[12/13/2001]Warren County Judge Gerald Hosemann is divorcing his second wife, Julie Skinner Hosemann, according to papers found in a Hinds County court.

Separately, Hosemann was reported to have visited a Vicksburg hospital Wednesday night and inquired about the former court reporter found severely injured on his property a week ago.

The divorce papers were filed Nov. 15 in Raymond where a second, lesser used courthouse for Hinds County is maintained. The joint petition for divorce indicates that Julia Skinner Hosemann is a resident of Hinds County and that Gerald Hosemann is a resident of Warren County.

According to the attached property settlement agreement, Julia Skinner Hosemann resides at the mobile home near Utica where Judge Hosemann’s former court reporter was found suffering from bruises and exposure.

It was not known how long Juanita “Nita” Johnson, 47, had been there before she was found by Hosemann. and Billy Leist, identified only as a resident of the area.

The petition for divorce says Gerald and Julia Skinner Hosemann had no children and that none is expected.

The divorce is being sought on the grounds of irreconcilable differences.

Johnston, 47, who lives in Vicksburg, remained in the critical care unit at ParkView Regional for a sixth day and was listed in stable condition, a hospital spokesman said.

Hosemann, who has been Warren County Court judge and Warren County Youth Court judge for 15 years, was reported at the hospital Wednesday night asking about Johnston’s condition. Reports said he was not allowed to see Johnston.

Sgt. Steve Pickett, a spokesman for the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department, said this morning that investigators have not been able to interview Johnston because of her injuries. Pickett has said they expect no new developments in the case until Johnston can tell authorities what happened.

He said none of the details of the investigation or anything found on the property can be released.

“There was no search warrant executed and there was a crime scene investigation.” Pickett said. “At the scene, Hosemann was cooperative.”

Johnston, a certified court reporter who recorded testimony in Hosemann’s courtroom for years, was found about 10 feet behind the mobile home on the Hinds County property. Her family had not seen her in two days.

Hosemann, 49, was named in a lawsuit filed in 1998 by Johnston’s former husband. In that suit, Joseph Johnston said Hosemann was the cause of marital problems that led to the Johnstons’ divorce in 1996.

The case was later dismissed.

Before seeking the office of Warren County judge in 1986,

Hosemann had been in private practice in Vicksburg for 10 years. He ran unsuccessfully for a state Supreme Court seat in 1996 and was re-elected to his county post without opposition in 1999.

Hosemann held county court Wednesday and was ruling on youth court matters today. Contacted at his home last week, he said he did not know why Johnston was where she was found and he hoped she recovers.