Amicus Summer 2019 by Mississippi College School of Law

amıcus MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE SCHOOL OF LAW | SUMMER 2019

“WE ARE MC LAW”

On the Cover: Patricia Bennett â&#x20AC;&#x2122;79 serves the legal profession as dean of MC Law and as president of The Mississippi Bar Association.

credits MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE SCHOOL OF LAW

Amicus Summer 2019

Dean Patricia Bennett

Assistant Dean of Advancement Karen Flowers

Alumni Coordinator Kerri McGehee

Editor Bethany Cole

Contributing Editor Marlo Kirkpatrick

Designer Alecia Porch

Photography Robby Followell

Contact Amicus 151 East Griffith Street Jackson, MS 39201 601.925.7149 lawpr@mc.edu

amıcus T A B L E

O F

C O N T E N T S

F E A T U R E S

D E PA R T M E N T S

3 Commencement

Opening Statement 2

2019

by Dean Patricia Bennett In the Huddle with 6 Stephanie Jackson ’19 The Visionary 8 Jimmy Yocom ’19

10 A Comeback That’s So So Strong

Honor Roll of Donors 22 Class Action 26 What MC Law 36 Means to Me

14 Clerks at Work

20 About the Opportunities

OPENING STATEMENT by Dean Patricia Bennett ’79

“‘We are MC Law.’ Those words are not a slogan. They are a statement of our character. They are a reminder that we should get involved, make a difference, and ultimately, do the right thing. ” AS A STUDENT IN 1975, I chose MC Law because I was drawn to the law school’s Christian commitment and culture of community involvement. Over the past four decades, that commitment and that culture have only grown. Through our legal clinics, our work at Mission First, and the pro bono work of our professors and alumni, MC Law serves others who might not otherwise have access to justice. We invite the public to our campus to hear featured speakers, we offer our facilities for debates between candidates who will shape our community, and we develop and host programs to address situations that affect our citizens. “We are MC Law.” Those words are not a slogan. They are a statement of our character. They are a reminder that we should get involved, make a difference, and ultimately, do the right thing. My service as dean and as president of The Mississippi Bar have required me to take a hard look at the future of our profession. Nationwide, law school applications are down. Bar membership among younger attorneys is down. Our law students and young attorneys are the future of our profession.

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What do we want that future to look like? If it is to be a future of attorneys getting involved, making a difference, and doing the right thing, we must mentor these students and young attorneys to become leaders. That is especially important here in Mississippi, where we have a tremendous need for access for justice. It all comes back to community. Supporting and strengthening our students and young attorneys supports and strengthens our legal community, and supporting and strengthening our legal community supports and strengthens our larger community. We are those who will support and strengthen. We are a Christian institution. We are a community. We are the future of the legal profession. We are MC Law. Patricia Bennett taught at MC Law for 30 years, served as interim dean for a year, and was named dean in January 2018. Dean Bennett is the second African American and the first African American woman to serve as president of The Mississippi Bar.

May 10, 2019 was a day for joyous celebration and happy tears as 102 MC Law students became MC Law alumni.

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Top right: Dr. Blake Thompson, MC President

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“I see in you tremendous promise. I see in you tremendous gifts. I see in you bright success. Before me, I see winners. I see achievers. I see the future.” DEAN PATRICIA BENNETT ’79 2018-2019 President of the Mississippi Bar

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alumni spotlight

UDDLE WITH H E H T · · IN

STEPHANIE JACKSON ’19 “YOU KNOW HOW TEENAGERS FIGHT with their the Vikings and the New York Jets as a scouting intern during parents over boyfriends and ‘I want to go to the mall’ or ‘I training camp and pre-season. want to go to the movies?’ Well, I was fighting my mom over Most recently, Jackson externed with RISE, the New playing football.” York-based Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality, a national It was an argument that Steph Jackson ultimately won. nonprofit that empowers the sports community to champion Today, Jackson is a wide receiver for the Texas Elite social justice and improve race relations. Jackson drafted Spartans in Dallas, the top team in the inaugural Women’s RISE’s first employee handbook, handled work related to tax National Football Conference (WNFC). The first women’s laws, and attended the Super Bowl as an athlete ambassador. professional league of its kind, the WNFC is sponsored by “I knew I wanted to be in sports leadership, and with Adidas, Riddell, and other athletic company heavyweights. that goal in mind, I’m learning every aspect of the business. The Texas Elite Spartans kicked off their season on April 6, The in-house counsel for the Jets started as an intern in the 2019 with a 42-0 victory over the Houston Heat. mailroom. I feel like that’s the path I’m on.” Before joining the WNFC team, Jackson took the field Jackson sees similarities between the legal and sports as quarterback, wide receiver, and defensive back with the worlds, including the discipline required to train as an athlete Lafayette Acadiana Zydeco, an all-female team that is part of and as an attorney. the Women’s Football Alliance. In 2018, the Manning Passing “A football playbook can be as complex as constitutional Academy called on Jackson to help launch the first Manning law or a civil procedure,” Jackson says. “As an athlete, you Passing Academy for female football players. reach a breaking point. Elite athletes are the ones who reach Jackson’s football career and her legal career are intertwined. that point and push past it. It’s the same in law school. As a Her ultimate goal is to own franchises across multiple sports, student, an athlete, or an attorney, those moments will come including football, basketball, and soccer. In pursuit of that when it’s now or never, you’re down by four points and you’ve dream, Jackson has put her legal skills to work assisting the got to have a touchdown. There’s nothing like pushing past Minnesota Vikings’ director of business administration with that breaking point and crossing the goal line. That’s when I player contracts. She’s also put her football skills to work with feel like a superhero.”

“As a student, an athlete, or an attorney, those moments will come when it’s now or never, you’re down by four points and you’ve got to have a touchdown. There’s nothing like pushing past that breaking point and crossing the goal line.” STEPHANIE JACKSON ’19

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alumni spotlight

· THE VISIONARY ·

JIMMY YOCOM ’19 “THE DEFINITION of ‘blind’ is a lack of sight, not a lack of vision.” Jimmy Yocom shared that memorable thought when accepting an academic scholarship presented by the American Council of the Blind. The words were more than just part of his acceptance speech; they’ve been the creed by which Yocom has lived his life. Visually impaired since childhood, Yocom’s eyesight is limited to vague shapes and shadows. But while he is legally blind, Yocom’s vision is clear. “Vision is the ability to see things not yet there,” Yocom says. “Your eyes, your health, and your background are not the determining factors in your life. It’s your vision—your dreams and goals. Faith is what proves your vision, and I’ve always been a person of faith. I wouldn’t be where I am without God.” His visual impairment hasn’t stopped Yocom from boxing, riding a bicycle, sky diving, or bungee jumping. He plays the piano, drums, guitar, and the ukulele, and jokes that “I could probably fake my way through a driving test. If I had good eyesight, I’d have cured cancer by now.” Yocom never let his impaired eyesight define his career vision, noting that, “I wanted to be a preacher, a lawyer, and a fighter pilot.” Yocom became the first member of his family to attend college, earning a business degree from Louisiana Tech. By

the time he was 20, Yocom was licensed to preach, and served as a youth minister for eight years. He met his wife, Jesslyn, while preaching at a youth event. It was Jesslyn who encouraged him to pursue his dream of a legal career. “I was talking smack with Jesslyn, saying I thought I’d be a great lawyer. She suggested I apply to law school,” Yocom says. “In talking with the MC Law staff, they seemed genuinely interested in helping me succeed. Other law schools discussed the accommodations they were required to provide under law. MC Law’s response was, ‘Whatever you need, we will do.’ At MC Law, I was a person, not a statutory requirement.” As a student, Yocom competed on winning teams in moot court competition, wrote for the Law Review, and received the scholarship from the American Council of the Blind for his outstanding academic achievements. Yocom graduated summa cum laude from MC Law in 2019 and is now an attorney with the Kitchens Law Firm in Minden, Louisiana. “God does things for good. Psalm 51:8 says, ‘Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice.’ God breaks things in us to make us better. He’s given me these challenges to make me better or to help someone else be better.” With two of his career goals reached, could a stint as a fighter pilot be far behind? “I believe you can do anything,” Yocom says. “And God can do anything with you.”

BULLSEYE When Professor Deborah Challener looked out from her perch in a dunking booth at the MC Law student fair, she saw Jimmy Yocom stepping up to throw. • Yocom dunked Challener nine out of 10 times. • A soggy Professor Challener later said, “Mr. Yocom, I thought you were blind.” • “I said I was blind,” Yocom replied with a smile. “I never said I couldn’t throw.”

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A COMEBACK THAT’S

SO SO STRONG In the wake of tragedy, District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath’s faith inspires her to keep fighting the good fight.

a Facebook page called “Love for Sophia” to provide updates on Sophia’s condition, raise awareness of the need to find a cure for DIPG, and to share posts from Angel’s personal page. Angel described her anguish in painful, personal detail, but she also shared the faith that was sustaining her as she and Sophia’s father, Josh Myers ’04, watched their daughter slip away. “Telling our story is something I felt was important since Sophia’s diagnosis,” Angel wrote. “Since the very beginning of this nightmare, I have felt a strong, persistent, nagging, nudging feeling to tell people about Sophia and ask them to turn to God. I don’t want anyone to use what happened to Sophia as an excuse to turn away from God. I don’t want what she endured to be used to rationalize disbelief in God or question faith in Him.” The Facebook page soon attracted more than 18,000 fol“Love for Sophia” lowers from around the world, many of whom left comments Sophia Myers was her mother’s “mini-me,” a precocious telling Angel how much her faith had inspired them. sidekick who not only looked like her mother, but also shared Sophia Ann Myers died in the arms of her parents eight Angel’s energetic approach to life. months after her diagnosis. Messages of sympathy and support “I was proud of Sophia for so many reasons, but especially poured in from around the globe. People in South Africa, Ausfor her kindness,” Angel says. “She was beautiful, but her kind- tralia, Germany, Finland, France, Sweden, Canada, and Braness is what drew people in. Sophia was a free spirit, making zil all sent their love, inspired by the little girl who had fought up songs, painting her hair pink, twirling in a princess cos- so hard and by Angel, who had bared her soul and shared her tume. She was herself and I loved that about her.” faith with the world. In February of 2017, Sophia was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), an aggressive form of brain “This work is my life’s calling.” cancer. DIPG spreads like sand throughout the brain stem. It Sophia was laid to rest on October 26. On November 6, cannot be surgically removed and there is no cure. Angel returned to work in the district attorney’s office. Her Angel’s little girl was given nine to 12 months to live. first day back in court was November 13, what would have Not long after Sophia’s diagnosis, a family friend created been Sophia’s eighth birthday. NGEL MYERS MCILRATH ’04 built her career on protecting children. The district attorney for Jackson, George, and Greene Counties, Mississippi, Angel formerly served as director of the DA’s Child Protection Unit, which was formed to investigate and prosecute crimes against children. But when a deadly predator in the form of brain cancer came for her own daughter, Angel was powerless to stop it. Sophia, Angel’s beautiful, witty, kind, little girl, died in October of 2017, one month shy of her eighth birthday. Sophia’s battle ended, but her mother’s battle had only begun. Angel’s tragic loss has led to an inspiring message of faith shared worldwide, a desire to continue fighting the good fight, and a crusade to find a cure.

