law, violate litigant’s rights and threaten lawyers who stand up for what is right…it’s sad, but it happens. This past week some level of justice was meted out by the Mississippi Supreme Court. Not 100% justice, but when you operate in a world of judges with near absolute power and the checks and balances are truly stacked…

View On WordPress

[wmatthewt]

Child Support and Games of Chance; Your Casino Winnings Can Now Go Towards Your UNPAID Child Support...

A recent Bill, passed by the Mississippi House and Senate, has been signed by the Governor. It allows the garnishment of Casino winnings to be paid for Child Support Arrearages. Senate Bill 2369, amending sections of MS Law, provides that the Mississippi Gaming Commission may work with the Department of Human Services to identify if persons who have “cash game winnings, including, but not…

View On WordPress

[wmatthewt]

This Mississippi bill could make 50-50 joint custody the standard in divorces

by Sophia Paffenroth March 25, 2026 See Sophia Paffenroth’s article in Mississippi Today about a proposed Joint Custody Bill. Paffenroth conferred with multiple attorneys, professors and persons/clients who all wrestled with custody issues… This Mississippi bill could make 50-50 joint custody the standard in divorces Paffenroth’s article, in full, is linked above and the proposed Bill, in…

[wmatthewt]

Mississippi's Age of an Adult = 21, NOT 18

At 18 you can vote; Join the military without parental consent and buy a rifle or shotgun…but you are not an Adult for Mississippi law purposes. MS Code § 1-3-21 (2025), defines [t]he term “infant,” when used in any statute, shall include any person, male or female, under twenty-one years of age. Recent legislation died in committee trying to bring Mississippi in-line with every other state.…

View On WordPress

[wmatthewt]

Abusing the Process; False Abuse Allegations to Carry big Consequences

View On WordPress

[wmatthewt]

Joint Custody Bill being Jointly Considered by House and Senate in Mississippi

Joint Custody is en vogue. A law requiring equally shared parenting time is back before the Mississippi legislature… House Bill 1662 includes the following; There shall be a rebuttable presumption that joint custody and equally shared parenting time is in the best interest of the child. If the court grants joint custody and equally shared parenting time, the court shall construct a parenting…

View On WordPress

[wmatthewt]

5-Family Law Bills Dead in Committee

5 bills proposed changes this year in family law, 2-each sought similar relied by banning Sharia law and allowing for a “no fault” divorce, of sorts. All died in Committee. HB 11Sharia law; prohibit the application of in divorce and child custody cases.02/03 (H) Died In Committee Arnold HB 974Divorce beneficiary revocation; clarify the effective date.02/03 (H) Died In Committee…

View On WordPress

[wmatthewt]

Bridgette Clayton for Hinds County Chancellor

Hinds County Attorney, Bridgette Clayton, has qualified to run for Hinds County Chancery Judge! “After much prayer and consideration, I am honored and excited to announce that I qualified for Hinds County Chancery Court Judge, District 5-3, on today.” “I am ready to serve the citizens of Hinds County with God serving as a Lamp unto my feet and the Light unto my path as I seek election for this…

View On WordPress

[wmatthewt]

WHAT TO DO IF THE JUDGE VIOLATES YOUR RIGHTS!

Judges take an oath to uphold the Law. Most do, but some do not. The Code of Judicial Conduct are the standards for the ethical and professional conduct of judges. So what do you do when the Judge rules against you? Sometimes it’s a judgment call and not a violation of the law. In these circumstances you can file a Motion for New Trial and/or an Appeal with the Mississippi Supreme Court. But…

View On WordPress

[wmatthewt]

Erection Bill...On the Rise?

It’s back. Senate Bill 2088 – “Contraception Begins at Erection Act.” It shall be unlawful for a person to discharge genetic material without the intent to fertilize an egg. Upon conviction of a violation of this section, a person shall be fined as follows, and the fine shall be payable to the woman whose egg was fertilized as a result of the act: One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for a first…

View On WordPress

[wmatthewt]

Non-Custodial Parent's Bill of Rights; DHS, Child Support and Making You Pay

Interestingly, Mississippi passed the Foster Parent’s Bill of Rights in 2023. This session, 2026, proposes a Non-Custodial Parent’s Bill of Rights. The Noncustodial Parents’ Bill of Rights and Responsibilities which shall be provided to all noncustodial parents. The Department of Human Services shall extend the following rights to noncustodial parents: (a) Advance notification of all hearings…

View On WordPress