Chancellor Cynthia Brewer
Chancellor Cynthia Brewer of Madison was recently elected as chair of the Conference of Chancery Court Judges. Chancellor Troy Odom of Brandon was elected vice-chair, and Chancellor Larry Little of Oxford was re-elected secretary-treasurer.
Circuit Judge Tomika Irving of Fayette was elected chair of the Conference of Circuit Court Judges, Circuit Judge Christopher Schmidt of Pass Christian was elected vice-chair, and Circuit Judge Celeste Wilson of Southaven was elected secretary-treasurer.
County Court Judges re-elected Madison County Court Judge Edwin Hannan of Madison as chairman, Washington County Court Judge Vernita King Johnson of Greenville as vice-chair, and Lauderdale County Court Judge Veldore Young Graham of Meridian as secretary of the Conference of County Court Judges.
Conference elections were held Oct. 26 during the fall Trial and Appellate Judges Conference in Biloxi. Conference officers make recommendations on issues affecting the courts.
Judge Brewer previously served as chair of the Conference of Chancery Judges in 2012, and as vice-chair in 2011 and again in 2022. She has served on the 11th Chancery Court since January 2007, hearing cases in Madison and Leake counties. She previously served for four years as Madison County Court Judge, where her duties also included part of the docket for the Madison County Youth Court. She initiated a Teen Court to use peer pressure to hold juveniles accountable for their actions. She also previously served as a special master in Chancery Court, and as a Municipal, County and Youth Court prosecutor in Hinds County. She started the Jackson Metropolitan Crime Commission’s Courtwatch program in the 1990s. She served on the Commission on Judicial Performance as the alternate Chancery Court member. Judge Brewer earned her undergraduate degree from the University of South Alabama, and her Juris Doctorate from Mississippi College School of Law. She is a visiting instructor at the National Judicial College in Reno. She previously served as an adjunct professor at the Mississippi College School of Law.
Chancellor Troy Odom
Judge Odom took office in January 2019 in the 20th Chancery Court District, serving Rankin County. He previously practiced law for 16 years with the law firm of Blair & Bondurant, P.A. He also served as prosecutor for the City of Pearl. Judge Odom chaired the 2021 Legislative Task Force to Study Mississippi’s Laws Regarding the Awarding and Calculating of Child Support, Alimony, and Other Related Matters in Domestic Law. He has served on various other committees on behalf of the Chancery Conference. Judge Odom earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law.
County Judge Edwin Hannan
Judge Hannan has served as chairman of the Conference of County Court Judges since 2015. Judge Johnson has been vice-chair since October 2004. Judge Young Graham began her service as Conference secretary in April 2012.
Judge Hannan, of Madison, began his service as Madison County Court Judge in January 2007. He serves on the Commission on Judicial Performance. He previously served for more than nine years as Madison Municipal Judge. He practiced law for 25 years before he was elected to the Madison County Court bench. He is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and the University of Mississippi School of Law.