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“Angel Myers McIlrath is a fierce and dedicated public servant, especially when it comes to protecting children. I have seen Angel’s loving hand of compassion help a child who has lived a nightmare at the choice of an adult. I have seen her in the courtroom using the facts as a weapon, the law as a shield for protecting the innocent, and passion and logic as persuasive tools to hold those accountable who prey on the most vulnerable members of our society.” Judge Tony Lawrence

“This work is my life’s calling,” Angel recalls. “And my work “During the capital murder trial, my heart was so heavy keeps me busy. Grief is not a linear journey or a place that you’re with grief. It was the week of Valentine’s Day, which was our able to leave. Grief is with you all the time. There are days when first flu diagnosis leading to the DIPG diagnosis a week later. staying in bed and not facing the world is desirable, but I can’t. It was a holiday that Sophia loved and that I always made So, I get up and go work harder than I ever have before to a big deal out of for her. The weight of grief that week was ensure that, despite my grief, my community unbearable, but I showed up every day, tried gets the very best I have to offer.” the case, and my co-counsel and I got a convicWhen her boss, District Attorney Tony tion on a dangerous defendant. After the trial, I Lawrence, accepted a judgeship, Governor Phil remember thinking to myself, you did it. I felt Bryant appointed Angel to fill the remainder so strong despite my grief, and I know that was of his term. She is now running unopposed for because of Christ.” the permanent position as DA. While her work brings Angel a sense of “You cannot go through what Angel has purpose, it also comes with pain. been through without some change, but she “I see so many cases of children abused by controlled how it changed her,” Judge Lawtheir parents when I would give anything to rence says. “Angel decided how it will guide be in their position and have my own child her in the future. She couldn’t protect her own here to love. But my work has helped me. I’ve child from being stolen from us due to a horalways been passionate for the kids and now I Angel and Sophia rible disease, but I know Angel, and she will feel fortified and strengthened in a way I can’t do everything she can under the law to protect other people’s explain. My work is also a way to glorify God. Those are the children.” talents He gave me and that’s my way to give back.” One of the first cases Angel was assigned upon her return While Angel didn’t share the grim details of her work with was a capital murder case, which went to trial in February of Sophia, her daughter knew that Angel fought to make the 2019. world a safer place for other children. DIPG AND THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST CONNECTION DIPG AFFECTS 200400 CHILDREN in the United States annually. While DIPG is rare, three children in the Ocean Springs area where Sophia Myers lived were diagnosed within an eight-year period; all have died. Other cases were discovered within a 70-mile radius of Ocean Springs around the same time Sophia was diagnosed. • A goal of the SoSo Strong Foundation created by Angel Myers McIlrath is to commission an environmental study to determine if something in the air, water, or ground of the Gulf Coast region is triggering the unusual number of DIPG cases there. amicus

MIRACLES DO HAPPEN Soon after Angel Myers McIlrath returned to work following the death of her daughter, she prosecuted a horrific child physical abuse case. A little boy named Zander had endured terrible abuse at the hands of his father. Thanks to Angel and her team’s work, the father was sentenced to 40 years with 25 years to serve in prison. “When people ask me about miracles, I tell them about Zander,” Angel says. “He and his family will always hold a special place in my heart. At my swearing in ceremony in January, Zander recited the pledge of allegiance for me. We didn’t get a miracle, but Zander did. He is a living, breathing, thriving miracle.” “Sophia thought that when I fought the ‘bad guy’ I used “He is my rock and my strength.” Just as God gave her strength when Sophia was dying, He karate moves,” Angel recalls with a smile. “I would remind her, gives Angel strength today to live without her daughter. ‘Mommy fights the bad guy with my brain. I use my smarts.’ She “The absence of the miracle we wanted is not the absence would still make karate moves when she told people what I did. of God’s love or presence in our lives,” Angel says. “God was “I know Sophia would be proud,” Angel continues. “I with us every second of the way. I’m not angry with Him for would have given anything for her to have been by my side not intervening or for ‘allowing Sophia to die.’ I trust Him. I when I was sworn in as district attorney. I am running unopknow that He loves us. I know that He is with us. I know that posed, which means in August, I will be the first female elected Sophia is in heaven. I know that I will join her one day. All of DA in my district. I would give anything for Sophia to be with my faith and hope are in Him. me and experience that moment.” “I pray for a cure and I pray that no other child or family endure this terror, but I pray most of all that no matter what, The SoSo Strong Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation God is glorified. He is my rock and my strength, and I can do Angel’s fight against DIPG didn’t end when Sophia died. nothing apart from Him.” In May of 2017, Angel launched the SoSo Strong Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to finding a cure for DIPG. One of Sophia’s favorite nicknames was “SoSo,” and she had proven during her illness just how strong she was. There could be no better name. “Sophia still has a future, a legacy,” Angel says. “From To donate to the the moment she was born, I felt in my heart that Sophia was destined for great things. I believe great advancements in the O O TRONG treatment of DIPG will be made because of her fight.” SoSo Strong plans to partner with the Michael Mosier EDIATRIC RAIN Defeat DIPG Foundation, an organization founded in honor of another child taken by DIPG. The Mosier Foundation has UMOR OUNDATION a scientific advisory council in place; SoSo Strong will contribute to research the council deems most promising. SoSo visit sosostrongpbtf.org Strong also provides support services to families of children suffering from DIPG. To date, the SoSo Strong Foundation has raised more than $100,000.

S S S P B T F

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CLERKS at

WORK

an inside look at judicial clerkships with alumni on the job “I love my job,” says Patrick Fields ’18. “I love running down the nuances of issues. I can think and research and think and research some more. I also love the atmosphere. I grab some coffee and turn on some jazz, and then I think and write and get paid to do it.” Fields is one of several recent MC Law graduates now working as a judicial law clerk. Clerkships are coveted positions, typically held by outstanding students who excelled in law school. Many of the legal profession’s most respected attorneys and judges began their careers as clerks. These new attorneys play a critical role in the legal community, conducting meticulous research, assisting in drafting sound legal opinions, and building a wealth of knowledge, experiences, and contacts that prepare them for success as clerks and beyond.

“The skills gained during a judicial clerkship are invaluable to anyone planning to practice law or teach. Clerkships provide a unique opportunity to observe the legal system from the judge’s perspective and contribute to the judicial decision-making process. Clerkships also offer graduates the opportunity to develop a professional network of judges, law clerks, and attorneys that will last long after the clerkship ends.” JHASMINE ANDREWS MC LAW DIRECTOR OF CAREER SERVICES

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KATIE MCCUMMINS BEATTY ’18 Clerk for Judge Sharion Aycock on the U.S. District Court Northern District of Mississippi, since August 2018 What does a typical day on the job look like? there is no injury under the law and we have to dismiss the case. A significant amount of reading, writing, and researching. I’m either reading through a case docket for the first time and How did MC Law prepare you for this role? drawing up an outline of the case, or diving into legal research Law Review played a big part in preparing me for my clerkto familiarize myself with the law surrounding the case. We ship, as did speaking with MC Law alumni who completed have court once a week, and on those days, I observe the pro- clerkships. The alumni helped me understand the expectaceedings. I see great examples of what practice looks like in tions of the job and walked me through what to expect the the federal system. first few weeks. I also had the opportunity to extern with United States What do you enjoy the most about your position? Magistrate Judge Michael Parker in Hattiesburg. That experiOther than my co-workers, I really enjoy how academic the ence has proven invaluable to me and I am so grateful to have work is. I have always loved the research and writing side of had such an opportunity. the law. It’s been great getting to hone those skills. Most rewarding experience on the job? What do you find the most challenging? Judge Aycock swore me into practice in the Northern District It’s tough when we have a case with a sympathetic plaintiff, but of Mississippi, which was so special to me.

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PATRICK FIELDS ’18 Clerk for Judge Leslie Southwick of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit since August 2018 What unique opportunities has your clerkship offered? What skills or character traits should every law clerk possess? The variety of substance on appeal is great. I have opportu- Humility. Your work will be constantly critiqued by some of nities to work with issues in immigration law, federal crimi- the best legal minds in the world. nal law, federal habeas, civil rights, and all sorts of civil state law issues. Most memorable experience on the job? We are the last stop for many prisoners who bring 11th hour What do you find the most challenging? challenges to stave off execution dates. Working through those My mind is stretched all the time. My co-clerks are some of appeals always leaves an imprint on me. I will always rememthe most intelligent people I have ever met. My interactions ber the names of the capital cases. with them are constant challenges to improve the sophistication, depth, and issue spotting of my legal analyses. And then Most unusual experience on the job? there is Judge Southwick. He sees things I wouldn’t at this Perhaps among my more unexpected experiences were the two point in my young career. His experience and thinking force times I was the bailiff for the court. The judges’ clerks function me to become a better clerk and a better attorney. as the bailiffs during Fifth Circuit oral arguments. I am not sure what I would have done if an unruly spectator or party actually bothered the bench. MC Law didn’t prepare me for that.

