Administrative Office of Courts
Judge Griffis to be sworn in as Court of Appeals Chief Judge Jan. 2; Judges Barnes and Carlton to take oaths as Presiding Judges December 27, 2018 Judge T. Kenneth Griffis Jr. will take the oath of Chief Judge of the Mississippi Court of Appeals Jan. 2 at 11 a.m. in the Court of Appeals Courtroom at the Mississippi Supreme Court in Jackson. Judge Griffis has named Court of Appeals Judges Donna M. Barnes and Virginia C. Carlton to serve as Presiding Judges of the Court of Appeals. They will take their oaths immediately after Judge Griffis is sworn in as Chief Judge. |
Judge Deborah McDonald, Judge Tomika Irving to take oath Dec. 27 in Fayette December 21, 2018 An investiture ceremony for Mississippi Court of Appeals Judge Deborah McDonald and Circuit Judge Tomika H. Irving will be held Dec. 27 at 9 a.m. at the Jefferson County High School Auditorium in Fayette. |
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. |
Chancellor Robert Logan to take oath Jan. 4 in Decatur December 20, 2018 An investiture ceremony for new Chancellor Robert Logan will be held Jan. 4 at 3 p.m. at the Newton County Courthouse in Decatur. |
Lowndes County Court Judge Kizer to take oath Jan. 2 in Columbus December 20, 2018 An investiture ceremony for new Lowndes County Court Judge Allison Pritchard Kizer will be held Jan. 2 at 9 a.m. at the Lowndes County Courthouse in Columbus. |
Circuit Judge Tomika Irving to take oath Dec. 27 in Fayette December 20, 2018 An investiture ceremony for new Circuit Judge Tomika H. Irving will be held Dec. 27 at 9 a.m. at Jefferson County High School in Fayette. |
Chancellor Charles Smith to take oath Jan. 2 in Meridian December 20, 2018 An investiture ceremony for new Chancellor Charles E. (Charlie) Smith will be held Jan. 2 at 9 a.m. in Lauderdale County Chancery Court in Meridian. |
Chancellor Kiley Kirk to take oath Jan. 2 in Louisville December 20, 2018 An investiture ceremony for new 6th District Chancellor Kiley Kirk will be held Jan. 2 at 10:30 a.m. at the Winston County Courthouse in Louisville. |
Chancellor Bennie Richard to take oath Dec. 28 in Greenville December 19, 2018 An investiture ceremony for new 9th District Chancellor Bennie L. Richard will be held Dec. 28 at 10:30 a.m. in the Circuit Courtroom of the Washington County Courthouse, 900 South Washington Avenue in Greenville. |
Chancellor Willie Perkins to take oath Dec. 28 in Greenwood December 19, 2018 An investiture ceremony for new 7th District Chancellor Willie J. Perkins Sr. will be held Dec. 28 at 10 a.m. at the Leflore County Courthouse in Greenwood. |
Investitures set for new Chancellors, County Court Judges in Pine Belt December 19, 2018 A judicial investiture ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. in the third floor courtroom at the Forrest County Courthouse, 630 Main Street in Hattiesburg. |
Judge Faver to take oath Jan. 4 in Starkville December 19, 2018 New 14th District Chancellor Rodney P. Faver will take the oath of office Jan. 4 at 11 a.m. at the Oktibbeha County Chancery Courthouse in Starkville. |
Judge Drungole-Ellis to take oath Dec. 28 in Starkville December 19, 2018 New 14th District Chancellor Paula Drungole-Ellis will take the oath of office Dec. 28 at 11 a.m. at the Oktibbeha County Chancery Courthouse in Starkville. |
Chancellor Tennison, Circuit Judge White to take oaths Dec. 28 in Booneville December 18, 2018 An investiture ceremony for new Chancellor Bradley D. Tennison and new Circuit Judge John R. White will be held Dec. 28 at 10 a.m. at Northeast Mississippi Community College, 101 Cunningham Boulevard in Booneville. |
New Chancellors, County Court Judge to take oath Dec. 21 in Pascagoula December 18, 2018 A judicial investiture ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 21 at 10 a.m. in the large circuit courtroom in the old Jackson County Courthouse in Pascagoula. |
Circuit Judge Toni Walker Terrett to take oath Dec. 27 in Vicksburg December 17, 2018 New Ninth District Circuit Judge Toni Walker Terrett will be sworn in Dec. 27 at 3:30 p.m. at the Warren County Courthouse, 1009 Cherry Street in Vicksburg. |
Judicial oath ceremonies scheduled in Madison, Rankin, and Hinds counties December 17, 2018 Judicial oath ceremonies are scheduled for Dec. 18 in Madison County, Dec. 19 in Rankin County, and on Dec. 27 and Jan. 2 in Hinds County. |
11th District Chancellors to take oath December 14 December 12, 2018 Chancellors Cynthia L. Brewer, Robert G. Clark III and James C. Walker will take the oath of office in a ceremony scheduled for Dec. 14 at 9:30 a.m. in Madison County Chancery Court in Canton. |
