State of Mississippi Judiciary

Supreme Court Justice Kenny Griffis of Ridgeland was appointed on Jan. 14 to the Board of Governors of the Mississippi Judicial College.

Improvements to the Youth Court system are again before the Mississippi Legislature, and representatives of the judiciary and many professional disciplines committed to the well-being of children were at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 20, to discuss proposed legislation.

January 20 will be Youth Court Day at the Mississippi Capitol, with public officials, service providers and others who champion the well-being of children available to discuss proposed reforms to the child welfare system from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Second Floor Rotunda.

The Mississippi Supreme Court recently appointed Supreme Court Justice Jenifer Branning of Philadelphia and Court Improvement Program Director Vicki Lowery of Jackson as co-chairs of a task force that will make recommendations to strengthen and improve court processes for children and families.

Chancellor Debra M. Giles of Greenville has been awarded a fellowship from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation in a program designed to help community leaders grow so that they can lead transformational change on behalf of children, families and communities.

Former Presiding Justice Charles R. “Chuck” McRae, surrounded by his family, presented his portrait to the Mississippi Supreme Court during a crowded ceremony on Jan. 5.

Former Justice Charles R. “Chuck” McRae will present his portrait to the Mississippi Supreme Court on Jan. 5, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. during a ceremony at the Supreme Court in Jackson.

Retired Chancellor Vettra Glenn Alderson Sr. of Oxford died on Dec. 12 at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi. He was 85.

Eleven people are expected to graduate from the Hinds Circuit Drug Intervention Court during a ceremony scheduled for 6 p.m. on Dec. 16. The ceremony will be held in Courtroom No. 1 on the second floor of the Hinds County Courthouse at 407 East Pascagoula Street in Jackson.

The Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project honored the Mississippi Supreme Court with a Torchbearer Award on Dec. 2 for the Court’s continuing support of the Civil Legal Assistance Fund that promotes access to the courts for low-income people.

The 23rd Circuit Intervention Court recognized nine participants who successfully completed the court’s structured rehabilitation and monitoring program at a graduation ceremony on Nov. 24 at the Copiah County Courthouse in Hazlehurst.

Retired Chancellor M. Glenn Barlow of Pascagoula died on Nov. 15. He was 86.

Chancellor Bennie L. Richard of Greenville was recently elected chair of the Conference of Chancery Court Judges. Chancellor Tiffany Grove of Raymond was elected vice-chair, and Chancellor Larry Little of Oxford was re-elected secretary-treasurer. Chancellor Troy Odom of Brandon is immediate past chairman of the Conference.

The Mississippi Court of Appeals will convene on the campus of Mississippi State University on Nov. 13 to hear appeals in two cases. Oral arguments will begin at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. in the Mill Conference Center, Ballroom M, 600 Russell Street in Starkville.

Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Randolph told new law students that determination and education matter more than finances and family history in pursuit of a career in law.