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MARSHALL JOHNSTON ’17 Associate attorney with Gregorio, Chafin & Johnson, LLC in Shreveport, Louisiana Former Clerk with Chief Judge Robert P. Waddell and Judge Charles Tutt of the First Judicial District Court of Caddo Parish, Louisiana What did you find most challenging about your clerkship? What skills did you hone as a clerk that help you in your The most challenging aspect of clerking for domestic judges position today? is dealing with the emotional nature of divorce and child I learned a great deal about the procedural requirements of custody disputes. It can be difficult watching families sepa- motion practice and court room etiquette. I observed a lot of rate. It’s a situation that can sometimes bring out the worst civil bench and jury trials, which helps a great deal in my curin people. rent practice of personal injury – plaintiff’s litigation. And I learned from observing and working directly with some of the What did you enjoy the most? best attorneys in the state of Louisiana. The opportunity to help people. Domestic court can be very stressful, but it can also be very rewarding when you help How did MC Law prepare you for a clerkship? someone find the best resolution to a difficult problem. MC Law does a great job for preparing students for practice. I met a lot of the practicing attorneys in the area, and I The old adage, “It’s law school, not attorney school” holds true also enjoyed being able to meet and work alongside all of the in some regards just because you don’t know how to practice judges, staff, and clerks at the First Judicial District Court. I’m law until the training wheels come off, but MC Law mitigates now arguing cases in front of judges that I was having coffee that with practice-related classes and building a strong founwith not quite a year ago. dation in research and writing. amicus

MOLLY MCNAIR ’18 Clerk for Magistrate Judge Michael Parker on the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Mississippi, since August 2018 What do you enjoy the most about serving as a clerk? I have the opportunity to learn new things every day. I can watch criminal hearings in the morning and then work on a civil discovery dispute in the afternoon. This position has exposed me to several different areas of the law.

professionally interacting with attorneys and producing the best product possible. I also interned for Justice Josiah Coleman on the Mississippi Supreme Court and for District Judge Daniel P. Jordan. Both experiences taught me a lot about the state and federal court system and helped me decide to pursue a clerkship after law school.

How did MC Law prepare you for this position? While the legal profession is full of unknowns and you cannot Most rewarding experience on the job? be prepared for every scenario, MC Law prepared me well both Apart from having a wonderful boss, I’ve enjoyed meeting academically and professionally for this position. the many attorneys that practice in this court. Every lawyer I I did a lot of work on the Law Review and worked closely meet has something valuable to teach me about the legal prowith Professor Donald Campbell. The Law Review projects, fession. All of this wisdom is laying a good foundation for my and Professor Campbell in particular, taught me a lot about own legal career. MC Law regularly hosts judicial clerkship programs to assist students on the judicial clerkship path. Current judges, as well as current and former clerks, are invited to meet with students to offer insights on the benefits of clerking and the clerkship application process. • Are you a judge or clerk who would like to help MC Law students learn more about clerkships by participating in the next program? Please contact Jhasmine Andrews at jeandrews1@mc.edu for dates and details. amicus

RAY YOUNG ’18 Clerk for Judge Sharion Aycock on the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Mississippi since August 2018 What do you enjoy the most about serving as a clerk? clinic also required genuine care for each child and family. Working for a judge who is genuinely invested in her clerks’ These skills easily transferred to my job as a law clerk. successes and futures. Judge Aycock is committed to her clerks Once I was offered this job, Professor Meta Copeland sugfrom day one. There’s a lot to be said about landing a clerkship gested I extern for Chief Judge Daniel Jordan. That experience after law school. But there’s much more to be said about clerk- gave me great insight into the job and exposed me to the life ing for Judge Aycock. She’s kind, firm, and extremely smart. as a law clerk. Judge Jordan was a great teacher. How did MC Law prepare you for this position? I participated in several externships at MC Law, including an externship in the adoption clinic. While the clinic doesn’t directly relate to clerking, it taught me the keen skill of organization. In the adoption clinic, I worked on 40-plus cases at a time. Each case required attention to detail, organization, and strict compliance to the ordinary process of adoptions. This

What skills or character traits should every law clerk possess? Time management skills, writing and research skills, and minimum ego. Most rewarding experience on the job? The most rewarding experience has been observing court proceedings—learning what to do and what not to do.

OTHER MC LAW ALUMNI SERVING AS CLERKS INCLUDE: Frances Bowman, Mississippi Supreme Court • Kathrine Collins, Mississippi Court of Appeals • Loden Walker, Mississippi Court of Appeals Claire Williams, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit • Hannah Heffernan, Mississippi Court of Appeals amicus

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donor profile

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES MARK SLEDGE ’80 “WHEN PEOPLE COME TO ME, it’s because there’s something really bad happening,” Mark Sledge of T. Mark Sledge, Attorney at Law, PLLC, says. “To be able to help them is fulfilling.” Sledge began his law career with Barnett Montgomery McClintock & Cunningham while he was still a student at MC Law, then went on to open a successful solo practice. He later served as a circuit court judge in the Seventh Circuit Court District, which included Hinds and Yazoo Counties, Mississippi. Upon his swearing in, Sledge became the youngest judge ever elected in Mississippi. His decision to return to private practice as a personal injury attorney grew from Sledge’s strong desire to help people. He has represented plaintiffs in numerous mass torts, including breast implant and drug litigation cases. The National Trial Lawyers, Million Dollar and Multimillion Dollar Advocates Forum, Martindale-Hubbard, and the American Association for Justice have all recognized Sledge for his outstanding work. While he’s enjoyed tremendous success in the legal field, Sledge has never been all work and no play. As a student at MC Law, Sledge came up with creative ways to relieve the pressures of law school.

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“The first year of law school, I took my last exam on December 22nd. Christmas was over before I even figured out it was going on,” Sledge recalls. “For the next two years of law school, my group of friends and I hosted a Christmas party in September. We set up a tree and made wearing a Christmas sweater a requirement of attendance. It was a very well-attended event.” Today, Sledge and his wife, Lisa, have two sons and five grandchildren. While the Sledge family now celebrates Christmas in December, Sledge has never forgotten his days at MC Law, nor he has ever taken for granted the opportunities afforded him by his law school education. Sledge’s wish to continue supporting the law school inspired him to take out a life insurance policy and name MC Law the beneficiary. His planned gift allowed Sledge to make a generous donation to MC Law and to continue to support MC Law for many years to come. “MC Law gave me the opportunity to succeed in a profession. That profession has given me the opportunity to help other people,” Sledge says. “I’m grateful for those opportunities and I’ve always tried to support MC Law in return.”

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SETTING A PRECEDENT One of Mark Sledge’s most memorable cases not only brought some sense of justice to his client, but also set a precedent that is still protecting others more than three decades later. Sledge’s client was an 18-year-old woman who had been abducted at knifepoint from a Mississippi shopping mall parking lot, brutally assaulted, and held prisoner in the trunk of a car for 22 scorching summer days. Following three weeks of round-the-clock police work, intense searching, and consultations from two volunteer psychics, the woman was found and her assailant was arrested. Sledge represented the woman in a civil lawsuit against the shopping mall. Thanks to his work, the young survivor received a settlement that helped pay for therapy for her physical and mental recovery. The case also prompted shopping centers and other public locations statewide to hire security guards and install lighting and security cameras to better protect their patrons.

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Honor Roll Of

DONORS MC Law thanks the generous donors that follow for gifts made to the law school between June 1, 2016 and May 31, 2018. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to make a gift to MC Law, please contact: Karen Flowers 601.925.7172 or kďŹ&#x201A;owers@mc.edu To make a secure gift online, visit lawalumni.mc.edu/donatenow

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2016-2018 HONOR ROLL CAPITAL CIRCLE ($10,000 and above)

Phyllis and Reuben V. Anderson Butler Snow LLP Charles Koch Foundation Copeland Cook Taylor & Bush P.A. Deakle-Johnson Family Foundation Entergy Corporation Anne Hurst and John Lewis ’92 Hunter W. Lundy ’80 Matthew E. Lundy Samuel Martin Millette, Jr. ’87 Mississippi Association for Justice Mississippi Baptist Foundation The Mississippi Bar The Mississippi Bar Foundation, Inc. Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference, Inc. Robert M. Hearin Foundation Selby and Richard McRae Foundation R. Allen Smith, Jr. ’00 DEAN’S CIRCLE ($5,000 - $9,999) Dean Patricia Bennett ’79 The Honorable Thomas Houston Broome ’96 and Paula Broome ’96 Assistant Dean Mary Miller ’85 Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association Mississippi Bar Sections Fund Dr. Melinda M. Mullins T. Mark Sledge ’80 PARTNER ($1,000 - $4,999) James W. Abernethy, Jr. ’66 Access Group, Inc. Adams and Reese LLP Amanda Green Alexander ’04 Alexander Law, P.A. American Board of Trial Advocates Anderson Crawley & Burke, PLLC Mary Ashley ’99 and Stephen Smith Ashley Jr. ’97 Association of Legal Administrators, MS Chapter Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC BancorpSouth Chuck D’Wayne Barlow ’89 Michael G. Boulegeris Lucien L. Bourgeois ’80 Bradley Arant, Boult Cummings, LLP Bradley, Arant, Boult, Cummings Charitable Foundation Brooks Court Reporting, Inc. Charles Clark Chapter American Inns of Court Chhabra & Gibbs, P.A. Connecting the Dots Foundation

