State of Mississippi Judiciary

Judge Henry Ross sworn in as Circuit Judge

June 6, 2022

Circuit Judge Henry Ross of Eupora was sworn in on June 6 to serve as a state trial court judge of the Fifth Circuit Court.

Gov. Tate Reeves appointed Judge Ross, 65, to the vacancy created by the April 19 death of Circuit Judge George M. Mitchell Jr. of Eupora. Judge Ross’s term will expire on Jan. 2, 2023. Judge Ross is not a candidate in the Nov. 8 general election.

Circuit Judge Joseph Loper administered the oath of office to Judge Ross at the Webster County Courthouse in Walthall.

It is Judge Ross’s second time to serve on the Fifth Circuit trial court, which includes Attala, Carroll, Choctaw, Grenada, Montgomery, Webster and Winston counties. Gov. Kirk Fordice appointed Judge Ross to a vacancy on the court in October 1993. He served through December 1994.

Judge Ross said, “It’s an honor to rejoin the Court.” He said that he looks forward to the opportunity “to serve the people of Mississippi in a role that is very important, requiring judicial insight and temperament and legal acumen. I hope that I can offer that to the folks of the Fifth District.”

Judge Loper said, “I appreciate Judge Ross’s willingness to come back and help. I look forward to working closely with him to keep the docket current.”

Judge Ross resigned as Webster County Attorney to accept the judgeship. He previously served as Mayor of Eupora 1997-2001. He served as Senior Counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division 2008-2009 during the administration of President George W. Bush. He also previously served for almost four years as an assistant district attorney in the state’s Fifth Circuit District.

He is a native of Eupora and a fifth generation resident of Webster County. He attended Webster County public schools. He earned a degree in business from the University of Mississippi, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law. He served as a law clerk for Judge J. P. Coleman when Judge Coleman was on senior status with the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

He served as a U.S. Navy JAG Corps officer on active duty 1984-1987, then in the U.S. Naval Reserve, retiring at the rank of Commander in 2005.

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