RELEASE
Shadrack White Named Head of Mississippi Justice Institute
Mississippi Attorney Takes Over Watchdog for Liberty
Shadrack White has been named Director of the Mississippi Justice Institute (MJI). MJI is a legal organization that represents ordinary citizens, taxpayers, and business owners whose constitutional rights are threatened by government actions. White replaces MJI’s previous director who was appointed United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi.
“It’s an honor to be named the head of MJI,” said White. “I’m excited by this opportunity because it means fighting for Mississippians who want to start a business, send their children to a better school, and hold politicians and bureaucrats more accountable.”
MJI recently won its first case at the Mississippi Supreme Court (Columbus v. Commercial Dispatch). It is currently fighting for parents and children seeking educational opportunity (Araujo v. Bryant) and defending the rights of small business owners trying to earn a living (Davis v. City of Jackson).
“Our current cases are fights for justice by people who simply want a better life for themselves and their children. Whether it’s defending children who attend charter schools or protecting consumers from government-sanctioned monopolies, I’m excited about what MJI is going to accomplish to make Mississippi a better place to live, work, and raise a family,” said White.
MJI’s activities include litigating on behalf of individuals, intervening in cases important to public policy, participating in regulatory and rulemaking proceedings, and filing amicus (“friend of the Court”) briefs to offer unique perspectives on significant legal matters in Mississippi and federal courts.
“My vision is for MJI to be the watchdog for liberty in Mississippi, ensuring that workers, worshippers, and voters have someone fighting for them in the courtroom,” White said. “MJI has a strong foundation and I’m going to continue working against special interests and for Mississippians’ constitutional rights.”
White takes the helm at MJI after practicing law in the private sector, where he worked on large multidistrict litigation as well as state court cases. In addition to his private practice, White has served as a Special Prosecutor in Rankin County. White also worked as Gov. Phil Bryant’s 2015 re-election Campaign Manager and Director of Policy to Bryant during Bryant’s tenure as Lt. Governor.
White holds a law degree from Harvard Law School and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi. During law school, White was president of the Harvard Federalist Society and worked at the Organized Crime Drug Task Force in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston. White also studied as a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford, earning a master’s degree in economic history. He is originally from rural Jones County. Today he and his wife, Rina, live in Rankin County.
12/5/17
