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September 23, 2020
WJTV: Judicial Candidates Remember RBG
Sep 21, 2020 / 09:43 PM CDT / Updated: Sep 22, 2020 / 08:45 AM CDT
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)– Judicial candidates running for a seat on the Mississippi Supreme Court are remembering U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman nominated to the nation’s highest court.
Justice Kenny Griffis serves the central district on the Mississippi Supreme Court. He was appointed by former governor Phil Bryant to replace Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. who retired last year
Griffis is squaring off against Court of Appeals Judge Latrice Westbrooks.
She held a news conference Monday and honored the late Ginsburg.
There are a total of four Mississippi Supreme Court races on the ballot. Two races are unopposed.
https://www.wjtv.com/news/judicial-candidates-remember-rbg/
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/
