The Better Chancery Practice Blog

Lawyers from Meridian and Quitman often travel out of district to conduct business and try cases in other Chancery Courts.  When they do in the coming year, they’ll have to adjust to some newcomers.  Six Chancery Court Districts have contested races this judicial election year, and no matter who wins, several will result in new faces on the bench.

Nearby, in District 6, we have already bade farewell to Judge J. Max Kilpatrick, who retired effective June 30, and have welcomed new Chancellor D. Joseph “Joey” Kilgore, who was appointed by Governor Barbour to fill the post.  Judge Kilgore had already qualified to run without opposition.

All of the other races across the state to replace retiring Chancellors,or, in one case, to fill a newly-created seat, are contested. 

In District 7 (Tunica, Quitman, Coahoma, Tallahatchie and Leflore Counties), Place 1, Catherine Farris-Carter of Shaw and Tom T. Ross, Jr., of Clarksdale are vying to replace the retiring Judge William Willard.

Also in District 7, Place 3, W. M. Sanders of Greenwood and Jimmy Miller of Marks are facing off for a newly-created seat.

District 8 (Hancock, Harrison and Stone Counties) has six contestants to take the place of retiring Chancellor Margaret Alfonso.  Qualified and running are: D. Scott Gibson, Jennifer Schloegel and Dara Skinner, all of Gulfport; and Robert G. Harenski, William E. Tisdale and Fran Yeatts, all of Biloxi.

In District 1o (Forrest, Lamar, Pearl River and Perry Counties), there are three candidates for Place 2, from which Judge Sebe Dale, dean of Chancellors, is retiring after a long and illustrious career.  The candidates are Dawn H. Beam of Sumrall, Scott Phillips of Columbia, and Aaron L. Russell of Carriere.

There are only two incumbents facing opposition.

Chancery Judge Larry Buffington of Collins faces two opponents in District 13 (Covington, Jefferson Davis, lawrence, Simpson, and Smith Counties):  Douglas MacArthur Magee of Mendenhall; and David Shoemake of Collins.

Chancery Judge Edwin H. Roberts, Jr. in District 18 (Benton, Calhoun, Lafayette, Marshall and Tippah Counties) is opposed by Helen Kennedy Robinson of Oxford.