Miss. Supreme Court Justice Recuses Himself from Appeal of $322 Million Verdict

JACKSON, Miss. -- A Mississippi Supreme Court justice has opted to recuse himself from an ongoing appeal that involves questions regarding the qualifications of a trial judge that presided over an asbestos case that ended in a $322 million verdict. Union Carbide Corp. v. Thomas Brown Jr., No. 2011-M-00874 (Miss. Sup. Ct.).

According to a Sept. 16 order, Justice Michael K. Randolph elected to recuse himself on his own motion, noting has past participation as defense counsel for "numerous defendants in a multitude of asbestos cases both in-state and nationally."

In July, the state's high court entered an order staying …