Starkville Native to Head Judicial Review Committee

Gov. Phil Bryant has appointed 31 new members to the Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee. The committee is comprised of one chairman and 10 active members from each of the three Supreme Court Districts.

The committee, originally established by former Gov. Haley Barbour, is responsible for reviewing all applications for judicial appointments. The committee also recommends individuals to fill vacancies created by death, resignation or removal from office in the Supreme Court, Chancery and Circuit Courts and the County Courts of the state.

“I am pleased to make these appointments and am confident that these committee members will work to uphold the integrity of Mississippi’s judicial appointments process,” Gov. Phil Bryant said.

Members are not compensated and serve a two-year term without limitation on reappointment.

Members are as follows:

Bill Smith, originally of Starkville, will serve as chairman. He has practiced law for 36 years and specializes in litigation with Balch & Bingham, LLP.

District 1 members:

Rick Barry of Meridian has practiced law for 33 years. Specializes in general and trial practice with Hammack, Barry, Thaggard and May, LLP.

Douglas Minor Jr., originally of Oxford, has practiced law for 17 years. Specializes in commercial and financial litigation and financial services regulatory compliance with Bradley Arant Boult Cumings, LLP.

Barbara C. Wallace of Ridgeland has practiced law for 35 years. Specializes in labor and employment with Wise Carter Child & Caraway.

Cheri Green of Jackson has practiced law for 26 years. Specializes in litigation and healthcare with Brunini Grantham Grower & Hewes, PLLC.

Harold Pizzetta, originally of Hattiesburg. Specializes in general and constitutional litigation and serves as Assistant Attorney General in the Attorney General’s office.

Blake Teller of Vicksburg has practiced law for 21 ears. He maintains a general practice with Teller, Hassell & Hopson, LLP.

Bennie Richard, originally of Jackson, has practiced law for 15 years. Specializes in general civil litigation and criminal defense with the Richard Law Firm in Greenville.

Andy Taggart, originally of Moss Point, has practiced law for 27 years. Specializes in commercial and strategic advice, commercial and administrative litigation, hospital and healthcare, and government and elections law with Taggart, Rimes & Usry, PLLC.

Mark Garriga of Madison has practiced law for 27 years. Specializes in governmental law with Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens and Cannada, PLLC.

Amy Champagne, originally of Hattiesburg, has practiced law for 10 years. Specializes in litigation and appellate practice with concentration in products liability, premises and personal injury, commercial litigation and class actions with Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC in Jackson.

District 2 members:

Lew Yoder of Laurel practices law with Gilchrist Sumrall Yoder & Boone.

Jimmy Heidelberg of Pascagoula has practiced law for 34 years. Specializes in medical and legal malpractice, personal injury litigation and environmental law with Heidelberg Steinberger Colmer & Burrow.

Samuel McHard of Hattiesburg has practiced law for 36 years. Specializes in litigation with McHard & Associates, PLLC.

Tony Lawrence of Pascagoula has practiced law for 22 years. He is serving his third term as District Attorney in the 19th Judicial District.

Julie Jarrell Gresham, originally of Pascagoula, has practiced law for 11 years. Specializes in litigation with the Brunini Grantham Grower & Hughes, PLLC.

John Harral of Gulfport has practiced law for 38 years. Specializes in business law and banking and commercial litigation with Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens and Cannada, PLLC.

Hugh D. Keating of Gulfport has practiced law for 32 years. Specializes in business disputes, zoning, land use, development and planning, and eminent domain with Dukes, Dukes, Keating & Faneca, PA.

Robert W. Wilkinson of Pascagoula has practiced law for 29 years. Specializes in governmental and hospital law, insurance defense and corporate law with Dogan & Wilkinson, PLLC.

Rick Lambert of Gulfport passed away following his appointment. Mr. Lambert had specialized in domestic relations, governmental law and utility regulation law with Paul, Richard, Lambert, PLLC. This position will be filled.

J. Chadwick Williams of Brookhaven has practiced law for six years. Specializes in governmental liability and civil rights defense with Allen, Allen, Breeland & Allen.

District 3 members:

Margaret Sams Gratz of Tupelo has practiced law for 14 years. Specializes in general defense litigation with Mitchell McNutt & Sams, PA.

Ralph E. Chapman of Clarksdale has practiced law for 37 years. Specializes in plaintiff litigation with Chapman, Lewis & Swan, PLLC.

Jerry Davis of Tupelo has practiced law for 40 years. Specializes in federal, criminal and civil litigation. Davis is a retired U.S. Magistrate Judge.

Andrew Dulaney of Tunica has practiced law for 20 years. Practices law with Dulaney Law Firm, LLP.

Jim M. Greenlee of Oxford has practiced law for 31 years. Specializes in litigation, criminal law and governmental enforcement representation with Holcomb Dunbar.

Jeannie Hogan Sansing of Columbus has practiced law for 27 years. Specializes in commercial litigation, health care, education and alternative dispute resolution with Brunini Grantham Grower & Hewes, PLLC.

William H. “Bill” Davis Jr. of Corinth has practiced law for 15 years. Specializes in corporate and business law, commercial litigation, and governmental law with Clayton O’Donnell, PLLC.

Joy Wolfe Graves of Starkville has practiced law for 16 years. Specializes in civil, employment, and insurance litigation with Perry, Winfield & Wolfe, PA.

Benjamin L. Taylor of Southaven has practiced law for 11 years. Specializes in civil litigation with Taylor, Jones & Taylor.

Larry D. Moffett of Oxford has practiced law for 33 years. Specializes in energy law and commercial litigation with Daniel Coker Horton & Bell, PA.