Guardianships and Conservatorships Commission to meet Dec. 7 December 5, 2018 The Mississippi Commission on Guardianships and Conservatorships is expected to finalize its recommendations for legislation and court rule changes during a meeting that will begin at 10 a.m. Dec. 7 at the Gartin Justice Building in Jackson. |
Training for new judges to begin Dec. 3 November 30, 2018 Judicial training will begin Dec. 3 for the largest group of new state court judges in modern times. |
Three child protection committees to meet Nov. 29 and 30 in Jackson November 28, 2018 Judicially led committees working for the protection of children will meet at the Mississippi Supreme Court in Jackson on November 29 and 30. |
Baria, Teeuwissen elected to leadership of Board of Bar Admissions November 21, 2018 Attorney Marcie Fyke Baria of Bay St. Louis recently became chair of the Board of Bar Admissions. |
Griffis to become next Chief Judge of Mississippi Court of Appeals November 16, 2018 Judge T. Kenneth Griffis, Jr. will become the next Chief Judge of the Mississippi Court of Appeals, Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. announced today. |
Ceremony and portrait unveiling honor Chief Judge Lee’s legacy of service November 16, 2018 Mississippi Court of Appeals Chief Judge L. Joseph Lee was recognized Thursday, Nov. 15, for more than seven years of exemplary leadership of the court and 20 years of public service. |
Retired Judge Mary Libby Payne presents portrait to Court of Appeals November 9, 2018 Retired Court of Appeals Judge Mary Libby Payne, who inspired and mentored several generations of lawyers, presented her portrait to the court in a ceremony on Nov. 8. |
Chief Justice Waller announces he will retire January 31, 2019 November 9, 2018 Chief Justice William L. (Bill) Waller Jr. announced today that he will retire on January 31, 2019. |
Chief Justice makes appointments to Commission on Judicial Performance November 5, 2018 Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. has appointed Col. Silvanus Johnson of Brandon as a lay member of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance. |
Supreme Court makes appointments to Bar Complaint Tribunal November 5, 2018 The Mississippi Supreme Court has made three appointments to the Bar Complaint Tribunal. |
Judge Howorth, Judge Sigalas appointed to Drug Courts Advisory Committee November 5, 2018 Circuit Judge Andrew K. Howorth of Oxford and Jackson County Court Judge Sharon W. Sigalas of Pascagoula have been appointed to the State Drug Courts Advisory Committee. |
Supreme Court makes appointments to Board of Bar Admissions November 5, 2018 The Mississippi Supreme Court has appointed a new member to the Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions and reappointed two members. |
Retired Chancellor Woodrow W. Brand Jr. died Nov. 1 November 5, 2018 Retired Chancellor Woodrow Wilson Brand, Jr. of Houston died at his home on Nov. 1. He was 85. |
Former Court of Appeals Judge James P. Brantley died Oct. 31 November 2, 2018 Former Mississippi Court of Appeals Judge James P. “Jim” Brantley of Madison died Oct. 31 in an accident at his home. He was 80. |
Court of Appeals to visit three college campuses in November November 1, 2018 The Mississippi Court of Appeals will convene on three college campuses in November. Three-judge panels will hear oral arguments at Rust College on Nov. 7, Alcorn State University on Nov. 13, and Mississippi State University on Nov. 14. |
Forrest and Rankin counties to receive Safe Babies Court Team grants November 1, 2018 Youth Courts in Forrest and Rankin counties have been approved for grants of $75,000 each to improve services for infants and toddlers. |
Nov. 15 retirement ceremony to honor Chief Judge Lee October 30, 2018 Chief Judge L. Joseph Lee of the Mississippi Court of Appeals will be honored at a retirement ceremo-ny scheduled for 2 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Gartin Justice Building in Jackson. |
Judge Mary Libby Payne will unveil portrait Nov. 8 October 30, 2018 Retired Mississippi Court of Appeals Judge Mary Libby Payne will present her portrait to the court in a ceremony scheduled for 1 p.m. Nov. 8. |
Conference of Chancery Judges selects officers October 30, 2018 Chancellor Lawrence Primeaux of Meridian was elected chair of Mississippi’s Conference of Chancery Judges on Oct. 25 at the Fall Trial and Appellate Judges Conference in Jackson. |
Mission First Legal Aid honors pro bono volunteers October 26, 2018 Retired Chancellor W. O. “Chet” Dillard of Clinton gave free legal advice to help the poor, and continued his work at Mission First Legal Aid even as illness claimed his voice. |