Peter Lee Corson ’85 Merrida P. Coxwell, Jr. ’80 Sid Davis ’83 Hayden S. Dent ’89 Dukes, Dukes, Keating & Faneca, P.A. Dumas Law Firm, LLC William M. Dye, Jr. Professor Cecile C. Edwards John Robert Elliott, Jr. ’01 and Shannon Elliott ’02 Excel Injection Molding Frank Mell Ferrell ’78 Forman Perry Watkins & Krutz LLP The Honorable Deborah J. Gambrell ’78 The Honorable Thomas P. Givens ’64 Timothy Douglas Gray ’95 Gregory D. Guida ’92 The Honorable Prentiss G. Harrell ’86 Professor H. Lee Hetherington B. Gregory Hinkebein ’79 Hugh Dennis Keating ’79 Ted H. Kendall, III Professor J. Larry Lee Dr. Mary Alice Lee The Honorable Tom S. Lee Lundy, Lundy, Soileau & South, LLP Robert L. Lyle ’88 John Michael Maloney ’80 Maron, Marvel, Bradley, Anderson & Tardy, LLC The Honorable James Kent McDaniel ’86 McGlinchey Stafford, PLLC Associate Dean Phillip Lee McIntosh Dennis W. Miller ’84 Mississippi Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center Morton Law Firm, PLLC Mississippi Association of County Board Attorneys Mississippi Bar Fellows of the Young Lawyers Mississippi Chapter Federal Bar Association Libby Pantazis ’81 and Dennis Pantazis ’80 The Honorable Michael T. Parker ’86 The Honorable Mary Libby Payne Aubry Matt Pesnell ’94 Phelps Dunbar, LLP Rankin County Bar Association Regions Bank Dean Emeritus James H. Rosenblatt Dr. and Mrs. Lee G. Royce Schwartz and Associates, P.A. The Honorable Bobby D. Simmons ’86 Timothy John Sterling ’08 John Hunter Stevens ’89 The Honorable Linda A. Thompson ’85

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Annette W. Townsend Keith Whiteman Turner ’98 United States District Court Watkins & Eager, PLLC Michael Wayne White ’92 LAW FELLOWS ($500 - $999) Roderick Mark Alexander Jr. ’02 The Honorable Linda R. Anderson ’85 Atmos Energy Corporation Baptist Health Foundation Frederick Brice Brackin ’13 David F. Butterfield C Spire Wireless Tangi Carter ’97 Chelsea Lauren Chicosky ’15 Lee W. Cline ’79 Robert A. Colavolpe Hugh Ruston Comley ’06 Professor Meta Swain Copeland ’98 Megan N. Copley ’15 Covington & Burling, LLP A. Scott Cumbest ’81 David Christopher Daniel ’02 Daniel, Coker, Horton & Bell, P.A. Andrea La’Verne Ford Edney ’96 John Frederick England ’91 Forrest General Hospital Raymond Allyn Fox, Jr. ’80 Dr. Steven Marshall Gore Jesse Albert Granneman ’09 Grantham Poole, PLLC Samuel Deucalion Gregory ’13 Dennis John Gruttadaro ’84 Dr. Daniel Cannon Hall The Honorable Karen Luikart Hayes ’90 George W. Healy, IV ’85 Donald P. Hill ’86 Lieutenant Colonel Andy K. Hughes Clifton Willard Jeffery, Jr. ’06 Gerald A. Jeutter, Jr. ’85 Alexander Dunlap Kassoff ’06 Melton Earl Knotts, Jr. ’85 Sara Katherine Lawrence ’08 Major General William J. Lutz ’82 Madison County Bar Association Joan Marie Malbrough ’92 Mississippi Women Lawyers Association Timothy L. Murr ’82 David F. Myers ’14 Old Republic Title Insurance Group Onyx Marketing, Inc. Professor David Kells Parker ’13 Pershing Yoakley & Associates Leigh Ann Herman Prine ’91 William T. Reed ’78 The Honorable Mark Wayne Reeves ’96

2016-2018 HONOR ROLL Jennifer James Selby ’95 The Koerber Company, P.A. Sanford Cole Thomas ’82 William Matthew Thompson, Sr. ’05 Marvin Lee Waldrep ’78 James K. Wetzel ’79 Wright Law Firm BARRISTERS’ SOCIETY ($152 - $499) Terica Eureka Adams ’15 Anne P. Veazey Mediation, Inc. Henry J. Applewhite, II ’81 Aregood Technologies, Inc. Vic C. Bailey, III ’80 Ian Lawrence Baker ’06 Amy Baskin The Honorable Thomas H. Bates ’73 Walter Fred Beesley ’05 Marc Edward Brand ’79 Elizabeth D. Broome Michael Richard Brown ’98 Taurean Dernell Buchanan ’07 Thorne G. Butler Professor Donald Eugene Campbell ’01 Campus Dining, Inc. The Honorable Roger Clifford Clapp ’74 Serena Rasberry Clark ’04 Gilbert Joseph Comley ’09 Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Courtney ’75 Dennis D. Craig ’79 Andrew Creighton John J. Crow, Jr. ’76 Lucius Dabney, Jr. Dallas Printing Matthew Thomas Dixon ’00 Envision Eye Care, Inc. Patricia H. Evans Patricia Cox Gandy ’98 Heather Elizabeth Graves The Honorable Debbra Halford ’86 and Bill Halford ’86 John Hall Laura D. Heusel ’17 Carlyn McGee Hicks ’10 Andrew Trimigan Holmes ’09

Caroline Kunz Ivanov ’12 Professor Judith Jones Johnson Sheryl Stryker Johnson ’02 Professor Emeritus Shirley Norwood Jones Professor Shirley Terry Kennedy ’91 Jad J Khalaf ’14 Brenda M. Langford Professor Susan Hinton Lassiter Major Trent D. Laviano ’88 Professor Victoria Lowery Leech ’98 Mark Henry Lyon ’07 Madhu Chopra Memorial Foundation Dr. Michael A. McCann Sandra Miller McDaniel ’89 Ann Bolton McIntyre ’90 Angela McPhail Michael W. McPhail ’78 Amanda Montgomery Matthew Kyle Moore ’13 Kathryn Hope Morgan ’13 Robert S. Murphree Jessica Elizabeth Murray ’11 Ammie T. Nguyen ’15 W. C. Noblin, Jr. ’71 John Lewis Pannier ’97 Pendleton Security, Inc. The Honorable Eleanor Faye Peterson ’93 Marlena Powell Pickering ’07 Anne Darden Porter-Veazey ’78 Linda Orlansky Posner ’92 Prewitt Contract Services, Inc. Professor Mary Largent Purvis ’01and Alex Purvis ’02 Amanda Reagan Captain Warren Arthur Record, Jr. ’96 Willie Dewayne Richardson ’02 Linda Dixon Rigsby ’02 Jennifer A. Riley-Collins ’99 Robin L. Roberts ’85 Raymond Glen Russell ’96 Matthew E. Rutherford, Sr. Bridgforth Rimes Rutledge ’99 Erin Bachman Saltaformaggio ’11 and Mike Saltaformaggio ’11 Jerrold John Scholtens ’97 Danny G. Schulman ’79

Caroline Baker Smith ’17 Christopher Edward Smith ’09 Professor Matthew Scott Steffey Forrest W. Stringfellow ’69 The Law Offices of April D. Porter, PC Travis Law Offices, PLLC Christopher Collins Van Cleave ’97 Wanda C. Walcavich Jerry R. Wallace ’81 The Honorable William Lowe Waller, Jr. Lindsey Oswalt Watson ’09 Patricia B. White William E. Whitfield III ’81 Associate Dean Jonathan F. Will Ke Yuan ’08 151 CLUB (Up to $151) Brian Thomas Alexander ’14 Assma A. Ali ’17 American Civil Liberties Union of Miss. Foundation, Inc. Professor John Peter Anderson Michael D. Anderson ’17 Robert G. Anderson ’87 Jhasmine Eunique Andrews ’15 Charles E. Baglan, Jr. ’78 Kathy Baker ’88 and Daniel M. Baker ’88 Jennifer Tyler Baker ’04 Kristi Bauman Breanna Bell Crystal Jade Bender ’09 R. Michael Bolen ’78 William Borgognoni The Honorable Cynthia Lee Brewer ’85 Melissa Briner Sarah Bryan Dr. James B. Bryant James Bruce Bryant ’89 James N. Bullock ’80 Stephen Finley Butterfield ’14 Professor Deborah J. Challener Mr. & Mrs. John B. Clark Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Lee Cluff, Jr. ’95 David L. Cobb ’69 Todd Ashley Coker ’98

“I’d like to challenge every alumnus of MC Law to support the law school, even if it’s just by writing a check for five dollars. Your support is critical to enhancing MC Law, supporting our outstanding faculty, and providing scholarships and opportunities. The experience we were all so fortunate to share shouldn’t be available only to those with significant financial means.” – Tangi Carter ’97 2017-19 president of the MC Law Alumni Association

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2016-2018 HONOR ROLL Bobbie Rider Cole Sherwood Alexander Colette ’10 Jan Coulter Collins Tara Condon Sarah Coplon ’16 Emil Nick Crawford ’78 The Honorable Elizabeth Rives de Gruy ’91and André de Gruy ’90 Lawrence DeMarie ’82 Shirley J. DiConcilio ’86 Christopher Freddrick Dobbins ’01 Caylan Dunnells ’17 and Christopher Dunnells ’17 Tasha Fain Karen Galyon Flowers Betty Ruth S. Fox ’89 Frascogna Courtney, PLLC Brittany Garner John W. Garrard ’66 Neila Getz D. Gibbs The Honorable Corey Daniel Gibson ’12 Diane Gilliland Teri Dunaway Gleason ’98 Charles Weil Goldberg ’08 Maisie Gospodarek Kenneth Gabe Goza ’07 Charles E. Griffin II ’80 The Hononorable Thomas Kenneth Griffis, Jr. John Ray Gunn ’79 Alicia Scherini Hall ’10 Allison Kay Hartman ’15 Elizabeth Hatfield Rebecca Lynn Wiggins Hawkins ’90 Diane H. Henderson ’80 Ashley Lekesha Hendricks ’12 Bobbye B. Henley ’80 Michael Edward Henry ’09 Heritage Luncheon Club Janice Throckmorton Jackson ’95 Reeve G. Jacobus, Jr. ’84 Nathan J. Jermyn ’17 Profressor Randall K. Johnson Earl Keyes ’54 Travis Kuehn Professor Angela Mae Kupenda ’91 Dawn B Kyle ’16 Robert Kelly Kyle ’92 William R. LaBarre ’86 Judy C. Lacy Dudley Ford Lampton Clayton Tyler Land ’12 Katie Lane Melissa Larson Law Offices of Malouf & Malouf, PLLC Professor Chandra Thrash Lee ’97

