Caleb Bedillion
calebbedillion.bsky.social
Caleb Bedillion
@calebbedillion.bsky.social
Investigative reporter @themarshallproject.org covering Mississippi criminal justice system, especially courts, public defense and jails.
From me and @ayewolfe.bsky.social :

In Mississippi, District Attorney Jody Owens filed his latest campaign finance report months late. It's full of math errors. The report also contains transactions that correspond to some details from a federal indictment charging Owens with bribery.
July 18, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Reposted by Caleb Bedillion
Conditions Inside Cuyahoga County Jail Amid Heatwave, No Air Conditioning:

“They had us locked up because they were saying they didn't have enough correctional officers, so they couldn't let us out. It was draining my body.”

www.themarshallproject.org/2025/07/03/c...
What It Was Like Inside a Stifling Cuyahoga County Jail Without Power
Cuyahoga County officials say no one incarcerated in the jail needed treatment for heat illness. People inside say it was life-threatening.
www.themarshallproject.org
July 3, 2025 at 2:04 PM
The Mississippi Supreme Court is now requiring greater transparency from the local judges who largely manage the state's patchwork public defense systems.

In a recent letter, Chief Justice Michael Randolph told circuit judges to file written public defense plans by Sept. 5.
July 2, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Want to know how Mississippi lawmakers might impact the state's legal system?

The Marshall Project's team in Jackson has published a tool you can use to monitor bills that state lawmakers are considering. We'll keep it updated as things change.
February 20, 2025 at 11:22 PM
The Mississippi Legislature is considering a raft of bills that could impact prisons, policing and courts in the state.

The Marshall Project - Jackson has just published a tool to help you keep up with state lawmakers might do.

www.themarshallproject.org/2025/02/14/m...
Use Our Interactive Mississippi Justice Bill Tracker to Stay Informed
Use our interactive bill tracker to stay informed on changes to courts, policing, prisons and more.
www.themarshallproject.org
February 14, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Reposted by Caleb Bedillion
Groups question why Wednesday, instead of Thursday is the cutoff for counting absentee votes as a close court election hangs in the balance.
Civil rights organizations ask Secretary Watson to explain mail-in ballot 'confusion'
Groups question why Wednesday, instead of Thursday is the cutoff for counting absentee votes as a close court election hangs in the balance.
buff.ly
December 4, 2024 at 9:52 PM
Reposted by Caleb Bedillion
The Marshall Project has a starter pack! go.bsky.app/2oPnQyH
December 3, 2024 at 8:32 PM
Reposted by Caleb Bedillion
it's stunning that even though most counties reported vote changes during the recount, the overall margin stayed exactly the same. it's an important reminder that recounts are extremely unlikely to produce meaningful changes because it's improbable that most errors will go in the same direction.
JUST IN: North Carolina recount results are finalized for state Supreme Court race. There was no net change. Riggs maintains the 734-vote lead she had going into the recount.
December 3, 2024 at 4:40 PM
November 27, 2024 at 6:55 PM
Mississippi Supreme Court runoff, COMPLETE election day + absentee vote totals in HINDS COUNTY. These numbers are lackluster for incumbent Jim Kitchens. Challenger Jenifer Branning is in a very good position to hold her lead.
November 27, 2024 at 5:25 PM
Just a reminder that there's a federal civil rights lawsuit pending a district court decision as to whether Mississippi's central Supreme Court district is racially gerrymandered to dilute Black voting strength.
November 27, 2024 at 4:28 PM
Mississippi Supreme Court runoff complete ELECTION DAY total for Hinds County below. This does NOT include absentees.

This is not great for Kitchens. Explanation below.
November 27, 2024 at 4:01 PM
The Associated Press is now reporting the same numbers I got earlier for Holmes County.
Holmes County just dropped 95% of its votes, narrowing Branning's lead to 1,642, or 50.7%-49.3%.

10% of Hinds County is still out, along with absentees in several counties.
November 27, 2024 at 3:31 PM
Mississippi Supreme Court runoff update: I just spoke with the Holmes County Circuit Clerk's office. These numbers below are unofficial, election-day totals with absentees not included.

Branning: 373
Kitchens: 1,710
November 27, 2024 at 2:25 PM
🚨

Complete Rankin County numbers are in!

www2.rankincounty.org/results/publ...
Count_HtmlCumulativeReport
www2.rankincounty.org
November 27, 2024 at 5:03 AM
Reposted by Caleb Bedillion
Incredibly, the Mississippi Supreme Court runoff is going to come down to *absentee* votes. To that end, Rankin County just posted its final precinct and its absentees. Branning is now up by 2,351 statewide. (Note: AP is running behind Rankin County's website.)
www2.rankincounty.org/results/publ...
November 27, 2024 at 4:57 AM
Reposted by Caleb Bedillion
Just a little insight for folks following Mississippi Supreme Court runoff results: Everything we're seeing is reported by the Associated Press, with its network of election stringers. The state will not report any numbers until after each county certifies.
November 27, 2024 at 3:06 AM
Today in Mississippi, incumbent Supreme Court Justice Jim Kitchens face an opponent in a runoff election.

Let's look at Kitchens' record in one important area: the Sixth Amendment right to an attorney.
November 26, 2024 at 10:20 PM
Reposted by Caleb Bedillion
@dajaehenry.com of Marshall Project is another Mississippi journalist you can follow on here now! @calebbedillion.bsky.social too!
Today is Election Day (again) in #Mississippi! Supreme Court justices make important decisions that could mean life or death. Learn more about the candidates here:
The Mississippi Supreme Court often has the final say in cases involving criminal, civil and death penalty appeals, questions on the state’s laws and constitution, and legal issues of public interest.
November 26, 2024 at 7:45 PM
Remember! Runoff elections in Mississippi tomorrow for seats on the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.
The Supreme Court runoff will see incumbent Justice Jim Kitchens, a moderate-to-liberal justice, running against Jenifer Branning, one of the most conservative state senators.
November 25, 2024 at 8:35 PM
After the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this year left in place Mississippi's very strict felony disenfranchisement law, plaintiffs are now appealing to the US Supreme Court.

Here's the cert petition:

www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24...
www.supremecourt.gov
November 21, 2024 at 2:28 PM
Next week, there's a Supreme Court runoff election in Mississippi that could possibly shift a conservative court that's been trending even more hostile toward criminal defendants.

For @themarshallproject.org and @bolts.bsky.social

www.themarshallproject.org/2024/11/20/m...
Mississippi’s Supreme Court Runoff Could Impact Criminal Cases
After the surprise defeat of one justice, the outcome of the Nov. 26 runoff between another justice and his challenger could change the court’s outlook.
www.themarshallproject.org
November 20, 2024 at 9:29 PM