Administrative Office of Courts
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Bolivar County Court Judge Aelicia Thomas to take oath Dec. 30 December 16, 2022 An investiture ceremony for new Bolivar County Court Judge Aelicia L. Thomas will be held Dec. 30 at 10 a.m. at the Bolivar County Courthouse in Cleveland. 
Circuit Judge Margaret Carey-McCray will administer the oath of office. Guest speakers will include Chancellor Bennie Richard, Circuit Judge Linda F. Coleman, Senior Status and former Circuit Judge Betty Sanders, Circuit Judge-elect W. Hunter Nowell and Justice Court Judge Betty Taylor. Judge-elect Thomas, 51, of Rosedale, was elected Nov. 8. She will serve as County Court and Youth Court Judge for Bolivar County. She will take the position previously held by Judge Nowell, who served for eight and one-half years as Bolivar County Court Judge. Judge Nowell was recently elected as Circuit Judge of the Eleventh Circuit Court. Judge-elect Thomas served as Mayor of Rosedale and as Bolivar County Prosecuting Attorney. She said, “I am proud to be the first African American woman to ever hold these positions. Serving in these roles has taught me how to see government through many lenses and these experiences will assist me with bringing wisdom, integrity and compassion to the bench.” She served as Chair of the Board of Directors for Bolivar County Community Action Agency. She is a member and minister of Changing Your World Ministries in Rosedale. She is co-founder and Executive Director of the non-profit I Believe Project. She is co-owner of A & A Realty. She is a member of the Mississippi Bar, Bolivar County Bar Association and Magnolia Bar Association. She was a member of the National Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the Mississippi Prosecutors Association, where she served on the legislative committee. She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and the Order of Eastern Star. She grew up in Maben. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alcorn State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law. She has one son. #### |
