Mississippi Supreme Court elections
There are nine justices on the Mississippi Supreme Court. For more information about these elections, visit the Mississippi judicial elections page.
Judicial selection
- See also: Judicial selection in Mississippi
The nine justices on the Mississippi Supreme Court are elected to eight-year terms in nonpartisan elections. All candidates must run in the general election (as Mississippi holds no primary for judicial candidates) and must face re-election if they wish to serve again.[1] For more information about these elections, visit the Mississippi judicial elections page.
Unlike most states, supreme court justices in Mississippi are elected to represent specific districts. The nine justices are divided among three supreme court districts (not to be confused with the 22 divisions of the circuit courts) and are voted into office by the residents of their respective regions.[2] Only the states of Illinois, Kentucky, and Louisiana use a similar system.
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:
- a qualified elector for and from the district in which election is sought;
- a minimum of 30 years old;
- a practicing attorney; and
- a state citizen for at least five years.[1]
Chief justice
The court's chief justice is selected by seniority. He or she serves until retirement when the justice with the next most judicial experience becomes chief.[1]
Vacancies
If a midterm vacancy occurs on the court, a temporary judge is named by the governor. Appointees serve out the remainder of their predecessor's unexpired term if four or fewer years of the term remain. If there are more than four years remaining, the appointee will run in the next general election, taking place nine months or more after the vacancy occurs. The winner of the election will serve the remainder of the term.[3]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
Elections
2024
District 1-Place 3
General runoff election
General runoff election for Mississippi Supreme Court District 1 Position 3
Jenifer Branning defeated incumbent Jim Kitchens in the general runoff election for Mississippi Supreme Court District 1 Position 3 on November 26, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jenifer Branning (Nonpartisan) | 50.6 | 64,025 | |
| Jim Kitchens (Nonpartisan) | 49.4 | 62,585 | ||
| Total votes: 126,610 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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General election
General election for Mississippi Supreme Court District 1 Position 3
Jenifer Branning and incumbent Jim Kitchens advanced to a runoff. They defeated Ceola James, Byron Carter, and Abby Robinson in the general election for Mississippi Supreme Court District 1 Position 3 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jenifer Branning (Nonpartisan) | 41.7 | 124,331 | |
| ✔ | Jim Kitchens (Nonpartisan) | 35.5 | 105,904 | |
| Ceola James (Nonpartisan) | 10.4 | 31,117 | ||
| Byron Carter (Nonpartisan) | 7.1 | 21,158 | ||
 | Abby Robinson (Nonpartisan) | 5.2 | 15,626 | |
| Total votes: 298,136 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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District 2-Place 2
General election
General election for Mississippi Supreme Court District 2 Position 2
David Sullivan defeated incumbent Dawn H. Beam in the general election for Mississippi Supreme Court District 2 Position 2 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | David Sullivan (Nonpartisan) | 54.8 | 189,357 | |
| Dawn H. Beam (Nonpartisan) | 45.2 | 156,205 | ||
| Total votes: 345,562 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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District 3-Place 1
General election
General election for Mississippi Supreme Court District 3 Position 1
Incumbent Robert P. Chamberlin won election in the general election for Mississippi Supreme Court District 3 Position 1 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Robert P. Chamberlin (Nonpartisan) | 100.0 | 341,895 | |
| Total votes: 341,895 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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District 3-Place 2
General election
General election for Mississippi Supreme Court District 3 Position 2
Incumbent Jimmy Maxwell won election in the general election for Mississippi Supreme Court District 3 Position 2 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jimmy Maxwell (Nonpartisan) | 100.0 | 339,411 | |
| Total votes: 339,411 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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2020
District 1-Position 1
General election
General election for Mississippi Supreme Court District 1 Position 1
