Administrative Office of Courts
Chancellor Studdard to take oath Jan. 2 in Columbus December 20, 2018 New 14th District Chancellor Joseph N. Studdard will take the oath of office Jan. 2 at 11 a.m. at the Lowndes County Courthouse in Columbus. Lowndes County Circuit Clerk Teresa Barksdale will give the oath of office. Judge Studdard will take the position previously held by Chancellor Jim Davidson, who will retire Dec. 31. Judge Davidson has served since January 2007. Judge Studdard, 56, has practiced law for 31 years in all courts. He served as president of the Columbus Kiwanis Club and the New Hope Exchange Club and on the boards of the Lowndes County Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Frank P. Phillips YMCA. He served as an elder, Sunday School teacher and youth director at Beersheba Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where he is a lifelong member. He is a graduate of new Hope High School. He attended East Mississippi Community College. He is a graduate of Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi School of Law. Across the state, 42 new judges will take their oaths of office in ceremonies scheduled during the next three weeks. New judges include three new Court of Appeals judges, 20 new Chancery Court judges, nine new Circuit Court judges and 10 new County Court judges. New judicial terms begin on Jan. 1, 2019. A list of investiture ceremonies around the state is at this link: https://courts.ms.gov/Ceremonies.php. #### |