Sharon P. Leggett Samantha Grace Lewis ’16 Matt Loehrke George Scott Luter ’80 John Joseph Lyons ’13 Theresa Magelky Rebecca Wooten Mansell ’94 E. V. Martinez ’90 Nicki Martinson-Boland ’80 The Honorable David Neil McCarty ’04 Leesa Crim McCharen ’98 Linda L. McGehee J. Wriley McKeown ’99 Patrick Joseph McNamara, Jr. ’99 Paul Herrin McPhail ’76 Teresa Merriman Andrew Meyers Danny L. Miller ’16 Dianna Yvonne Miller ’09 Keli Rhea Mitchell Laurence Downing Mixson Patricia Ann Montgomery ’91 S. Monique Brooks Montgomery ’95 Jeffrey S. Moore Brian Myers Jake Nachtigal Walter Andrew Neely ’06 Christopher H. Negem ’90 Sheri Nelson Daniel Mark Nolan ’92 Reed Thomas Nunnelee ’12 Conor Patrick O’Donovan ’13 Katharine M. and Terrence O’Donovan Joyce Elaine Owens Pete Owens Dr. Virginia J. Payne James A. Peden, Jr. Christine Pepin Robert Louis Perkins ’02 Sue Miller Perry ’07 Ann Prewitt Robert Stephen Pruett ’14 Rachelle Sevier Richardson ’10 The Honorable Haydn J. Roberts ’07 Carlyn Runnels Kate Schwarz Professor Wendy B. Scott John E. Shaw ’67 Al Shiyou, Jr. ’82 Tim Shonkwiler Leif Samuel Skodnick ’13 The Honorable Albert B. Smith, III ’84 Chris E. Smith Dellwyn Katrice Smith ’09 Denita Nicole Smith ’09 Jessica Morgan Smith ’10 Matleaner Spann

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The Honorable Keith Starrett Belinda J. Stevens ’86 David Earl Stovall ’07 William Wesley Stover, Jr. ’90 Mallory Miller Street ’13 Amanda Douglas Summerlin ’02 James C. Sumner William Andy Sumrall ’75 Owen P. Terry ’17 The Camp Law Firm, PLLC Eugenia Stark Thomas Emma Thompson Christy C. Thornton Todd Nathan Thriffiley ’93 Basil A. Valdivia ’92 Edward Owens Watson ’03 Anastacia Weidner Dr. Betsy R. Welch Laura E. Westheimer ’17 Melvin Lee Williams ’08 Williford, McAllister and Jacobus, LLP Megan Wiltshire Xiwei Wu ’15 Donna M. Young ’91

THE MC LAW HERITAGE SOCIETY The Heritage Society honors those who make planned gifts to the law school, including provision for MC Law in their estate plan through a charitable bequest, a trust, or a gift of life insurance. HERITAGE SOCIETY MEMBERS D. Carl Black, Jr. ’63 Thorne G. Butler Lee Cline ’79 D. Christopher Daniel ’02 The Honorable Rex Gabbert ’85 Hugh Keating ’79 Jonny P. Lohman Robert L. Lyle ’88 The Honorable David McCarty ’04 J. Michael Maloney ’80 The Honorable Mary Libby Payne Jon B. Rivera Dean Emeritus Jim Rosenblatt T. Mark Sledge ’80

class | action please send your class action updates to kerri mcgehee, coordinator of alumni advancement, at kmcgehee@mc.edu 1972

1986

The Honorable James W. Smith, Jr. received the 2017 MC Law Judicial Excellence Award.

The Honorable Debbra Halford received the 2017 MC Law Judicial Excellence Award.

The Honorable Prentiss Harrell received the 2018 MC Law 1973 The Honorable H. David Clark, II retired as judge in the Chan- Judicial Excellence Award. cery Court of the Second Court District for the State of MissisThe Honorable Kent McDaniel received the 2018 MC Law sippi after 29 years of service. Judicial Excellence Award. The Honorable L. Joe Lee retired as chief judge for the Mississippi 1987 Court of Appeals after 20 years of service. Gwen Combs received the Distinguished Service Award from the Mississippi Bar. 1975 The Honorable Samac Richardson received the 2017 MC Law Judicial Excellence Award. 1977

Larry Little was elected chancery judge for District 18 Place 1 in Mississippi.

Roger Riddick is partner with the Jackson oﬃce of McAngus Goudelock & Courie. Dave Rozier was recognized as a new member with distinction by the American Law Society. 1988

1978

Andrew Kilpatrick received the Contribution to Amateur Football Award presented by the Ole Miss Chapter of the National Football Foundation. He was also inducted into the 2018 class of Mississippi Bar Fellows.

John “Bubba” Bramlett was appointed by Governor Phil Bryant as district attorney for Madison and Rankin Counties, Mississippi. Lawrence A. LeBrocq, managing partner, Garces Grabler & LeBrocq, PC, joined Noticed©, an invitation-only service for distinguished professionals.

Charlie Smith was elected chancery judge for District 12 Place 1 in Mississippi.

1989

Chuck Barlow was named MC Law’s 2017 Lawyer of the Year. 1979

MC Law Dean Patricia Bennett was awarded the 2018 Lifetime The Honorable Vince Davis received the 2018 MC Law Judicial Achievement Award by the Mississippi Women Lawyers Associ- Exellence Award. ation. Dean Bennett was also recognized as a Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of Mississippi and as one of Mississippi’s Leann Nealey joined the Mississippi Court of Appeals as clerk for Judge Virginia Carlton. 25 Most Influential African-Americans for 2018. She served as the 2018-2019 Mississippi Bar president. Trey Phillips retired from the State of Louisiana as the first assistant attorney general and has a private consulting firm that works The Honorable Greg Hinkebein received the 2018 MC Law Judi- on coastal and environmental issues nationwide. cial Excellence Award. Paula Yancey’s artwork, entitled “Colors of Life,”was featured in 1980 an exhibition at the Lincoln County Mississippi Public Library. The Honorable Sharion Aycock received the 2018 MC Law Judi- Yancey is a featured artist at the Fairhope Artist Gallery in Alabama. cial Recognition Award. Lucien Bourgeois joined Crews & Associates as director of business development for Mississippi. 1982

1991

John England of the Ridgeland oﬃce of Butler Snow was honored as a 2017 Mid-South Super Lawyer. Lisa Howell was appointed to the Lauderdale County Court.

Mark Maples was elected chancery judge for District 16 Place 3 in Mississippi. 1984

Randy Patterson was honored as a 2017 Mid-South Super Lawyer.

Dennis W. Miller was inducted into the 2018 class of Mississippi Bar Fellows.

Edward Taylor is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He is a partner in the ﬁrm of Daniel Coker Horton & Bell P.A.

1985

1992

Ted Sanderson joined the taxation department of Baker Donel- Willie T. Abston was inducted into the 2018 class of Mississippi son in Jackson. Bar Fellows.

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John Linker joined Winstead PC in Dallas as shareholder.

Bethany Brantley Johnson is partner with Anderson, Crawley & Burke, LLP.

Laura Pickens was promoted to chief assistant prosecutor in Harrison County. The Honorable R. Lee Martin was sworn in as a United States federal administrative law judge. 1993

Walter Morrison, IV was named 2017 Lawyer of the Year in the Plaintiﬀs Personal Injury category by Best Lawyers.

Bobby Moorehead was selected as Jackson Free Press’s 2018 Best of Jackson in the Best Real Estate Attorney category.

Melissa Patterson has joined the Mississippi Department of Transportation’s legal division.

Kathy K. Smith was inducted as a member of the 2018 class of the Mississippi Bar Fellows.

Faye Peterson was elected Hinds County circuit judge District 7 Place 4 in Mississippi.

Marcie Southerland was elected county judge for Warren County, Mississippi. 1997

Sherry Rowlett is with the U. S. Department of Homeland Security in Washington, D.C.

Kiley Kirck was elected chancery judge for District 6 Place 2. David A. Rueﬀ, Jr. was inducted as a fellow of the College of Law Practice Management.

1994

Wendy Mullins was chosen by the Mississippi Business Journal as a 2017 Leader in Law. Mullins was appointed to Innovate Mississippi’s seed fund investment board and serves as chairman of the Madison County Business League and Foundation Entrepreneurship Committee. Shelia Havard Smallwood was elected chancery judge District 10 Place 3 in Mississippi. William Wallace received the keys to the city of Corsicana, Texas, from Mayor Don Denbow for his ﬁlm work entitled, “Warning Shot to Corsicana.”

1998

Nina Baker was named Georgia’s Solicitor of the Year. Patti Gandy was awarded the 2017 MC Law Community Spirit Award. Gandy was also appointed to the Mississippi Access to Justice Commission and was named a 2018 Mississippi Business Journal Leader in Law. Jennifer Riley-Collins received the 2018 Hidden Figure Award from the National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division. The Honorable Don “Skipper” Creed was appointed chief district court judge for Judicial District 19D in North Carolina.

1995

Derrick Jones is owner of the Jones Agency in Chicago Heights, Illinois. Quint Shafer is associate circuit judge with the 6th Judicial Circuit (Platte County) in Missouri. Kari Sutherland was named one of Benchmark Litigation’s Top 250 Women in Litigation. 1996

Sharkey Burke was elected to the French Camp Academy Board of Trustees. The Honorable Steve Dillard was sworn in as chief judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals. La’Verne Edney was selected as MC Law’s 2018 Lawyer of the Year. She is a member of Butler Snow’s litigation department in the Ridgeland oﬃce.

