Johnson v. Sysco Food Services, 86 So. 3d 242

Amendment to Miss. Code Ann. § 71-3-51 in 2011 allows direct Supreme Court appeals from the Workers’ Compensation Commission.
Johnson’s 2011 Commission decision denied benefits; he appealed directly to the Mississippi Supreme Court.
The Majority considers whether Article 6, Section 146 permits direct appeals from the Commission and whether the Court has jurisdiction.
The Court analyzes whether the Commission is a quasijudicial tribunal and whether direct appellate review is constitutionally authorized.
Section 71-3-51 is a general-law provision; the issue is whether it conforms to constitutional jurisdiction limits.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Whether Article 6, §146 authorizes direct appeals from the Commission	Johnson: direct appeal violates §146	State: §146 permits general-law expansion	Yes; constitutional authorization exists
Whether §71-3-51, as amended, is constitutional	Johnson: amendment valid under §146	State: valid general-law extension	Constitutional under §146
Whether the Court has appellate jurisdiction over direct Commission appeals	Johnson: jurisdiction to hear direct appeals	State: jurisdiction exists via amendment	Court has appellate jurisdiction over direct Commission appeals
Scope of the Court’s remedy and disposition on direct appeal	Johnson: direct reversal permissible	State: remand/affirmation framework appropriate	Review limited to merits; assign to Court of Appeals; briefing schedule set

Dodd v. Illinois Central Railroad Co., 105 Miss. 23 (Miss. 1913) (direct appeal limitations; final judicial decision requirement)
Glenn v. Herring, 415 So.2d 695 (Miss. 1982) (final decree requirement; jurisdictional limits under §146)
Herring v. State, 415 So.2d 697 (Miss. 1982) (final decree and appellate jurisdiction analysis)
Gregg v. Natchez Trace Elec. Power Ass'n, 64 So.3d 473 (Miss. 2011) (review limited to substantial evidence; not direct administrative appeal")