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Investiture of Justice Lamar is set for Aug. 16 in Senatobia
August 1, 2007

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.

Gov. Haley Barbour will be the keynote speaker. Charlie Williams, the Governor’s chief of staff, will be the master of ceremonies. Circuit Judge Andrew C. Baker will also speak. Supreme Court Chief Justice James W. Smith Jr. will administer the ceremonial oath of office.

Justice Lamar took the oath of office May 21 before members of the Supreme Court in Jackson. It is traditional to have a formal investiture ceremony, including a ceremonial administering of the oath, at a later time.

The public is invited.

Justice Lamar said, “It is an honor and a privilege to serve on the Mississippi Supreme Court. I am excited about the opportunities and the challenges of this new position. I am particularly excited about sharing this experience with friends and colleagues in my home district through this investiture ceremony.”

Gov. Barbour named Justice Lamar, 54, to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court. She took the position previously held by Presiding Justice Kay B. Cobb of Oxford, who retired May 1. Justice Lamar will serve out the unexpired term, which ends in January 2009.

Justice Lamar is the third woman to serve on the Mississippi Supreme Court.

Justice Lamar served five and a half years as a circuit judge from the 17th Circuit Court, which is made up of DeSoto, Panola, Tallahatchie, Tate and Yalobusha counties. She served for a year and 10 months as district attorney. She was an assistant district attorney from August 1987 to January 1993 and from January 1996 to December 1999.

Justice Lamar earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Delta State University in 1974. She earned a law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1982.

She is the daughter of former Chancery Judge Leon Hannaford of Senatobia.

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