Administrative Office of Courts
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Special Judge appointed to 10th District Circuit Court September 11, 2017 The Mississippi Supreme Court on Monday, Sept. 11, appointed retired Court of Appeals Judge Larry E. Roberts to serve temporarily as a special circuit judge of the 10th Circuit Court District after the sudden death of Circuit Judge Justin Cobb. 
Circuit Judge Lester F. Williamson Jr. requested that a special judge be appointed to help handle crowded dockets. Judge Roberts’ appointment is for Sept. 18 through Oct. 31, according to the order signed by Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. The order is at this link: https://courts.ms.gov/appellatecourts/docket/sendPDF.php?f=700_333563.pdf&c=76232&a=N&s=2. Gov. Phil Bryant is expected to appoint someone later to fill the judicial vacancy. Judge Cobb collapsed while jogging on Saturday, Sept. 9, and died at Rush Foundation Hospital in Meridian. It was his 43rd birthday. Funeral services for Judge Cobb will be held Tuesday, Sept. 12, at First Baptist Church in Meridian. Visitation is at 9 a.m. and the funeral is at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens for family only. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home in Meridian is in charge of arrangements. Gov. Bryant appointed Judge Cobb to the 10th Circuit Court on July 1, 2015. Judge Cobb was elected in a November 2016 special election and began a new term in January 2017. Judge Roberts, of Meridian, retired from the Mississippi Court of Appeals on June 30, 2015, after nine and a half years as an appellate judge. He previously served for 19 years as a Circuit Judge of the 10th Circuit District that includes Clarke, Kemper, Lauderdale and Wayne counties, and eight years as a Lauderdale County Court judge. He continues to serve as a senior status judge, taking cases by appointment of the Supreme Court. #### |
