State of Mississippi Judiciary

Mississippi Courts - October 2025
Justices Maxwell, Chamberlin nominated to federal bench

President Donald Trump nominated Mississippi Supreme Court Justices James D. Maxwell II and Robert P. Chamberlin to trial judge positions on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi.

Mississippi Courts - April 2025
Mississippi Court of Appeals celebrates 30-year anniversary

Current and former judges who have served on the Mississippi Court of Appeals during the past 30 years gathered to share recollections and talk about the history of the court on Jan. 9 as they launched an anniversary celebration.

Mississippi Courts - October 2024
Judge John Weddle joins Mississippi Court of Appeals

Judge John D. Weddle took the oath of office at a ceremony in Tupelo on Oct. 11 and began his term on the Mississippi Court of Appeals on Oct. 14.

Mississippi Courts - April 2024
Librarian finds 225-year-old records of Mississippi Territory

Records of the Supreme Court of the Mississippi Territory spanning 1799 to 1809 were discovered recently among thousands of books slated for an estate sale in Vicksburg.

Mississippi Courts - October 2023
Senior Status Judge Betty Sanders receives Chief Justice Award

Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Randolph presented the award on July 20 at the Mississippi Bar Convention in Biloxi. The annual award recognizes individuals whose actions significantly impact the law, the administration of justice, and the people of the state of Mississippi.

Mississippi Courts - April 2023
Sharkey County Courthouse is sentinel amid tornado destruction

The Sharkey County Courthouse sits battered among the ruins of the town of Rolling Fork, one of only a few buildings still standing in the path of an F-4 tornado that cut a swath through the small Delta town on the evening of March 24

Mississippi Courts - October 2022
Senior Status Judge James Bell receives Chief Justice Award

Senior Status Judge James D. Bell is the recipient of the 2022 Chief Justice Award. Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Randolph presented the award on July 15 at the Mississippi Bar Convention.

Mississippi Courts - April 2022
Three longest serving MS trial judges to retire at end of year

Harrison County Court Judge Gaston Hewes, Hinds County Chancellor Denise Owens and 16th District Circuit Judge Lee Howard will not seek reelection.

Mississippi Courts - October 2021
Judges seek public's help in keeping courts open

The Mississippi Judiciary is collaborating with the Mississippi State Department of Health in a public health and safety awareness campaign regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mississippi Courts - April 2021
Judges Joel Smith, John Emfinger appointed to Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals Judge Joel Smith on Jan. 19 said that he will devote all his energies to serving with honesty, fairness and integrity.

Mississippi Courts - December 2020
Judges rearrange facilities to move forward with jury trials

Judges around the state looked to alternative venues such as auditoriums and arenas or rearranged their courtrooms as they pushed to resume jury trials after months of delays due to COVID-19.

Mississippi Courts - July 2020
Batesville Civic Center becomes Panola County Courthouse

The Batesville Civic Center in Panola County became a courtroom June 1 and 2 as the first felony criminal jury trial was completed in the state since the COVID-19 pandemic caused trial delays.

Mississippi Courts - October 2019
GAP Act effective Jan. 1, 2020 to protect children, vulnerable adults

Gov. Phil Bryant on May 29 included the Mississippi Guardianship and Conservatorship Act in bill signing ceremonies.

Mississippi Courts - April 2019
Chief Judge Barnes is first woman to lead Court of Appeals

Chief Judge Donna Barnes of Tupelo on Feb. 1 was sworn in as the first woman judge to lead the Mississippi Court of Appeals.

Mississippi Courts - October 2018
Justice Kay Cobb presents portrait to Supreme Court

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.

Mississippi Courts - April 2018
Access to Justice aims for pro se clinics statewide in June

The Mississippi Legislature has declared June as Access to Justice Month.

Mississippi Courts - October 2017
Chief Justice of the U.S. helps celebrate Mississippi Judiciary Bicentennial

The Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts, Jr., helped the bench and bar celebrate the Bicentennial of the Mississippi Judiciary on Sept. 27.

Mississippi Courts - April 2017
Legislature allocates funds for indigent parent representation

The 2017 Mississippi Legislature appropriated $200,000 to the Office of the State Public Defender to pay for indigent parent representation.

Mississippi Courts - October 2016
ReNewMS child abuse prevention program launched

Parents’ drug abuse is responsible for much of the child abuse and neglect that results in removal of children to foster care.

Mississippi Courts - April 2016
Governor signs juvenile detention licensing, TPR bills

Gov. Phil Bryant on April 18 signed into law the Termination of Parental Rights Act and the Juvenile Detention Licensing Act.

Mississippi Courts - October 2015
Juror no-shows prompt public education campaign

WINGS, the Working Interdisciplinary Network ofGuardianship Stakeholders, met on Sept. 18 to begin work toward improving the way Mississippi protects vulnerable adults.

Mississippi Courts - April 2015
Tallahatchie County Courthouse restoration finished

The bench is tiny, and the jury room has two doors, one wooden and the second a screen door. When juries deliberated in the days before air conditioning, the judge would clear the courtroom and open the wood door on the jury room to bring in a breeze, leaving only the screen door to keep out the mosquitoes.

Mississippi Courts - October 2014

Juror no-shows prompt public education campaign

A decline in turnout for jury service has prompted Bolivar County officials to undertake a campaign to educate the community.

Mississippi Courts - April 2014

Federal and state officials organize Reentry Council

Officials spanning the spec-trum of the criminal justice system as well as religious and civil liberties organizations began work in December on a program to help former in-mates become productive, law abiding citizens and to reduce prison recidivism.

Federal and state officials organize Reentry Council

Officials spanning the spec-trum of the criminal justice system as well as religious and civil liberties organizations began work in December on a program to help former in-mates become productive, law abiding citizens and to reduce prison recidivism.

Mississippi Courts - October 2012

Plain language model jury instructions completed

A group of judges, lawyers and legal scholars recently completed more than three years of work drafting plain language jury instructions which will be easier for jurors to understand.

Mississippi Courts - April 2012
Federal and state officials organize Reentry Council

Officials spanning the spectrum of the criminal justice system as well as religious and civil liberties organizations began work in December on a program to help former in-mates become productive, law abiding citizens and to reduce prison recidivism.

Mississippi Courts - October 2010
Commission on Children’s Justice reestablished

A diverse group of judges, educators and child welfare professionals met July 29 in Jackson to organize a study of the juvenile justice system.