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January 28, 2020
Supreme Court Justice Kenny Griffis Announces Campaign
(Jackson, MS) – Today, Supreme Court Justice Kenny Griffis announced his campaign kickoff in the 2020 election cycle.
Justice Griffis was appointed to the Mississippi Supreme Court on February 1, 2019, by former Governor Phil Bryant. Prior to joining the Supreme Court, he served on the Court of Appeals for 16 years and was honored to end his tenure there as Chief Judge.
As a Constitutional conservative Supreme Court Justice who believes in fairly applying the law, not legislating from the bench, Justice Griffis is a thoughtful leader on the Court with a proven record of accomplishments.
When appointing Justice Griffis to the Supreme Court last year, Governor Phil Bryant stated, “Judge Griffis has served exceptionally on the Mississippi Court of Appeals, and his wealth of experience on the bench will prove very valuable as he moves into his new role. He has an outstanding legal mind and is highly respected among his peers. I have full faith Judge Griffis will be a real asset to the Mississippi Supreme Court.”
“I’m announcing my campaign based on my record and experience as a Constitutional conservative with a dedication to fairness and the rule of law,” Justice Griffis said. “On the Supreme Court, I’ve focused on fairly applying the law to every case we consider because that’s what all Mississippians deserve. As a husband and father, I know how decisions on the Court affect the lives of all Mississippi families, our economy and our individual liberty. I would be honored to continue serving on the Court, and during this campaign I’ll be traveling across the district asking for everyone’s vote in this important election for the future of our state.”
Supreme Court District 1 includes the following counties: Bolivar, Claiborne, Copiah, Hinds, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Jefferson, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Madison, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Rankin, Scott, Sharkey, Sunflower, Warren, Washington, and Yazoo.
Justice Griffis is admitted to practice law before the United States Supreme Court, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States District Courts of the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, and all Mississippi state courts.
He is a member of The Mississippi Bar, and the Magnolia, Madison County, Capital Area, and Rankin County Bar Associations. He served as Chair of the Mississippi Bar’s Litigation Section and Bench Bar Relations Committee. He served as Chair of the Special Committee on Judicial Election Campaign Intervention for the 2016 judicial elections. He has also served on the Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on the Civil Rules and the Committee on Electronic Filing and Case Management Systems.
Justice Griffis is a native of Meridian, Mississippi. He earned accounting and law degrees from the University of Mississippi. He was also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) from 1984-2007. He regularly serves as an adjunct law professor at Mississippi College and the University of Mississippi.
He and his wife, Mary Helen, are the parents of five boys. They live in Ridgeland and attend Christ United Methodist Church. He has served as a Sunday School teacher, a Cub Scout leader, and a coach for over 80 youth sports teams, including baseball, basketball, soccer, and hockey.
In addition to being active in his church and children’s activities, Justice Griffis serves on the Board of Directors of Century Club Charities which is responsible for the Sanderson Farms Golf Classic, a PGA Tour event, that contributed $1.3 million to the Batson Children’s Hospital this year.
Supreme Court elections are nonpartisan with the general election being held on November 3, 2020. For more information about Justice Kenny Griffis and his campaign, please visit www.KennyGriffis.com.
Meridian native Kenny Griffis was in his hometown campaigning Tuesday to remain on Mississippi’s highest court. Griffis, who was appointed to the Mississippi Supreme Court in 2019 to replace then Chief Justice Bill Waller Junior, spoke to the Meridian Optimist Club. He touts his three-decades plus experience in law and his 16 years on the Court of Appeals as key reasons to vote for him. “When the Chief Justice needs something done in Mississippi, they call on me,” said Griffis. “When they need case filing in the electronic courts, they’ve called on me. For judicial education, they’ve called on me. I’ve worked hard for these 33 years to participate in and advance the cause of justice in our state and essentially that’s what it’s about--making sure there’s justice in our court.” Griffis faces Court of Appeals Judge Latrice Westbrooks in this non-partisan election next Tuesday. https://www.wtok.com/2020/10/27/kenny-griffis-stumps-in-his-hometown-of-meridian/
Supreme Court Justice Kenny Griffis brought with him to the state’s high court 16 years of experience on the Mississippi Court of Appeals where he served as Chief Judge. Not just a lawyer, but also a Certified Public Accountant, Griffis has unique experience and education for the Court. He has a commitment to ensuring Mississippi judges are trained and professional on every level and has served on judicial committees to promote a better judiciary. He serves as adjunct professor at the Mississippi College School of Law and the University of Mississippi School of Law. With nearly two decades of decisions as a judge, he has proven time and again he is a conservative who follows the rule of law and has again been endorsed by the Mississippi Republican Party. Those who know Griffis also know he is an approachable, personable man. He and his wife are the parents of five boys and Griffis has served as a youth Sunday School teacher, a Cub Scout leader, and a coach for over 80 youth sports teams, including baseball, basketball, soccer, and hockey. Whether you call him Coach Griffis or Judge Griffis, he has a record of respect in the community. We endorse Justice Kenny Griffis for re-election as Supreme Court Justice. https://onlinemadison.com/stories/editorialkenny-griffis-for-justice,32451
Voters will decide two contested state Supreme Court races in the Nov. 3 general election. State Supreme Court Justice Kenny Griffis of Ridgeland faces a challenge from Mississippi Court of Appeals Judge Latrice Westbrooks of Lexington, who is seeking to become the first African American woman on the nine-member state high court. In the other contested race, incumbent Justice Josiah Coleman of Choctaw County is seeking a second term. He faces a challenge from longtime Chancery Judge Percy Lynchard of Hernando in the north Mississippi district. Candidates for state Supreme Court races run in nonpartisan elections, but that hasn't stopped contests from becoming highly partisan affairs, often with interest groups pumping money into ads and campaigns for certain candidates. The Mississippi Republican Party has endorsed incumbents Griffis and Coleman in their races. No candidate had raised more than $100,000 when the last campaign finance report was filed in July. The deadline is Friday to file the latest campaign finance report with the Mississippi Secretary of State's Office. Griffis and Westbrooks are vying for the District 1 seat in central Mississippi covering the following counties: Bolivar, Claiborne, Copiah, Hinds, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Jefferson, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Madison, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Rankin, Scott, Sharkey, Sunflower, Warren, Washington and Yazoo counties. Name: Kenny Griffis Age: 59 Experience: Appointed to Mississippi Supreme Court Feb. 1, 2019. Served on the Mississippi Court of Appeals for 16 years. He was a certified public accountant from 1984 to 2007. Serves as adjunct professor at the Mississippi College School of Law and the University of Mississippi School of Law. Education: Accounting and law degrees from the University of Mississippi. His position: "I’m running based on my record and 18 years of experience as a constitutional conservative with a dedication to fairness and the rule of law," Griffis said. "On the Supreme Court, I’ve focused on applying the law, not legislating from the bench, because that’s what all Mississippians deserve." https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2020/10/09/what-you-need-to-know-about-mississippi-supreme-court-races/3637837001/