1999

Matthew Hetzel joined Wells Marble as a member in their Ridgeland oﬃce. Trae Sims is associated with Taggart, Rimes & Graham in Ridgeland. He will serve as the 2019-2021 MC Law Alumni Association president. Jamie Deon Travis of Jackson was elected to District 7 – Post 1 of the Mississippi Bar Board of Commissioners. 2000

Angela Carpenter was nominated by George Flaggs, mayor of Vicksburg, Mississippi, as municipal judge. Jeﬀrey Carson has joined Diversiﬁed Trust in Nashville as senior vice president. Mary Barnett “Betsy” Cotton was elected county judge for Yazoo County, Mississippi.

Steven E. Farese, Jr. was elected to the Mississippi Bar Board of Commissioners to represent District 3, Post 2.

Chad Hanson was elected to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals.

Robert Hurt is director of the new Center for Law and Government at Liberty University.

Michael “Chad” Smith was elected chancery judge District 10 Place 4 in Mississippi.

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class | action 2001

2004

Renee Berry was elected to the Mississippi Bar Board of Commis- Amanda Green Alexander was elected to the Mississippi Bar Board of Commissioners to represent District 7, Post 5. Alexander was sioners to represent District 22. chosen as one of the 2017 Mississippi Business Journal’s 50 Leading Businesswomen. Reggie Blackledge was appointed Magee municipal judge. Frank Farmer was named general counsel of the Mississippi Pub- Tina Demoran was chosen as one of the 2017 Mississippi Business Journal’s 50 Leading Businesswomen. lic Service Commission. Kimberly Gore has joined the Tulsa, Oklahoma, oﬃce of McAfee & Taft.

Joseph Durr was elected chancery judge for District 15 in Mississippi.

Tiffany Grove was elected chancery judge for Hinds County DisMargarette Meeks was appointed the first female city attorney for trict 5-4. She received the 2018 Outstanding Woman Lawyer the City of Clarksdale, a position she held from October 2017 Award from the Mississippi Women Lawyers Association. Grove until October 2018. She resigned that position to return to pri- will serve as the 2019-2020 president of the Capital Area Bar vate practice in Jackson, opening the Law Office of Margarette Association. Meeks PLLC. The Delta Business Journal selected Meeks as one of the Delta’s Top Minorities in Business for 2017. The Metro Jess Hornsby is with May, Jewell & Hornsby in Moultrie, Georgia. Jackson Black Women Lawyers Association selected Meeks as a David McCarty was elected to the Mississippi Court of Appeals 2017 Top Ten Legal Trailblazer. for District 4. Holly Nash-Smalling is partner with the Jackson office of McAn- Angel Myers McIlrath was appointed by Governor Phil Bryant as the district attorney for the 19th Circuit Court District in Missisgus, Goudelock & Courie. sippi. She was also elected to serve District 19 of the Mississippi Mark Power is business development officer with Community Bar Board of Commissioners. Bank. Branan Southerland was sworn in as assistant district attorney for Warren County, Mississippi. Professor Mary Largent Purvis has been elected to the board of directors of the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi. Jeremy Vanderloo was promoted to vice president, regulatory The Honorable Sean Tindale was elected to the Mississippi Court affairs with Entergy Mississippi. of Appeals in November 2018 after serving a one-year appointment to the court.

Zach Vaughn was elected to serve as justice court judge District 2 in Forrest County, Mississippi.

2002

Dewey Arthur was elected circuit judge District 20 Place 3 in Mississippi. Mary Margaret Gay has opened an all women-owned ﬁrm, Gay Jones & Kuhn, PLLC, in Jackson with Joanna Kuhn ’10. Gay was chosen as one of the 2017 Mississippi Business Journal’s 50 Leading Businesswomen.

2005

Leslie Bounds is with Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC in Jackson. Mike Dickinson was elected judge for Harrison County Court Place 3. Katina Hardee is shareholder with Fowler-White in Miami.

Andy Gipson was appointed agriculture commissioner for Mississippi by Governor Phil Bryant. Chip Glaze is deputy director of the Colorado Lawyer Assistance Program. 2003

Brett Bagley Thompson-May was recognized for her postgraduate work in health policy studies at George Washington University. Kassie Coleman was appointed by Governor Phil Bryant as the district attorney for the 10th Circuit Court District of Mississippi.

Earl Houston, II was appointed to an ex oﬃcio position on the USLAW Network Board of Directors representing the organization’s diversity council. Houston is a director and shareholder with Martin, Tate, Morrow & Martson, PC in Memphis. Stephen Masley was named a Rising Star by Mid-South Super Lawyers in the areas of civil litigation: defense, bankruptcy: consumer, and banking.

Troy Johnston was honored as a 2017 Mid-South Super Lawyer.

The Honorable Toni Terrett was elected 9th circuit district court judge for Place 1. She previously served as Vicksburg municipal judge.

Edward Watson is a 2018 Mississippi Business Journal Leader in Law.

Matthew Thompson is a 2018 Mississippi Business Journal Leader in Law.

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class | action 2006

Jason Marsh is partner with Phelps Dunbar, LLP.

Adam Gates was honored by the 2017 publication Mid-South Rising Stars. Karen Howell was chosen as one of the 2017 Mississippi Business Journal’s 50 Leading Businesswomen. John Lassiter received the 2018 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award from the Mississippi College English Department. He was also a 2018 Mississippi Business Journal Leader in Law. Eugene O’Donnell is director of industry relations with PrescribeWellness in Atlanta. Kelly Williams became the ﬁrst and only attorney in Mississippi to be certiﬁed as a child welfare law specialist. 2007

Whitney McKay Adams was elected to the Mississippi Bar Board of Commissioners to represent District 20, Post 2. Matthew A. Baldridge of Madison was elected to District 20 – Post 3 of the Mississippi Bar Board of Commissioners.

Chris Moore is a contract negotiator and grant administrator at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Elizabeth Whitaker Namanny has been promoted to ﬁrst vice president and trust oﬃcer at Trustmark National Bank. Tim Sterling received the 2018 MC Law Young Lawyer of the Year Award. 2009

Mimi Arthur was named a 2019 Louisiana Super Lawyer and Rising Star. Marc Bryant is a member of the 2018 class of the Mississippi Bar Leadership Forum. Leon Cameron is in-house counsel at Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors, Inc. in New York City. Jana J. Edmondson-Cooper received the 2017 William Reece Smith, Jr. National Outstanding Young Lawyer Award.

Jason Barrett is a member of the 2018 class of the Mississippi Bar Leadership Forum and was elected as a member of the Mississippi Bar Board of Commissioners for District 16.

Jason Crane is District 2 member of the Aiken County School Board in South Carolina.

Taurean Buchanan was named MC Law’s 2017 Young Lawyer of the Year.

Matt Duckworth is network development manager with Mississippi Aﬃliated Health Network.

Jennie Eichelberger served as president of the Mississippi Asso- Tray Hairston was one of eight fellows selected to represent Misciation of Justice and was elected secretary/treasurer of the Capi- sissippi in the Delta Regional Authority’s Delta Leadership Institute. Hairston was honored as one of the 2017 Mid-South Super tal Area Bar Association. Lawyers and was elected to the Mississippi Main Street AssociaZelma M. Frederick was recognized in Louisiana Super Lawyers tion’s board of directors. He was also recognized as one of The 2018. Bond Buyer’s 2018 Rising Stars, a program which showcases the nation’s brightest young minds in the municipal ﬁnance industry. Stephen Stamboulieh opened a ﬁrm in Madison, Stanbouliegh Law, PLLC. Jennifer Jones Ray is associated with Shabani & Associates, PC in Hoover, Alabama. 2008

Alissa Armstrong is chief counsel for ERDC at the Mississippi Corps of Engineers. Clint Butler has joined BankFirst Financial Services as vice president/ business/commercial banker in Macon. Todd Butler was named one of the Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 50 Under 40. Eric Brown has joined the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Lindsay Dowdle was named one of the Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 50 Under 40. Dowdle was elected to serve District 7 – Post 2 of the Mississippi Bar Board of Commissioners and also serves on the board of the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi. Charles Goldberg is with Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC in Jackson.

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T.C. Rollins was selected as the Jackson Free Press’s 2018 Best of Jackson in the Best Bankruptcy Attorney category. Dellwyn Smith is now assistant general counsel for the Mississippi Bar. Andrew Stubbs has been promoted to partner at Forman Watkins & Krutz, LLP. Ashley Stubbs was honored as a 2017 Mid-South Super Lawyer. Brad Touchstone was elected county judge for Lamar County, Mississippi. 2010

Zachary B. Busey of Baker Donelson earned certiﬁcation as a certiﬁed information privacy manager (CIPM) from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

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Jason Childress is a shareholder in the Jackson oﬃce of Wise Carter.

port, alimony, and ﬁnancial and property disputes. Lankford was named a Rising Star by Mid-South Super Lawyers.

John Dollarhide is partner with the Ridgeland oﬃce of Butler Snow. He was honored as one of the 2017 Mid-South Super Lawyers.

Eric Marks was named chair for the Arkansas Young Lawyers section for 2017-2018.

Brandi Gatewood is partner with LoCoco, Lococo & Gatewood, PLLC in D’Iberville. Gatewood was named a 2018 Super Lawyers Rising Star. Alicia Hall was elected president of Jackson Young Lawyers and is counsel with Entergy. Carlyn Hicks received the 2018 MC Law Community Spirit Award. Joanna Kuhn has opened an all women-owned ﬁrm, Gay Jones & Kuhn, PLLC, in Jackson with Mary Margaret Gay ’02. Levy Leatherman is an associate with Littler Mendelson, PC in Nashville, Tennessee.

Larry McCarty is in-house counsel for CenturyLink. Matt McCluer is with Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, LLP in New Orleans. April McDonald is a member of the 2018 class of the Mississippi Bar Leadership Forum. Jessica Murray was named the Mississippi Association of Justice’s New Lawyer of the Year and was selected as a 2018 Mid-South Super Lawyer Rising Star for 2018. She served as the 2018-2019 president of the Mississippi Women Lawyers Association. Erin Saltaformaggio is a member of the 2018 class of the Mississippi Bar Leadership Forum.

Mallory Mangold is with Burg Simpson in Englewood, Colorado. Justin Mercer was named the Best of the Best Lawyers for 2017 by The Daily Citizen.

