Supreme Court incumbents face challengers
Incumbent justices are running for office in each of the state Supreme Court matchups.
Chief Justice Jim Smith of Brandon is running against Crystal Springs lawyer Jim Kitchens and Circuit Judge Ceola James of Vicksburg.
Presiding Justice Oliver Diaz Jr. faces Gulfport lawyer Paul Newton Jr. and Chancery Judge Bubba Pierce of Leakesville.
In one District 3 race, Justice Chuck Easley of Caledonia is running against fellow Justice Ann Lamar and Gene Barton, a lawyer from Okolona. In the other, Easley is the incumbent, and his challenger is state Court of Appeals Judge David Chandler of Ackerman.
Easley defended filing for both races, saying he was trying to make a statement ” about special interest groups wanting appointed judges. Mississippi should always have the right to vote for their judges.”
Clarion Ledger
5/9/8
Magnolia Tribune