![]() October 8, 2018 A rogue outfit has sent spam e-mails falsely claiming to come from the Administrative Office of Courts and Mississippi Electronic Courts. |
Court language interpreter seminar scheduled Sept. 19-20 in Jackson September 14, 2018 The Mississippi Administrative Office of Courts will introduce bilingual speakers to the requirements for court interpreting during a seminar scheduled for Sept. 19-20 in Jackson. |
Portrait unveiling celebrates Justice Kay Cobb as trailblazer September 10, 2018 Colleagues and friends celebrated former Justice Kay Cobb’s trail-blazing impact on women in the legal profession as they gathered Sept. 6, 2018, to hang her portrait at the Mississippi Supreme Court. |
1902-1903 Mississippi Bench and Bar Composite donated to Supreme Court September 7, 2018 The Mississippi Supreme Court on Sept. 5, 2018, received for display a historic photo composite of the 1902 and 1903 Mississippi Bench and Bar. |
Guardianship Commission sets Sept. 7 Town Hall meeting in Jackson August 29, 2018 The Mississippi Commission on Guardianships and Conservatorships will conduct a town hall meeting at 10 a.m. Sept. 7 at Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson. |
Justice Kay Cobb’s portrait to be presented to Supreme Court Sept. 6 August 28, 2018 The Mississippi Supreme Court will unveil a portrait of retired Presiding Justice Kay B. Cobb at a 2 p.m. ceremony on Sept. 6 at the Supreme Court Courthouse in Jackson. |
Sentencing Disparity Task Force to meet Aug. 30 in Jackson August 28, 2018 The Sentencing Disparity Task Force will meet at 10 a.m. Aug. 30 in the first floor training room at the Mississippi Supreme Court. |
Judge Henry Lackey died August 17, 2018 August 17, 2018 Retired Circuit Judge Henry Lafayette Lackey died August 17 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Calhoun City. He was 83. |
Reentry Council to meet August 17 August 15, 2018 The Mississippi Reentry Council will meet at 2 p.m. Aug. 17 in the Training Room at the Gartin Justice Building at 450 High Street in Jackson. |
Third District Drug Court graduation set for Aug. 14 in Oxford August 13, 2018 Eleven people are expected to graduate from the Third Judicial District Drug Court during a ceremony scheduled for Aug. 14 at the Lafayette County Courthouse in Oxford. The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. in the main courtroom. |
Indian Child Welfare Act Conference set for August 14 at Choctaw August 9, 2018 The Eighth Annual Indian Child Welfare Act Conference will be held Aug. 14 at the Silver Star Convention Center at Choctaw. |
Sentencing Disparity Task Force to meet July 26 in Jackson July 25, 2018 The Sentencing Disparity Task Force will meet at 10:30 a.m. July 26 at the Mississippi Supreme Court. |
Four reappointed to Board of Certified Court Reporters July 18, 2018 The Mississippi Supreme Court has reappointed four members of the Board of Certified Court Reporters |
Retired Chancellor Donald Patterson died July 10 July 11, 2018 Retired Chancellor Donald B. Patterson of Brookhaven died July 10. He was 87. |
Judge Prentiss Harrell is 2018 recipient of Chief Justice Award July 2, 2018 Circuit Judge Prentiss G. Harrell of Hattiesburg is the recipient of the 2018 Chief Justice Award. |
Rankin County celebrates Family Reunification Day with ceremony and picnic July 2, 2018 Children jumped in a colorful bouncy house, scrambled through an inflatable obstacle course and petted a pair of miniature horses on the grounds of the Rankin County Juvenile Justice Center in Pelahatchie on Friday, June 29. |
Rankin County to celebrate Family Reunification Day at Youth Court June 29 June 28, 2018 The Rankin County Youth Court will celebrate Family Reunification Day June 29 with a ceremony and activities starting at 11 a.m. at the Rankin County Juvenile Justice Center, 100 Court Cove in Pelahatchie. |
Six new members appointed to Access to Justice Commission June 28, 2018 The Mississippi Supreme Court recently appointed six new members to the Access to Justice Commission and reappointed two members. |
Family law clinics set in Copiah, Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties June 22, 2018 Free family law clinics are scheduled in Copiah, Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties in late June and July. |
Supreme Court Clerk Muriel B. Ellis to retire June 30; Court appoints Jeremy Whitmire as new clerk June 12, 2018 Mississippi Supreme Court Clerk Muriel B. Ellis will retire June 30 after more than 27 years of service to the court. |