Incumbent T. Kenneth Griffis defeated Latrice Westbrooks in the general election for Mississippi Supreme Court District 1 Position 1 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | T. Kenneth Griffis (Nonpartisan) | 51.5 | 202,530 | |
| Latrice Westbrooks (Nonpartisan) | 48.5 | 190,455 | ||
| Total votes: 392,985 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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District 1-Position 2
General election
General election for Mississippi Supreme Court District 1 Position 2
Incumbent Leslie King won election in the general election for Mississippi Supreme Court District 1 Position 2 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Leslie King (Nonpartisan) | 100.0 | 334,129 | |
| Total votes: 334,129 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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District 2-Position 3
General election
General election for Mississippi Supreme Court District 2 Position 3
Incumbent Mike Randolph won election in the general election for Mississippi Supreme Court District 2 Position 3 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Mike Randolph (Nonpartisan) | 100.0 | 347,143 | |
| Total votes: 347,143 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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District 3-Position 3
General election
General election for Mississippi Supreme Court District 3 Position 3
Incumbent Josiah Coleman defeated Percy L. Lynchard Jr. in the general election for Mississippi Supreme Court District 3 Position 3 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Josiah Coleman (Nonpartisan) | 63.4 | 236,130 | |
| Percy L. Lynchard Jr. (Nonpartisan) | 36.6 | 136,164 | ||
| Total votes: 372,294 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for Mississippi Supreme Court District 2 Position 1
Incumbent David Ishee won election in the general election for Mississippi Supreme Court District 2 Position 1 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | David Ishee (Nonpartisan) | 100.0 | 251,772 | |
| Total votes: 251,772 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Candidates
District 1, Place 3■ Jim Kitchens District 2, Place 2■ Dawn Beam |
District 3, Place 1■ John Brady District 3, Place 2■ James D. Maxwell |
Election results
November 29 runoff election
| Mississippi Supreme Court, District 3, Place 1, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Robert Chamberlin |
54.59% | 19,974 |
| John Brady | 45.41% | 16,612 |
| Total Votes (588 of 619 reporting: 95%) | 36,586 | |
| Source: WAPT News/Associated Press | ||
November 8 general election
| Mississippi Supreme Court, District 1, Place 3, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Jim Kitchens Incumbent |
53.54% | 185,169 |
| T. Kenneth Griffis | 46.46% | 160,661 |
| Total Votes (553 of 553 precincts reporting: 100%) | 345,830 | |
| Source: The New York Times | ||
| Mississippi Supreme Court, District 2, Place 2, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Dawn Beam Incumbent |
67.32% | 216,809 |
| Michael Shareef | 32.68% | 105,266 |
| Total Votes (634 of 641 precincts reporting: 99%) | 322,075 | |
| Source: The New York Times | ||
| Mississippi Supreme Court, District 3, Place 1, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Robert Chamberlin |
31.17% | 103,133 |
| John Brady |
29.15% | 96,452 |
| James T. Kitchens | 24.58% | 81,313 |
| Steve Crampton | 15.10% | 49,947 |
| Total Votes (617 of 617 precincts reporting: 100%) | 330,845 | |
| Source: The New York Times | ||
| Mississippi Supreme Court, District 3, Place 2, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
| James D. Maxwell Incumbent | ||
| Source: The New York Times | ||
2012
See also: Mississippi judicial elections, 2012
| Candidate | Incumbency | Office | Election Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earle Banks | |||
| Josiah Coleman | No | District 3, Position 3 | 58% |
| Leslie King | Yes | District 1, Position 2 | 100% |
| Mike Randolph | Yes | District 2, Position 3 | 77% |
| Richard T. Phillips | No | District 3, Position 3 | 42% |
| Talmadge Braddock | No | District 2, Position 3 | 23% |
| William Waller | Yes | District 1, Position 1 | 55% |
See also
External links
Footnotes
Federal courts:
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Northern District of Mississippi, Southern District of Mississippi • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of Mississippi, Southern District of Mississippi
State courts:
Mississippi Supreme Court • Mississippi Court of Appeals • Mississippi circuit courts • Mississippi Chancery Court • Mississippi county courts • Mississippi justice courts • Mississippi youth courts • Mississippi Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Mississippi • Mississippi judicial elections • Judicial selection in Mississippi