News

Circuit Judge Kelly Luther to take oath Jan. 6 in Ripley
December 31, 2014

Newly elected Third District Circuit Judge Kelly Luther will take the oath of office in a ceremony at 2 p.m. Jan. 6 at the Tippah County Courthouse in Ripley.

Swearing in ceremony for Hinds County judges is Jan. 5
December 22, 2014

Newly elected Hinds County Court Judge LaRita Cooper-Stokes and 10 incumbent Hinds County judges will take the oath of office on Jan. 5. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. in Courtroom No. 1 of the Hinds County Courthouse in Jackson.

Judge Dal Williamson to take oath Dec. 29 in Laurel
December 22, 2014

Newly elected Jones County Circuit Court Judge Dal Williamson will take the oath of office in a ceremony at 10 a.m. Dec. 29 at the Jones County Courthouse in Laurel. The ceremony will be held in the second floor courtroom.

Judge Carol White-Richard to take oath Dec. 29 in Indianola
December 22, 2014

Newly elected Fourth District Circuit Judge Carol L. White-Richard will take the oath of office in a ceremony at 10 a.m. Dec. 29 at the Sunflower County Courthouse in Indianola. The ceremony will be held in the second floor Circuit Court courtroom.

Judge Gerald Martin to take oath Dec. 23 in Raleigh
December 17, 2014

Newly elected 13th District Chancery Judge Gerald M. Martin will take the oath of office in a ceremony at 2 p.m. Dec. 23 at the Chancery Court Building in Raleigh.

Retired Chancellor Ray H. Montgomery died Dec. 14, 2014
December 15, 2014

Retired Chancery Judge Ray H. Montgomery, 79, of Canton, died Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, after a brief illness

Hinds Drug Court graduation to honor longtime coordinator
December 15, 2014

The Hinds County Circuit Drug Court will honor longtime Drug Court Coordinator Brenda Mathis during a graduation ceremony scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, in Courtroom No. 1 on the second floor of the Hinds County Courthouse in Jackson.

Court language interpreter seminar set for Jan. 7-8 in Jackson
December 9, 2014

The Mississippi Administrative Office of Courts will conduct a seminar to introduce bilingual speakers to the requirements for court interpreting on Jan. 7-8, 2015, in Jackson.

Office of Drug Court Compliance begins operation
October 20, 2014

A veteran law enforcement officer will lead the newly created Office of Drug Court Compliance.

Country star Jeff Bates to speak to Drug Court graduation Oct. 21 in Hernando
October 8, 2014

Country music star Jeff Bates on Oct. 21 will tell his story of drug addiction and recovery at the 17th Circuit Drug Court graduation in Hernando. The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. in the main courtroom of the DeSoto County Courthouse at 2535 Highway 51.

Volunteer Lawyers Project recognizes work in legal aid to the poor
September 23, 2014

Former Gov. William F. Winter will be the keynote speaker at the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project Pro Bono Awards Dinner Sept. 25. The dinner begins at 7 p.m. at Gallery 119, at 119 South President Street in Jackson. A reception begins at 6 p.m.

Court language interpreter seminar set for Oct. 9-10 in Tupelo
September 15, 2014

The Mississippi Administrative Office of Courts is seeking bilingual speakers to act as interpreters in state court proceedings.

Court of Appeals to visit Pearl River Community College, USM and MSU
September 8, 2014

The Mississippi Court of Appeals will begin its fall schedule of college campus visits when it convenes on the campus of Pearl River Community College on Sept. 24. A three-judge panel will hear oral arguments in a criminal case at 1:30 p.m. at the Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts on the Poplarville campus.

Country star Jeff Bates to speak to Drug Court conference in Natchez Aug. 21
August 19, 2014

Country music star Jeff Bates on Aug. 21 will tell a Natchez audience how landing in jail on drug charges helped him break out of his methamphetamine addiction.

Legal Services 40-year anniversary honors leadership, raises funds
August 15, 2014

Two weeks before he resigned the presidency, Richard M. Nixon signed the Legal Services Act that funds civil legal assistance for the poor.

Aug. 13 law student orientation to emphasize ethics, professionalism
August 12, 2014

Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. will emphasize ethics and professionalism in his Aug. 13 address to law students entering Mississippi College School of Law.

Judge John Gargiulo becomes federal magistrate; Judge Michael Ward appointed as interim Circuit Judge
August 1, 2014

Judge John C. Gargiulo resigned from the Second Circuit Court bench today to accept appointment as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi.

Justice Leslie King to be honored
June 23, 2014

Justice Leslie D. King of Greenville is this year’s recipient of the Chief Justice Award. Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. will present the award on June 27 at the Mississippi Bar Convention in Sandestin, Fla.

