State of Mississippi Judiciary

Increased education requirements and non-partisan elections are among recommendations of a task force studying the Mississippi Justice Court system.

The Task Force enthusiastically accepted the legislative charge in Senate Bill 2567. The Task Force held numerous meetings and conducted nine public hearings throughout the State. As Chairman, I encouraged the members of the Task Force to separately address the mandated issues honestly, fairly and with the best interest of this State’s citizens in mind. The members were admonished to avoid self-serving, personal or partisan considerations. I am pleased to report that the final recommendations reflect that the Task Force admirably set aside regional, political, personal and sometimes competing interests in reaching unanimous consent regarding all recommendations, without dissent.

Harrison County Chancery Court will celebrate a special Adoption Day on Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Harrison County Courthouse in Gulfport. November is National Adoption Month.

The Mississippi Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments at the Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson on November 13 as part of the court’s commitment to education.

Attorney James D. Shannon of Hazlehurst has been appointed to the Mississippi Ethics Commission.

Attorney Michael R. Cooper of Madison has been appointed to the Mississippi Ethics Commission.

Members of the Mississippi Supreme Court will deliver checks totaling $193,000 on Monday, Oct. 29, to civil legal assistance programs which help poor people seek access to justice.

Lawyers who do not actively practice but are licensed members of the Mississippi Bar and attorneys licensed in other states may do free legal work for the poor under a rule amendment adopted by the Mississippi Supreme Court on Oct. 18.

The Rankin County Youth Drug Court will celebrate it’s first graduation on Monday, Oct. 22, at 4 p.m. at the Rankin County Justice Center, 301 East Government Street in downtown Brandon. The program will be in the County Courtroom on the first floor.

The Justice Court Task Force will hold public hearings at the Hinds County Courthouse in Jackson on Tuesday, Sept. 25. The hearings will be on the second floor.

Hillary Cockrell eyed a trail of blue flags across a satellite image and a series of street addresses printed across her computer screen.

Mississippi Supreme Court Justice James E. Graves Jr. will be a guest instructor at Harvard Law School Sept. 17-21.

The Justice Court Task Force will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 5, at 10 a.m. on the Fourth Floor of the Gartin Justice Building in Jackson.

The Mississippi Supreme Court has appointed a second special judge to assist the Seventh Circuit Court of Hinds County with its criminal docket.

Nine public hearings have been scheduled across the state in September and October to discuss Mississippi’s Justice Court system. The Task Force studying the Justice Court system will use information gathered at the hearings when it makes a report to the Mississippi Legislature Dec. 1.

Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Jess H. Dickinson has been appointed to the American Judicature Society’s National Advisory Council.

A Task Force created to study Mississippi’s Justice Court system will meet Tuesday, Aug. 21, at 10 a.m. on the Fourth Floor of the Gartin Justice Building in Jackson.

Judges at the investiture ceremony of Supreme Court Justice Ann Hannaford Lamar in Senatobia on Thursday, Aug. 16, called her a smart, strong-willed and hard-working judge whose experience makes her well suited to serve on the state’s highest court.

An investiture ceremony for Supreme Court Justice Ann Hannaford Lamar is scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, in her hometown of Senatobia. The ceremony will be held at the Tate County Courthouse at 201 Ward St.

When graduation rolls around on Monday in Greenville, two of the nine people completing the Fourth Circuit Drug Court Program can attest that their journey to being drug free was no easy path in more ways than one.

A Task Force created to study and suggest improvements for Mississippi’s Justice system will schedule six or more public hearings across the state later this year. Specific dates and locations will be announced later.

Members of the Mississippi Supreme Court will deliver checks totaling $251,663 on Monday, July 30, and Tuesday, July 31, to programs which provide civil legal assistance to poor people.

A University of Southern Mississippi organization established to promote interest in careers in the legal profession has honored Mississippi Court of Appeals Judge L. Joseph Lee as the recipient of the 2007 Distinguished Public Servant Award.

Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Michael K. Randolph will be the keynote speaker Tuesday, July 17, in Natchez at a graduation ceremony for the Sixth Judicial Circuit Adult Drug Court. The ceremony is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Natchez Convention Center at 211 Main Street.

State Drug Court Coordinator Joseph Craft of Clinton and Supreme Court Information Technology Department Director Michael Jones of Brandon are the recipients of the 2007 Chief Justice Awards.

Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Ann Hannaford Lamar took the oath of office Monday, May 21.

Justices of the Mississippi Supreme Court praised newly appointed Justice Ann Hannaford Lamar for her extensive trial court experience, sound judgment and fairness.

Two leaders in the national drug court movement are the opening speakers Wednesday, May 9, in Jackson for the Third Annual Mississippi Association of Drug Court Professionals Training Conference. The conference will continue through May 11 at the downtown Marriott Hotel on Amite Street.

Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice James W. Smith Jr. will be among the speakers at the observance of National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 3, in Washington, D.C.

Retiring Mississippi Supreme Court Presiding Justice Kay B. Cobb on Friday called her path to the court unintended and unexpected.

Chancery Judge Margaret Alfonso of Gulfport will share her experiences from Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath during a judicial disaster preparedness program at the National Association of Women Judges Regional Conference April 28 in Miami Beach, Fla.

Mississippi Court of Appeals Judge Donna M. Barnes will be honored at the National Association of Women Judges Regional Conference April 28 at the Savoy Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla.

Mississippi Supreme Court Justice James E. Graves Jr. of Jackson and Court of Appeals Judge Donna M. Barnes of Tupelo were among 15 lawyers inducted Thursday, April 12, as Fellows of the Mississippi Bar Foundation.

A panel of judges of the Mississippi Court of Appeals will convene court in Oxford at the University of Mississippi School of Law on April 17.

Members of the Mississippi Supreme Court will deliver checks totaling $280,000 on Monday, March 19, to programs which provide civil legal assistance to poor people.

Mississippi Supreme Court Presiding Justice Kay B. Cobb announced today that she will retire, effective May 1, 2007.

The Mississippi Supreme Court has called for a series of regional public discussions about the need for civil legal services for the poor.

The Mississippi Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg on March 7 as part of the court’s commitment to education.

The Mississippi Access to Justice Commission will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at the Mississippi Bar Center at 643 North State Street in Jackson.

The Hinds County Courthouse was open late Tuesday, with Drug Court programs running simultaneously on two floors.

Court of Appeals Judge Virginia Carlton at her investiture ceremony on Monday, Jan. 29, pledged to be a guardian of justice.

An investiture ceremony for Judge Virginia Carlton, the newest member of the Mississippi Court of Appeals, is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Jan. 29 in the Old Supreme Court Chambers at the Capitol in Jackson.

The Mississippi Supreme Court today announced appointments to three entities which work to improve the administration of justice.

Mississippi Supreme Court Justice James E. Graves Jr. will speak on Jan. 15 at the Newton County Courthouse in Decatur during a ceremony honoring the life of Newton County native Medgar Evers.

The Eighth Circuit Drug Court on Jan. 16 will recognize the accomplishments of eight people who are advancing to the final phase of the program. The ceremony is scheduled for 3 p.m. in the second floor courtroom of the Leake County Courthouse in Carthage.

Judge Leslie D. King of Greenville took the oath of office Jan. 2 as Chief Judge of the Mississippi Court of Appeals.

Court of Appeals Judge Virginia Carlton took the oath of office on Monday, Jan. 2. Court of Appeals Chief Judge Leslie D. King administered the oath of office in the court’s En Banc Room.