Hinds County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council formed June 11, 2018 The Hinds County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council has begun work to bring about improvements in the criminal justice system. |
Author to talk about Mississippians’ roles in World War I June 11, 2018 Author Anne Webster will discuss Mississippians’ involvement in World War I during a presentation at the State Law Library in Jackson at 10 a.m. June 22. |
Free family law clinics to be held in Cleveland, Greenwood and Clarksdale May 25, 2018 Free family law clinics will be held in Cleveland, Greenwood and Clarksdale in June as part of a statewide Access to Justice effort to help poor people find legal representation. |
Chief Justice Waller speaks to Jones County Bar Association May 30 May 24, 2018 Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. will be the guest speaker at the Jones County Bar Association meeting at noon May 30 at the Laurel Country Club. |
Chief Justice Waller to speak during Memorial Day program in Batesville May 24, 2018 Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. will speak at 11 a.m. May 28 in Batesville during the Memorial Day program at the Veterans Memorial in the town square. |
30 free family law clinics scheduled in June May 24, 2018 Thirty free family law clinics are scheduled across the state during June, which is Access to Justice Month. |
14th Circuit Drug Court graduation set for May 21 May 18, 2018 Twenty people who have spent at least three years under the supervision of the 14th Circuit Drug Court will graduate on Monday, May 21. |
Judges Hannan, Johnson and Young Graham re-elected to conference leadership May 18, 2018 Madison County Court Judge Ed Hannan has been re-elected as chairman of the Conference of County Court Judges. Washington County Court Judge Vernita King Johnson was re-elected as vice-chair and Lauderdale County Court Judge Veldore Young Graham was re-elected as secretary of the Conference. |
15th Circuit Drug Court Graduation celebrates National Drug Court Month May 9, 2018 Mississippi Supreme Court Justice David M. Ishee will be the guest speaker on May 18 at the 15th Circuit Drug Court’s graduation ceremony in Picayune. The 10 a.m. graduation program will be held at Resurrection Life Church, 795 Memorial Boulevard in Picayune. |
Free family law clinic set for June 7 in Oxford Residents of Benton, Calhoun, Lafayette, Marshall and Tippah counties may attend May 9, 2018 A free family law clinic will be held June 7 in Oxford to assist north Mississippi residents with uncontested divorce, guardianships, name change, emancipation and simple wills. |
Free family law clinics set for June in northeast Mississippi May 9, 2018 Free family law clinics are scheduled in June in Alcorn, Itawamba and Lee counties. |
State Librarian Stephen Parks receives national award April 26, 2018 The American Association of Law Libraries has selected State Librarian Stephen Parks of Jackson as a recipient of the 2018 Emerging Leader Award. |
Judges Emfinger, Dodson, Mozingo elected to leadership of Circuit Conference April 26, 2018 Circuit Judge John Emfinger of Brandon has been elected chairman of the Conference of Circuit Court Judges. Circuit Judge Lisa P. Dodson of Gulfport was elected vice-chair, and Circuit Judge Tony Mozingo of Oak Grove was elected secretary-treasurer. |
Court of Appeals to visit University of Mississippi April 25 April 24, 2018 The Mississippi Court of Appeals will convene on the campus of the University of Mississippi on April 25 at 1 p.m. and again at 3 p.m. to hear oral arguments. |
Joseph Sclafani takes oath as Hinds Circuit Judge April 23, 2018 Hinds County Circuit Judge Joseph Anthony Sclafani took the oath of office April 23. |
Sclafani to take Hinds Circuit Judge oath April 23 April 20, 2018 Joseph Anthony Sclafani will be sworn in at 11 a.m. Monday, April 23, as Hinds County Circuit Judge. |
Judge Tindell says his favorite title is coach April 19, 2018 Court of Appeals Judge Sean Tindell has served as a Senator, prosecutor and counselor, but the title he likes most is coach. |
Investiture of Judge Sean Tindell set for April 18 in Bay St. Louis April 12, 2018 An investiture ceremony for Court of Appeals Judge Sean J. Tindell is scheduled for April 18 at 5 p.m. at the Hancock County Courthouse in Bay St. Louis. |
Judges and attorneys inducted as Fellows of Mississippi Bar Foundation April 9, 2018 Fifteen attorneys and five judges were inducted as Fellows of the Mississippi Bar Foundation at a ceremony in Jackson on Thursday evening, April 5. |