Tyler B. Shandy of McComb was elected director of the Mississippi Bar’s Young Lawyers Division South West District.

Christopher Meredith was named to the 2018 40 & Under Hot List published by Benchmark Litigation.

Francis Springer is a member of the 2018 class of the Mississippi Bar Leadership Forum.

Krissy Casey Nobile is president of the 2018-2019 Mississippi Chapter of the Federal Bar.

Megan Stuard is with The Stubbs Law Firm.

Hunter Twiford was honored as a 2017 Mid-South Super Lawyer. Anthony Drew Taylor, a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, was conﬁrmed as a judge for the Choctaw Tribal Tracey Walters is chief of staﬀ for Mississippi Gulf Coast ComCriminal Court during a regular-call Tribal Council meeting in munity College. October 2017. 2012

Kristen Carroll Wasieleski is associated with Blitt and Gaines, P.C.

Amber Barlow was selected as a 2019 Rising Star by Louisiana Super Lawyer.

Ben Wilson is a 2018 Mississippi Business Journal Leader in Law.

Samuel Brumﬁeld joined the Mississippi Department of Finance Administration.

Sarah Beth Wilson is with Christian & Small, LLP. Wilson was named to the 2018 40 & Under Hot List published by Benchmark Litigation. 2011

Bert Carraway was appointed U. S. attorney, criminal division, in Jackson.

Ryan Bruhl is with Foxworth & Shepard, PA in Columbia, Mississippi.

Taylor Cheeseman is now with the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services.

Arthur H. Calderon of Cleveland was elected to the Mississippi Bar Board of Commissioners District 11.

Stephanie Evans is the director of the oﬃce of compliance at the Mississippi Division of Medicaid.

Wells Griffith is principal deputy assistant secretary with the Office of International Affairs at the U. S. Department of Energy.

Ashley Hendricks is a member of the 2018 class of the Mississippi Bar Leadership Forum.

AaKeela Hudnall was named one of the Mississippi Business Jour- Amanda Myers is associated with Drew Eckl & Farnham in Atlanta. nal’s Top 50 Under 40. Paul Rosenblatt was elected to serve as director 1 post with the Brenton Lankford has been promoted to member (partner) at Jackson Young Lawyers Association. Stites & Harbison, PLLC in Nashville. Lankford practices in the ﬁeld of domestic relations, assisting clients with divorce and Evan Weems has formed the Langston & Weems ﬁrm in Ocean post-divorce matters, including issues of child custody, child sup- Springs. amicus

class | action 2013

Under 40 by the Monroe Chamber of Commerce.

Chad Byrd is with the litigation department of Butler Snow in Ridgeland practicing in the pharmaceutical, medical device and healthcare group. He is a member of the 2018 class of the Mississippi Bar Leadership Forum. Jeremy Cline is with Griﬃth Lowry & Meherg, LLC in Cullman, Alabama. Kathleen Dixon is now associate general counsel and regulatory aﬀairs manager with United Healthcare.

Karelee Keller was recognized as a 2018 Rising Star in family law by the American Institute of Legal Advocates. Ben King is assistant general counsel with West Tennessee Healthcare. Colby Langston formed the Langston & Weems ﬁrm in Ocean Springs. Morgan Pettigrew opened The Pettigrew Firm in Memphis.

Sam Gregory was honored by the 2017 publication Mid-South Rising Stars.

Dixie Pond is with Bloomberg BNA in Arlington, Virginia.

William Griﬃn is with Chestnut Real Estate Investment in Tennessee.

Tyler Royals joined The Mendelson Law Firm in Memphis.

Ashlee Harris was named a municipal judge in Bonne Terre, Missouri.

Eric Talley was nominated as a Rising Star in the ﬁeld of family law by the American Institute of Legal Advocates.

Heath Hattaway has joined the House of Delegates with the Louisiana State Bar Association.

Karen York joined the Escambia County School District as assessment consultant.

Joe Hemleben was named deputy director of the Mississippi Veterans Aﬀairs Board. Joi L. Owens was elected to the Mississippi Bar’s Young Lawyers Division as director, Post VI.

2015

Jhasmine Andrews is a member of the 2018 class of the Mississippi Bar Leadership Forum.

Dustin Carter was named one of the Top 40 Under 40 Plaintiff Ben Parnell is with the Washington, D.C. office of Pricewater- Trial Lawyers in Louisiana by the National Trial Lawyers. houseCoopers, LLP as senior associate, International Tax Office. Clarissa Harris opened her own firm, Harris Law Office, P.C. in West Point, Mississippi. James Rice is with Bloomberg BNA in Arlington, Virginia. Allison Hartman joined the Jackson office of Wise Carter.

Lisa Fioranelli Robin has opened a practice in Brandon. Jordan See is director of government relations with Leidos. He serves with the 155th ABCT, Mississippi Army National Guard. Alexander Sullivan is the editor for the Mississippi Supreme Court. Angela Trehan joined Maney Gordon Zeller, P.A. in Tampa, Florida. Wesley Webb is an assistant United States attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi.

Mary Catherine Lindsay joined the Legislative Services Office of the Mississippi House of Representatives. Leanna Miller accepted a position in the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, JFH-Mississippi Army National Guard. Alexa Owens is with Forrest General Hospital in the contracts and legal services office. Davis Pace is the legislative director for Congressman John Ratcliff from Texas.

2014

Chinazo (Chi Chi) Anachebe is an associate with Lewis Bris- Ashleigh L. Quinn of Jackson was elected to the Mississippi Bar Young Lawyers Division as director, Post V. bois in Atlanta. La’Toyia Slay Cooley will serve as president of the Jackson Young Lawyers Association for 2019-2020. Darrell Douglas joined Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, PLC in Knoxville. Abby Archer Franke is with Eccleston and Wolf, P.C. in Washington, D.C.

Kate Rapp is a senior policy analyst with the Georgia State Senate. Bryan Roberts is with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Oﬃce with the division of Medicaid. Jonathan Terrell joined the Hinds County Circuit Court as clerk for The Honorable Winston Kidd ’91. Clayton Welch is with the Mendelson Law Firm in Memphis.

Kirsten Harper is the finance officer and attorney for the Murfreesboro firm of McCarter East, PLLC.

2016

Chris Holtzclaw was named one of Northeast Louisiana’s Top 20

Jonathan Barlow is senior associate attorney with Seymour Law Firm, PLLC in Biloxi.

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Sara Coplon Barlow is with Southern Healthcare Solutions, LLC in Memphis.

Morgan Keup is with Jernigan Copeland Attorneys in Ridgeland. Ericka King is legislative counsel with the United States Senate.

Emily G. Barr of Jackson was elected to the Mississippi Bar’s Young Lawyers Division as director, Hinds Post IV.

Matthew Raphael is with Satcher Law Firm in Jackson.

Megan Bennett is with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Oﬃce.

Stevie Rushing joined Bradley’s Jackson oﬃce.

Maggie Kate Bobo is clerk for The Honorable Cory Wilson with the Mississippi Court of Appeals.

Caroline B. Smith of Ridgeland was elected to the Mississippi Bar’s Young Lawyers Division as director, Central District.

Danielle Burks has joined the ﬁrm of Wise Carter in Jackson. Jace Farraez is law clerk to Judge Selene Maddox at the United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District Mississippi. Marshall Goﬀ is an associate with Chhabra & Gibbs in Jackson. Kelly Hamill has joined the Mortgage Bankers Association in Washington, D.C. Justin Hasley is an associate with Markwo Walker, PA in Jackson and has been appointed a judge advocate for the Mississippi Army National Guard.

Joshua Stover is an associate with Burr & Forman in Jackson. Chris White is an associate at Baker Donelson in the Jackson oﬃce focusing on litigation. KeNosha Whitehead is associated with Abston Law in Flowood. Ed Williams is an associate with Chhabra & Gibbs, P.A. in Gulfport. 2018

Drew Bigelow is clerk to The Honorable Cory Wilson with the Mississippi Court of Appeals.

Shauncey Hunter is with Christian & Small, LLP in Madison.

Charles Dismukes is with Couch, Conville, and Blitt in Metairie, Louisiana.

Taylor Lawrence was elected to the Mississippi Bar Young Lawyers Division as director, Coastal Post I.

Marshall Johnston is an associate with Gregoria, Chaﬁn, Johnson, Poolson & Tabor, LLC in Shreveport.

Jordan McMichael is clerk for The Honorable Sean Tindell ’01 with the Mississippi Court of Appeals.

Shequeena McKenzie is clerk to The Honorable Deborah McDonald of the Mississippi Court of Appeals.

Nikita S. McMillian has joined Butler Snow in Ridgeland.

Kalee Moore is with the Ouachita Parish District Attorney’s oﬃce. She serves as the section chief for the domestic violence division.

Brett Pickle has joined the 18th District Circuit Court in LauTaylor Price is with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Finanrel, Mississippi. cial Resources for the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington. Adam Porter is with Butler Snow’s Ridgeland office in the medical device and healthcare litigation group. Abbey Reeves is clerk to The Honorable Jack Wilson of the MisAlex Shoemaker was elected vice president of the Hattiesburg Area sissippi Court of Appeals. Young Lawyers Association. Marnise Webb joined Continental Tire’s global human relations Ian Underwood is with Copeland Cook Taylor & Bush in graduate program. Ridgeland. Taylor Herring White is an associate with Forman Watkins & Krutz in the Jackson office. 2017 Assma Ali is with Chhabra & Gibbs, P.A. Michael Anderson is operations director for Waller for Governor. He also serves as secretary/treasurer for the MC Law Alumni Association.

Deaths 1948

Gursimran Bola is obtaining his LLM in tax from Northwestern University.

Rowan Hurt Taylor passed away on July 18, 2017.

William Collins is with the Mississippi Joint Legislative Budget Committee.

Weaver Gore passed away on October 4, 2017.

Michael Davis is with the Caddo Parish Public Defender Oﬃce.

Kenneth Louis Gordon passed away on December 1, 2018.

Tommy Horne has been elected as the prosecuting attorney for Lauderdale County, Mississippi.

