Mississippi Judge Blocks Attorney General's Attempt to Drop Manslaughter Case Against Former Capitol Police Officer A Hinds County judge has ruled that the state Attorney General's office cannot permanently dismiss the manslaughter case against former Capitol Police Officer Michael Lamar Rhinewalt, who shot a 25‑year‑old Black man during a traffic stop in Jackson. The judge found that the AG's request was driven by a bias toward law enforcement and lacked a substantive legal basis. The decision allows for a possible second trial and leaves open the possibility that future prosecutors could pursue the case. A Hinds County Circuit Judge Faye Peterson has issued a ruling that blocks the Mississippi Attorney General's attempt to permanently drop the manslaughter case against former Capitol Police Officer Michael Lamar Rhinewalt, who shot and killed Jaylen Lewis, a 25‑year‑old Black man, during a traffic stop in Jackson. The decision follows a deadlocked majority‑Black jury that could not reach a verdict at trial last month and a subsequent hung jury for a second officer who admitted shooting at Lewis in self‑defense. Judge Peterson concluded that the AG's office, led by Republican Lynn Fitch, showed a bias in favor of law enforcement, which violates the obligation to prosecute fairly and impartially.Judge Rejects Bias in Prosecution DecisionShe stated that the AG's office failed to provide a meaningful legal reason for abandoning its duty to pursue the case, such as conflicting evidence or new developments. The judge's objection comes after the AG's office had filed a request to temporarily drop the case, arguing that the prosecution had already exercised reasonable measures and that the death of the officer and the long‑standing nature of the case warranted dismissal.Peterson's ruling did not outright reject a temporary stay; instead, it denied the permanent dismissal and left open the possibility that a future prosecutor could take the matter forward. In her opinion, the decision that a tie in a jury trial should go to law enforcement "benefit of the doubt," the judge cited the appeals clause in the state's code and warned the AG's office that it must uphold its oath of impartiality.Patricia "Patsy" Hale, the mother of Jaylen Lewis, expressed a measure of relief, saying that the judge's refusal to allow a permanent dismissal gave the family a glimmer of hope that true justice might eventually be served. The former officer's friend and a criminal defense attorney, Shaun Yurtkuran, criticized Fitch's office, calling the case a "mess" and noting that the indictments had been opened years after the incident.Future Prosecution Faces Potential Prison TermHe also said that the prosecution had failed to give the judge a valid legal justification. The case is significant because Mississippi's state AG has exclusive authority to prosecute officers who shoot civilians under state law. If a future prosecutor decides to take the case forward, Rhinewalt could face a second trial and potentially up to 20 years in prison.The ruling highlights ongoing tension between law‑enforcement interests and the pursuit of accountability when allegations of excessive use of force arise. The AG office did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the ruling, but its attorney, Luke Williamson, had previously clarified that the prosecution should proceed with the strongest possible legal basis.The judge's ruling addresses concerns that the AG's office may have failed to submit the case to a proper legal process, which could bring it under scrutiny for favoritism. The outcome may shape how Mississippi's attorney general's office approaches defendant cases in the future, especially when allegations involve police conduct and civilian safety concerns.