Judge Westbrooks to speak at UM Black Law Students Association banquet April 3, 2018 Mississippi Court of Appeals Judge Latrice A. Westbrooks will be the keynote speaker April 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Black Law Students Association scholarship and awards banquet in Oxford. |
Legislature declares June Access to Justice Month;
Courts schedule free family law clinics across the state March 29, 2018 The Mississippi Legislature has declared June as Access to Justice Month. |
Funding sought to sustain and expand parent representation March 20, 2018 Hinds County has seen a 30 percent decrease in court ordered removals of children from parents’ custody in Youth Court cases of suspected abuse and neglect during the past year. |
Report examines indigent criminal defense in Mississippi March 19, 2018 The Mississippi Public Defender Task Force today released a report which takes a critical look at the way indigent criminal defendants are represented in state courts. |
Campbell appointed to Special Committee on Judicial Election Campaign Intervention March 5, 2018 Kimberly L. Campbell has been appointed to the Special Committee on Judicial Election Campaign Intervention. |
Pearl River County ceremony lauds Board for funding full-time Public Defender office February 21, 2018 Mississippi Supreme Court Presiding Justice Jim Kitchens praised Pearl River County officials on Wednesday for forming the seventh full-time public defender office in the state. |
Governor says Justice Ishee is well suited for state’s highest court February 16, 2018 The entire Mississippi Supreme Court was present in Long Beach on Feb. 16 to welcome Justice David M. Ishee as the newest member of the court. |
Court of Appeals to visit Mississippi Valley State University Feb. 22 February 13, 2018 The Mississippi Court of Appeals will convene on the campus of Mississippi Valley State University on Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. to hear oral arguments. |
Feb. 21 open house to introduce Pearl River County Office of Public Defender February 12, 2018 Pearl River County Circuit Court recently became the seventh in the state to create a full-time public defender office. |
Chief Justice Waller to speak at Third Circuit Drug Court graduation Feb. 27 in Oxford February 7, 2018 Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. will be the guest speaker at the Third Judicial District Drug Court graduation Feb. 27 in Oxford. The ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. in the second floor courtroom at the Lafayette County Courthouse. |
Judge Westbrooks to speak at MVSU Black History Convocation Feb. 8 February 5, 2018 Mississippi Court of Appeals Judge Latrice A. Westbrooks will be the keynote speaker at Mississippi Valley State University’s annual Black History Convocation on Feb. 8. |
Special Committee on Judicial Election Campaign Intervention appointed January 31, 2018 Five members have been appointed to the Special Committee on Judicial Election Campaign Intervention. |
Investiture of Justice David Ishee set for Feb. 16 in Long Beach January 31, 2018 An investiture ceremony for Supreme Court Justice David M. Ishee is scheduled for Feb. 16 at 3:30 p.m. at the Gulf Park Campus of the University of Southern Mississippi in Long Beach. |
Rankin County volunteer lawyers provide free legal help to the poor January 29, 2018 Nine Rankin County attorneys gave free help to 12 low income people to resolve domestic matters on Friday, Jan. 26, during Rankin County Chancery Court’s first Pro Se Day. |
Reentry Council to meet February 2 January 24, 2018 The Mississippi Reentry Council will meet at 2 p.m. Feb. 2 in the Training Room at the Gartin Justice Building at 450 High Street in Jackson. |
Editor talks about what’s next for The Mississippi Encyclopedia January 24, 2018 The Mississippi Encyclopedia is expected be available online later this year, senior editor Ted Ownby said during a discussion of the book on Tuesday, Jan. 23, at the State Law Library in Jackson. |
Editor will talk about The Mississippi Encyclopedia Jan. 23 at State Law Library January 22, 2018 Ted Ownby, senior editor of The Mississippi Encyclopedia, will talk about the book on Tuesday, Jan. 23, from 2 to 3 p.m. at the State Law Library in Jackson. The Law Library is on the second floor of the Gartin Justice Building at 450 High Street. |
Judge Kidd, Rep. Cockerham appointed to Drug Courts Advisory Committee January 8, 2018 Hinds County Circuit Judge Winston Kidd of Jackson and Rep. Angela Cockerham of Magnolia have been appointed to the State Drug Courts Advisory Committee. |