Elected-but-as-yet-not-sworn-in Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Jess Dickinson is the subject of this story from the Hattiesburg Obvious. Why was Dickinson elected last year, but only begins serving this year? Because his seat on the Supreme Court is "special." That's the best answer I can give you.

Dickinson says that appointing judges is potentially equally as corrupt as electing them. This should be news to no one. There's the Missouri plan, with appointments and retention elections, but to some, including my compadre Rich, this seems like the worst of both worlds.