25-4-18 - Opinions of Attorney General as to ethical situations concerning individual legislators.
§ 25-4-18. Opinions of Attorney General as to ethical situations concerning individual legislators.
(1) The appropriate committee designated by the Senate or the House of Representatives of the State of Mississippi to deal with ethical matters of their respective body may request, in writing, an opinion from the Attorney General as to real or hypothetical situations concerning a member of their respective body, but only upon request of such member. The Attorney General shall issue his opinion, in writing, in response to such request.
(2) When a request pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall have stated all the facts to govern such opinion and an opinion shall have been prepared and delivered with reference thereto, there shall be no liability, civil or criminal, accruing to or against the member requesting the opinion who, in good faith, follows the direction of the opinion and acts in accordance therewith unless a court of competent jurisdiction, after a full hearing, shall judicially declare that such opinion is manifestly wrong and without substantial support. No opinion shall be given or considered if such opinion is requested after suit is filed or prosecution begun.
(3) All requests for opinions and all opinions issued pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be confidential and neither the Attorney General nor the committee shall publicly disclose any opinion issued or the fact that an opinion has been requested or issued unless the member requesting the opinion gives his permission, in writing, to the appropriate committee of his respective house.
(4) The provisions of this section shall be supplemental and in addition to any other statute.
Sources: Laws, 1982, ch. 488, § 10; reenacted, Laws, 1986, ch. 348, § 10; reenacted, Laws, 1990, ch. 491; Laws, 1995, ch. 360, § 10; reenacted without change, Laws, 1998, ch. 350, § 10, eff from and after June 8, 1998 (date the United States Attorney General interposed no objection under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to the reenactment of this section).