Administrative Office of Courts
Investiture of Justice Chamberlin set for January 8 in Hernando An investiture ceremony for Supreme Court Justice Robert P. Chamberlin is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 8, at 1:30 p.m. at the DeSoto County Courthouse, 2535 Highway 51 South in Hernando. The ceremony will be held in the second floor courtroom where Chamberlin presided as a circuit judge for 12 years. Justice Chamberlin, 51, of Hernando, took the oath of office at the Supreme Court in Jackson on Jan. 3. It is traditional to hold a formal investiture ceremony later. DeSoto County Sheriff Bill Rasco will open the ceremony. Chancellor Percy Lynchard will give the welcome. Rev. David Cox, pastor of Hernando United Methodist Church, will give the invocation. Eagle Scout Will Bush will lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. will administer the ceremonial oath. Justice Chamberlin’s son William Chamberlin will assist with the enrobing. Dr. Bartholomew Orr, pastor of Brown Missionary Baptist Church, will give the benediction. Guest speakers include retired Supreme Court Justice George C. Carlson Jr. of Batesville, retired Supreme Court Justice Ann H. Lamar of Senatobia, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, and attorney William H. Austin Jr. of Southaven, with whom Justice Chamberlin practiced law early in his career. Justice Chamberlin is the third former 17th Circuit judge to serve on the Supreme Court in recent years. Justice Carlson served on the Supreme Court from November 2001 through December 2012. Justice Lamar was appointed to the Supreme Court in May 2007. Justice Chamberlin took her place after she retired December 31. The 17th Circuit District includes DeSoto, Panola, Tallahatchie, Tate and Yalobusha counties. Justice Chamberlin co-founded the 17th Circuit Drug Court with Justice Lamar in 2006. He also served as chairman and vice-chairman of the Conference of Circuit Judges. Chief Justice Waller today appointed Justice Chamberlin to the Board of Governors of the Mississippi Judicial College. Justice Lamar previously served as chair of the Board of Governors. The Judicial College trains and provides continuing legal education for judges and court staff throughout the state. Justice Chamberlin previously served as a state senator for five years, representing Senate District 1 of DeSoto County. He was vice-chairman of the Universities and Colleges Committee from 2000 to 2003 and was chairman of the Elections Committee in 2004. The Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Association honored him as Legislator of the Year in 2003. He served as a municipal judge in Hernando for eight years, starting in 1991, a year after he was admitted to the bar. He served as municipal prosecutor for the City of Horn Lake in 1992. He also served as a Special Master in Chancery Court. He was in private law practice for 14 years, and served as attorney for the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors for four years. He is a member of the American Inns of Court. Justice Chamberlin grew up in Hernando. He graduated from Hernando High School and attended Northwest Community College. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a law degree from the University of Mississippi. He is married to the former Kim White. They have one son, William. They attend the United Methodist Church in Hernando. #### |
