Administrative Office of Courts
Judge Lumpkin to take oath of office January 6 Newly elected Pearl River County Court Judge Richelle Lumpkin will be sworn in at an investiture ceremony at 11 a.m. Jan. 6, 2011, at the Pearl River County Courthouse in Poplarville. Senior Circuit Judge Prentiss Harrell will administer the oath of office. Retiring Senior Chancery Judge Sebe Dale Jr. will speak. The judgeship which Lumpkin will fill is a newly created position and a newly created court for Pearl River County. The 2010 Legislature authorized the creation of a County Court for Pearl River County with the adoption of Senate Bill 2815 to relieve a crowded Circuit Court and Youth Court docket. State law allows creation of a County Court in counties with a population of more than 50,000 people. Pearl River County is the 21st county to create a County Court. The judgeship is a four-year term. County Courts hear Youth Court matters and eminent domain proceedings. County Courts share jurisdiction with Circuit and Chancery Courts in some civil matters. The civil jurisdictional limit of County Courts is up to $200,000. A County Court judge may preside over initial appearances and preliminary hearings in felony criminal matters, and may handle non-capital felony cases transferred from Circuit Court. The County Court also may hear misdemeanor criminal matters. Judge Lumpkin in her new role as County Court judge will continue to perform some of the duties she previously handled as Pearl River County Youth Court Referee. She has served by appointment of the Chancery Court as Youth Court Referee for the past eight years. She also served as Municipal Judge for the City of Picayune for the past four years. She previously served for eight years as Pearl River County prosecutor. She is a former member of the Mississippi Board of Bar Commissioners. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Southern Mississippi and a law degree from Mississippi College School of Law. She lives in Carriere. She is a member of Serenity Baptist Church in Poplarville. She is married to Wendell Lumpkin. They have two children. #### |