Supreme Court Clerk Kathy Gillis to retire; Court appoints Muriel B. Ellis as new clerk
June 18, 2014

Mississippi Supreme Court Clerk Kathy Gillis will retire June 30 after 33 years of service to the court.

June 19 public forum to focus on jury service in Bolivar County
June 13, 2014

A public forum on jury service is scheduled for 6 p.m. June 19 at the Bolivar County Courthouse in Cleveland. The public is invited.

Oktibbeha Chancery Court latest to adopt e-filing
June 11, 2014

The Chancery Court of Oktibbeha County will begin accepting voluntary electronic filing on July 1, and is expected to move to mandatory e-filing Aug. 1.

Retired Circuit Judge William F. Coleman, 84, died May 31
June 2, 2014

Retired Circuit Judge William F. Coleman, 84, died May 31 at his Madison home, surrounded by his family. A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, June 8, at the Jackson Yacht Club.

USM Gulf Coast Campus to host court language interpreter seminar June 19-20
May 30, 2014

The Mississippi Administrative Office of Courts is seeking bilingual speakers to act as interpreters in state court proceedings.

Justice Dickinson to talk to Congressional subcommittee about civil legal needs of the poor
May 20, 2014

Supreme Court Presiding Justice Jess Dickinson will talk about civil legal assistance needs of the poor during a briefing before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Commerce Committee at noon Wednesday (1 p.m. Eastern), May 21.

New members appointed to Access to Justice Commission
May 15, 2014

Chancellor Jacqueline Mask of Tupelo was recently appointed to the Access to Justice Commission.

Judge Brewer teaches at National Judicial College
May 13, 2014

Chancery Judge Cynthia Brewer of Madison County recently served as an instructor at the National Judicial College, teaching new judges about handling cases involving self-represented litigants.

Judicial conferences elect officers
May 12, 2014

The Conferences of Chancery, Circuit and County Court Judges elected officers April 24 during the Trial and Appellate Judges Conference in Biloxi.

Chief Judge Joseph Lee Honored by William Carey University
May 12, 2014

Mississippi Court of Appeals Chief Judge L. Joseph Lee was recently inducted into the William Carey University Hall of Fame.

Rankin Circuit and Lowndes Chancery courts implement e-filing
May 7, 2014

Rankin County Court and Circuit Court began voluntary e-filing May 1, and will implement mandatory e-filing June 1. E-filing implementation in Rankin County will make e-filing available in all state trial courts in all three counties of the Jackson metro area.

Judge Margaret Carey-McCray named Bar Foundation Fellow
April 30, 2014

Circuit Judge Margaret Carey-McCray of Greenville was inducted as a Fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation on April 17. Judge Carey-McCray was among 16 inductees recognized at a dinner ceremony at the Old Capitol Inn in Jackson.

Drug Court graduates to hear Andy Taggart’s tragic loss
April 11, 2014

Madison County attorney Andy Taggart and his wife Karen have turned their personal anguish at the suicide of their son Brad into a mission to reach others before drugs drag them down the same path.

Rankin County Project Impact Youth Leadership graduation is March 28
March 26, 2014

Five Rankin County teens who landed in Youth Court last year will soon graduate from a youth leadership program. Rankin County Project Impact Youth Leadership graduates will be honored at a ceremony and reception at 10 a.m. March 28 at the Juvenile Justice Center, 100 Court Cove in Pelahatchie.

19th Circuit Drug Court to hold graduation Feb. 25 in Pascagoula
February 21, 2014

Two Gulf Coast Drug Court graduates will talk about their long road to recovery during a ceremony at 1 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Old Jackson County Courthouse on Magnolia Street in Pascagoula. The ceremony will be in the old Circuit Court courtroom.

Third Circuit Drug Court to hold graduation Feb. 11 in Oxford
February 5, 2014

Retired Mississippi Supreme Court Presiding Justice George C. Carlson Jr. of Batesville will be the guest speaker at the Third Circuit Drug Court graduation ceremony scheduled for 2 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Lafayette County Courthouse in Oxford. The ceremony will be in the main courtroom.

Lauderdale County Chancery Court begins e-filing
February 5, 2014

Lauderdale County Chancery Court began accepting voluntary e-filing of court documents on Feb. 3. E-filing will become mandatory on March 3, according to an order signed by Chancellors Jerry Mason and Lawrence Primeaux.

South Mississippi attorneys to hear e-filing presentations Jan. 13 and 14
January 7, 2014

Chancery Courts in Forrest, Lamar, Marion, Pearl River and Perry counties are expected to begin using electronic filing of court records in early 2014.

Court language interpreter seminar set for January 9-10
January 6, 2014

The Mississippi Administrative Office of Courts will conduct an Ethics and Skill Building Seminar for individuals interested in becoming court interpreters on January 9-10 at the Gartin Justice Building, 450 High Street in Jackson. Seminar presentations are scheduled 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the first floor training room.