Robert Sylvester McLaurin, Jr. passed away on January 23, 2018.

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1951

1952

1956

class | action 1957

1978

Richard V. Dymond passed away on March 13, 2018.

John E. “Jet” Tracy passed away on March 27, 2019.

Kenneth L. Jones passed away on November 5, 2017.

1958

Gene A. Wilkinson passed away February 13, 2018.

1980

Jerome Edward Calvey passed away June 8, 2018.

1959

Byron Thomas Hetrick passed away March 25, 2018.

Terry D. McEachern passed away on December 31, 2018.

1962

Hugh Cameron Montgomery, Jr. passed away February 3, 2018.

Lanny R. Robinson passed away on March 12, 2019. 1981

Wallace Wayne Wood passed away on January 4, 2019.

Errol Kevin Bennett passed away on November 23, 2018.

1963

1982

William C. “Bill” Keady, Jr. passed away on June 12, 2018.

Lester Clark Jr. passed away on June 20, 2017.

1965

Mark S. Howard passed away April 9, 2018.

Harry H. McMain, Jr. passed away on January 31, 2019.

Nicholas Van Wiser passed away on March 21, 2018.

1966

John W. Garrard passed away March 28, 2018.

1985

Grafton Ernest Skaggs passed away on March 22, 2018.

1968

Gordon Broom passed away on May 11, 2018.

1988

Melinda S. Murphy passed away on August 29, 2016.

Dr. Robert P. Myers passed away on December 14, 2017.

1992

1969

Gregory Timothy Discon passed away on January 8, 2019.

James J. Sideris passed away December 6, 2017.

1993

1970

John Lewis Gadow passed away on November 22, 2017.

Paul R. Googe Jr. passed away on December 10, 2016.

1996

1971

Thomas H. Cassel passed away April 28, 2017.

Claude Ellison Legate passed away on January 6, 2018.

2001

1972

Melanie H. Morano passed away on February 8, 2018.

Jackson M. Brown passed away February 24, 2018. 1973

Jerry J. Rosetti passed away on February 13, 2017.

Births

1974

2006

John C. D’Isepo passed away on April 2, 2018.

John Lassiter and his wife, Lindsey, welcomed their daughter, Olivia Sue, on March 7, 2018.

Benton Rex Gordon, Jr. passed away December 2, 2017. 2007

Robert Martin Winstead passed away on February 18, 2019. 1975

Mark Lyon and his wife, Lutun, welcomed son, Henry, on February 5, 2019. Marlena Powell Pickering and her husband, Philip, welcomed their son, Wilson Powell, on June 27, 2017.

Arnold Dyre passed away on June 12, 2017. William R. Rigdon, Jr. passed away October 31, 2017. 1976

Michael Bruce Chittom passed away on December 18, 2018.

Ashley Schepens and her husband, Patrick ’07, welcomed their son, Ryan Patrick, on September 22, 2018. He was also welcomed by his brother and sister, John and Julie. 2009

1977

Lindsey Hill Stringer and her husband, Todd, welcomed a daughter, Scarlett Ann, on October 22, 2018.

Wayne A. Burnett passed away on July 31, 2018. amicus

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T.C. Rollins and his wife, Jocelyn, welcomed their son, John “Johnny” Richard, on January 8, 2018.

Danielle Schelmety Smith and her husband, Mike ’14 welcomed their son, Grayson, on November 5, 2017.

2010

Amarette Speights and her husband, Ryan, welcomed their son, Atticus, on June 13, 2017.

Adrienne Hinton Aikens and her husband, Hunter ’06, welcomed their daughter, Lucy Mills, on January 8, 2018. Jamie Ballard and her husband, Will ’09, welcomed their son, Jacks, on February 2, 2018. Matt Jackson and his wife, Anna Dahlem, welcomed their daughter, Miller Ryan, on August 10, 2018. She is also welcomed by big sister Harper Rose. 2011

Tim and Leah Kathryn Anzenberger welcomed their daughter, Kathryn Jane, on December 27, 2017. Paige Biglane and her husband, Barr, welcomed their son, Edward “Ward” Biglane, on March 7, 2018. Ryan Bruhl and his wife, Jennifer, welcomed a daughter, Jennie Claire, on March 28, 2019. Larry McCarty and his wife, Lauren, welcomed their second daughter, Hattie Katherine, on July 26, 2018. Sue Ann Werre and her husband, TJ, welcomed a daughter, Julia, on June 6, 2018. Charlie Wheland and his wife, Leland, welcomed their daughter, Kimbriel Elizabeth, on July 20, 2018.

2015

Candice Bowen and her husband, Nathan, welcomed their daughter, Beaux, on July 6, 2017. Ben Claxton and his wife, Haley, welcomed their daughter, Mary Evans, on March 9, 2018. Phillip Ellis and his wife, Lauren, welcomed their daughter, Greer Caroline, on July 18, 2018. John Hinton and his wife, Ansley, welcomed their son, John Lawson “Lawson,” on February 1, 2018. Leanna Miller and her husband, Taylor ’16, welcomed their son, Robert Anderson, on December 1, 2017. Chelsea Chicosky-Shanahan and her husband, Joe, welcomed their son, Broxon Zane, on February 4, 2018. 2016

Ashley Neal Cox and her husband, John, welcomed their son, Quinn Riley, on January 29, 2019. Alex Parker and her husband, Matthew, welcomed their daughter, Eloise Katherine, on November 9, 2018. Ed Williams and his wife, Heather, welcomed their daughter, E.D., on December 3, 2017.

2012

Barbara Byrd and her husband, Chad ’13, welcomed their daughter, Caroline Hart, on January 11, 2018. Sarah Beth Eldridge and her husband, Michael, welcomed the birth of their son Samuel Thomas on October 23, 2018.

2017

Caylan Dunnells and her husband, Chris ’14, welcomed their son, Jordan Christopher, on January 14, 2019. Charley and Nicole ’17 Sullivan welcomed their son, Charles Walker, on March 21, 2019.

Caroline Ivanov and her husband, Philip, welcomed their son, Julian Kerr, on May 27, 2018. Margaret Zimmerman Smith and her husband, Peyton, welcomed their son,Thomas Hutchins, on October 1, 2018. Thomas is also welcomed by older brother Peyton and older sister Elizabeth.

Marriages

Kate Rapp ’15 And Brian Alexander ’14 were married on October 27, 2018.

2013

Blake Fulton and his wife, Libby, welcomed their daughter, Anne, on July 6, 2017.

Tommy Horne ’17 and his wife, Sarah, were married on September 9, 2017.

Brittany Crawford Smith and her husband, Kyle, welcomed their son, Alexander Daniel, on December 7, 2017.

Taylor Herring ’18 and Chris White ’17 were married on August 4, 2018.

2014

Kathryn Pickett ’18 and Marshall Goﬀ ’16 were married March 24, 2018.

Jacob Black and his wife, Ryan, welcomed their son, Elliott, on November 7, 2017. Lindsey Herr and her husband, Matt, welcomed their daughter, Penny Elizabeth, on December 11, 2017. amicus

WHEN I THINK OF MC LAW TANGI CARTER ’97 When I first enrolled in MC Law, I was interested in a career in environmental law. A clerkship with the Hinds County Public Defender’s Office changed my career plans. I realized that my love for the law wasn’t tied to research and writing, although those aspects are very important. My love for the law was tied to my love for people. Today, I see my work as a criminal defense attorney as doing something positive for others. That might sound strange at first, since I’m representing clients accused of murder, drug trafficking, counterfeiting, and other serious crimes. But they are human beings. And when everyone else has left these clients because of their crimes, their drug addictions, or their bad decisions, I’m there for them. For most of us, the stakes will never be as high as they are for a person accused of a serious crime, but I think every human being appreciates knowing someone has his or her back. When I think of MC Law, I don’t think of an address on Griffith Street. I think of the people who have my back. I remember the professors who taught me how to think like a lawyer and who’ve continued to follow and encourage my career over the years since I graduated. I think of

the classmates who became friends that I still keep in touch with today. I think of the staff members who ask about my husband by name, not because they’ve been trained to, but because they have a heart for people. There’s something about the experience of going through law school that binds people together. You’ve been in the trenches. You know you can rely on each other. If I have a question or need help, those professors and classmates are there. The MC Law family also extends beyond the people I knew personally during my time in law school. If I’m at a conference and I meet a fellow alum, there’s an instant connection, no matter what the class year. If I’m ever in need of professional advice or if I’m ever broken down on the side of the road in Jackson, Mississippi, I know I can call on MC Law. I realize that I’m a real “people person,” and that every student who attended MC Law might not feel the pull of that relationship quite as strongly as I do. But I think everyone who has ever studied, taught, or served at MC Law would probably agree there is a connection there between people that isn’t forged at many other institutions. That’s why today, when someone says, “We are MC Law,” I hear, “We are family.” Tangi Carter is the 2018-19 president of the MC Law Alumni Association. Her Hattiesburg firm Tangi Carter PA., specializes in criminal defense because, as Carter explains, “I love people, I love being in the courtroom, and I’m just too hyper to sit at a desk.”

“For most of us, the stakes will never be as high as they are for a person accused of a serious crime, but I think every human being appreciates knowing someone has his or her back. When I think of MC Law, I don’t think of an address on Griffith Street. I think of the people who have my back.” TANGI CARTER ’97

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“As you move forward in your careers as lawyers, it is appropriate to ask yourself these questions: What have I done for the cause of justice? How have I used my key to the courthouse? ...When that cry for justice begs for you, will you come forward with your key? ...Justice may be malleable, even elusive, but always believe it is attainable, transformative, and powerful. Justice is always worth pursuing. In all that you do in this noble profession, make the discovery of justice your ultimate goal. With your knowledge and skills, you have the power. You have the key. Class of 2019, go do justice!” THE HONORABLE CARLTON W. REEVES U.S. District Court judge of the Southern District of Mississippi Keynote Speaker — Commencement 2019

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MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE SCHOOL OF LAW 151 EAST GRIFFITH STREET JACKSON, MS 39201

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