JUDICIAL DISTRICT
Five candidates are vying for election to the Central Dis- trict seat on the Mississippi Supreme Court. The candidates are incumbent Presiding Justice James W. Kitchens, former judge Ceola James, State Senator Jenifer Branning, and attorneys Byron Carter of Byram, and Abby Gale Robinson.
The district includes a widespread group of voters scattered across the counties of Bolivar, Claiborne, Copiah, Hinds, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Jefferson, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Madison, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Rankin, Scott, Sharkey, Sunflower, Warren, Washington, and Yazoo.
The election will be held this year on November 5.
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
Mississippi has nine Supreme Court justices distributed equally over three districts. The non-partisan elections are staggered so that not all positions are up for election at the same time.
Supreme Court justices serve eight-year terms. Each of the nine justices participates in deciding appeals from courts throughout the entire state. Decisions are confirmed as law by a majority vote of the court.
Mississippi has a two-tier appellate court system that reviews decisions of law and fact made by the trial courts. The Mississippi Supreme Court is the court of last resort. Decisions of the Chancery, Circuit and County Courts, and of the Court of Appeals may be appealed to the Supreme Court.
Some cases may be appealed directly to the Supreme Court. These cases include annexations, bond issues, constitutionality challenges, death penalty cases, disciplinary matters involving attorneys and judges, election contests, certified questions from federal court, utility rates, cases of first impression, and issues of broad public interest.
CANDIDATE BRIEFS
The five candidates vying for District 1 Place 3 on the Mississippi Supreme Court in the November 5, 2024, election, while all are lawyers, come from a variety of backgrounds.
Incumbent James Kitchens is a native of Crystal Springs and was first elected to the seat in 2008. He was re-elected in 2016.
Prior to his service on the state Supreme Court, Kitchens practiced law and was District Attorney for Copiah, Lincoln, Pike, and Walthall counties. He served as DA for nine years before returning to private practice and then seeking his current position as a Mississippi Supreme Court Justice.
Ceola James of Vicksburg currently is a practicing attorney with more than 40 years’ experience. She previously served as municipal judge in Port Gibson, special master judge and justice court judge in Warren County, judge for the Ninth District Chancery Court, and judge for the Mississippi Court of Appeals. She says: “I came from humble beginnings, and I worked my way up the ladder, mostly pulling myself up by my own bootstraps. I have an established record of being fair to all litigants who appear before my court. When voters put their trust in me, I always feel an obligation to be worthy of their trust.” More about James can be found by visiting her campaign website: ceolajamesformississippisupremecourt.com.
Jenifer Branning of Philadelphia has been a State Senator since 2016. Most of her 20 years of experience as an attorney has been as an advocate for children who have been abused or neglected. “I’ve got three sons, and I desperately want to see our state be the best it can be so that my children will want to live and work and raise their families in Mississippi,” she said.
Byron Carter is a practicing attorney with three decades of experience. He is a resident of Byram. Carter described himself as “an NRA member, second amendment supporter, and Eagle Scout.” He served as a law clerk for former Presiding Justice Armis Hawkins in the 1980s. “I look forward to putting an NRA member, second amendment supporter, and Eagle Scout on the Supreme Court should the voters decide that what I provide to them is what they want on the bench,” Carter said.
Abby Gale Robinson has not provided a political biography and reported receiving no campaign contributions, according to the Secretary of State. Nor has she responded to a request for comment and information by press time. She does not have a listed website.
