Administrative Office of Courts
Judge Claiborne “Buddy” McDonald investiture set for January 8 in Poplarville An investiture ceremony for new Circuit Court Judge Claiborne “Buddy” McDonald is scheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 8 at the Pearl River County Courthouse in Poplarville. The ceremony will be held in the second floor courtroom. Court of Appeals Judge Virginia Carlton will administer the oath. Mississippi Supreme Court Presiding Justice Michael Randolph will speak. Judge McDonald, of Picayune, was elected without opposition in November 2015 to a new judgeship in the Fifteenth Circuit Court District. The 2015 Legislature added a third judgeship in the district that includes Jefferson Davis, Lamar, Lawrence, Marion and Pearl River counties. Seven new judgeships were added statewide. Other new circuit judgeships were added in the Twelfth, Thirteenth and Twentieth circuit districts. New chancery judgeships were created in the Fourth, Eleventh and Twentieth chancery court districts. Judge McDonald previously served for seven years as district attorney for the Fifteenth District, and 16 years as an assistant district attorney. He also previously served as a county prosecuting attorney, and as municipal judge in Picayune. He returned to private law practice in 2007. He is a graduate of Mississippi State University and the University of Alabama School of Law. #### |
