News

Justice Graves to speak at ceremony commemorating Medgar Evers

January 10, 2007

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.

A marker commemorating the life of Medgar Evers will be dedicated on the courthouse lawn during the ceremony, which will begin at 11 a.m.

Justice Graves has been a member of the Mississippi Supreme Court since Nov. 1, 2001. He previously served for 10 years as a circuit court judge for the 7th Circuit District.

Justice Graves received a B.A. degree in sociology from Millsaps College. He received his law degree from Syracuse University College of Law. He also holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.

He worked as a staff attorney at Central Mississippi Legal Services and as a special assistant attorney general. He headed the Human Services Division of the attorney general's office, where he served as chief legal counsel to the Mississippi Department of Human Services. He later was director of the Division of Child Support Enforcement of the Mississippi Department of Human Services.

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