News

Investiture for Judge Taylor is Friday, March 11

March 8, 2005

A formal investiture ceremony for Circuit Judge Michael Taylor is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, March 11, at the Lincoln County Courthouse in Brookhaven. The ceremony will be in the second floor courtroom.

Supreme Court Justice George C. Carlson Jr. of Batesville will administer the oath of office and make remarks. Circuit Judge Mike Smith of McComb, senior judge of the 14th Circuit Court District, and 15th District Chancery Judge Ed Patten of Hazlehurst will also speak at the ceremony.

Gov. Haley Barbour on Feb. 3 appointed Judge Taylor to a vacancy on the 14th Circuit Court of Lincoln, Pike and Walthall counties. Judge Taylor took the position formerly held by Judge Keith Starrett, who was appointed to a federal judgeship. Judge Taylor’s term expires at the end of December 2006.

Circuit Judge Mike Smith administered the oath of office on Feb. 4 so that Judge Taylor could begin hearing cases. It is traditional to repeat the oath later during a formal investiture ceremony.

While he was in law school, Judge Taylor served as a summer law clerk for Justice Carlson. Justice Carlson at the time was a 17th District Circuit Court judge. Judge Taylor, who graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1987, also served as a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Michael Sullivan for a year after graduation.

Judge Taylor, 41, of Brookhaven, previously served by appointment for 10 years as Youth Court referee for Lincoln County. He presided over all Youth Court matters.

He practiced law in Brookhaven for the past 15 years, handling mostly civil cases. He previously practiced law for a year in Poplarville and for two years on the Gulf Coast.

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