Mississippi Court Reporters Association elects new officers

by | May 6, 2024 | Statewide

Officers of the Mississippi Court Reporters Association are, left to right, President Brenda D. Blackburn of Lake Washington, President-elect Candace O’Barr Jones of Jackson, Vice-President Candice Crane of Brandon, Secretary Amanda Vanlandingham of Clinton, Zone 4 Director Lindsey Ponder Himmel of Mize, Treasurer Abbey Turnage Wilson of Hattiesburg, Immediate Past President Melissa Grimes of Calhoun City, and Director at Large 1 Dana Rowan Rakestraw of New Albany.
Officers of the Mississippi Court Reporters Association are, left to right, President Brenda D. Blackburn of Lake Washington, President-elect Candace O’Barr Jones of Jackson, Vice-President Candice Crane of Brandon, Secretary Amanda Vanlandingham of Clinton, Zone 4 Director Lindsey Ponder Himmel of Mize, Treasurer Abbey Turnage Wilson of Hattiesburg, Immediate Past President Melissa Grimes of Calhoun City, and Director at Large 1 Dana Rowan Rakestraw of New Albany.

Officers of the Mississippi Court Reporters Association are, left to right, President Brenda D. Blackburn of Lake Washington, President-elect Candace O’Barr Jones of Jackson, Vice-President Candice Crane of Brandon, Secretary Amanda Vanlandingham of Clinton, Zone 4 Director Lindsey Ponder Himmel of Mize, Treasurer Abbey Turnage Wilson of Hattiesburg, Immediate Past President Melissa Grimes of Calhoun City, and Director at Large 1 Dana Rowan Rakestraw of New Albany.

Brenda D. Blackburn of Lake Washington was sworn in on April 25 as president of the Mississippi Court Reporters Association. Candace O’Barr Jones of Jackson is president-elect of the Association. Candice Crane of Brandon is vice-president, and Abbey Turnage Wilson of Hattiesburg is treasurer.

New MCRA officers were sworn in during the Mississippi Court Reporters Spring Conference at Pearl River Resort in Philadelphia.

Blackburn is an official court reporter for the U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi in Greenville. She operates Lakeside Reporting. Jones is a freelance court reporter at eDepo. Crane is an official court reporter for the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi in Jackson. Wilson is official court reporter for the 15th Circuit District.

Newly elected zone directors for the Court Reporters Association are Director at Large 1 Dana Rowan Rakestraw of New Albany, official court reporter for the 3rd Circuit Court District; and Zone 4 Director Lindsey Ponder Himmel of Mize, court reporter for the 12th Chancery Court District.

Previously elected officers and directors who were chosen to continue to serve are Association Secretary Amanda Vanlandingham of Clinton, court reporter for the 11th Chancery District; Zone 1 Director Maggie Fair of Oxford, freelance court reporter; Zone 2 Director Leigh Blankenship Pettit of Starkville, court reporter for the 16th Circuit Court District; Zone 3 Director Miranda M. Schoggen of Brandon, court reporter for the 20th Chancery Court District; and Director at Large 2 Amy Little of Hattiesburg, court reporter for the Lamar County Court.

Melissa Grimes of Calhoun City, court reporter for the 14th Chancery Court District, is immediate past president of the Association.