The Mississippi Supreme Court on Friday barred Bolivar County Youth Court Judge Aelicia Thomas from requiring parents with pending cases to attend an autism awareness fundraising event, the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services said in an emergency petition and court records show. Thomas held the event Saturday and told families they would receive credit for attending, Mississippi Today reported.
The petition filed by the state child welfare agency said Thomas ordered parents to attend the event or risk losing custody of their children. The agency estimated about 300 children and families could be affected and said the judge threatened families who could not attend with “problems,” adding that “the potential for families to be separated permanently hangs in the balance,” the petition said.
Thomas told Mississippi Today she told parents attendance was required but said she would not punish those who did not show up. “No, they won’t have any problems,” she said. Thomas described the dispute as a power struggle between youth court judges and the child welfare agency. She was elected youth court judge in 2022, previously served as a prosecutor and as mayor of Rosedale, and is running for re-election, Mississippi Today reported.
The April 11 event at the Bolivar County Expo Building included vendors, speakers and resource tables. Organizers asked attendees to fill out a digital survey that asked whether they had a case before the youth court, and Thomas told families to sign in so they would receive credit toward safety plans, Mississippi Today reported. About 60 people attended, the report said.
The child welfare agency also raised concerns that the event could financially benefit Thomas through a for-profit consulting firm it said is connected to promotional materials. Thomas said the firm is not yet operating and that any money raised would cover event costs or go to the court. The petition noted that emergency action was unusual because it addressed judicial conduct affecting all pending cases rather than a single order; youth court proceedings are generally closed to the public, the petition said.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
