October 1, 2025 • 35 mins
At the 2025 Mississippi State Bar Convention, former State Supreme Court Justice Dawn Beam interviewed over 20 people in 3 days to bring you a special 7-part series of her Hope Mississippi podcast. This is part four.
Mississippi's legal community is built on faith, service, and mentorship, values that shine through in conversations with three remarkable legal professionals at the Mississippi Bar Convention.
Amanda Green Alexander shares her remarkable journey from Kokomo, Mississippi to becoming a groundbreaking defense attorney. As a Black woman operating a defense firm for 20 years, she's carved a unique path guided by biblical principles: "Do Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly." Alexander challenges misconceptions about defense work, emphasizing that ethical advocacy means acknowledging legitimate claims and finding fair resolutions. Her story demonstrates how attorneys can maintain integrity while zealously representing clients.
Dean Fred Slabach of Ole Miss Law School brings critical perspective on legal education and rural access to justice. Describing law degrees as teaching "analytical thinking and problem-solving" applicable across professions, Slabach also addresses the growing crisis of "legal deserts," rural communities without attorneys. He details innovative programs designed to encourage young lawyers to serve these areas, including internships and financial incentives that have proven successful in other states.
Circuit Judge Michelle D. