Southern v. Mississippi State Hospital

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

¶ 1. Willie B. Southern, Jr. (Southern) was committed by order of the Chancery Court of Hinds County on April 19, 1999, to the Mississippi State Hospital. The affidavit for commitment was brought by Gerald Jones of the Jackson Police Department, as a friend of the court, seeking treatment for Southern. The affidavit alleged that Southern was a possible danger to himself and others and that he had barricaded himself and his two children in a hotel room for a week despite pleas from family and others to come out. The special master's commitment order reflects that Southern…