Former Judge Carol Bustin of Hattiesburg, MS; ethical gremlin

Unfortunately, the state of Mississippi provided Carol Ann Bustin with a law license in 1991 after she graduated from the University of Tennessee School of Law.

The Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance found Carol guilty of engaging in the following misconduct, all of which occurred while she was sitting as a Lamar County Justice Court judge.

• Carol executed a felony arrest warrant for David C. Lema, charging him with kidnapping his own child.
• The warrant was based upon an affidavit filed by Lema's ex-wife, who claimed primary physical custody of the child Carol, who is a licensed attorney, was representing Lema's ex-wife in a separate divorce and child-custody matter
• Engaged in an egregious conflict of interest
• Carol abused her office and impugned the public's perception of the judiciary
• Failed  to respect and comply with the law (scofflaw)
• Failed to participate in establishing, maintaining, and enforcing high standards of conduct
• Failed to observe high standards of conduct.
• Failed to comply with the law by acting as judge in a matter involving her own client
• Carol’s conduct tarnished public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary
• Failed to dispose of all judicial matters promptly, efficiently and fairly
• Failed to disqualify herself when her impartiality might be questioned or when she  had a personal prejudice concerning a party in the matter
• Engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice

As a direct consequence of her misconduct, the enablers for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Mississippi Supreme Court punished Carol by gifting her with a complimentary reprimand and assessed a fine of $500.00.

As we speak (ca. May 2024), Carol practices her so-called brand of law at 6641 US Highway 98 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.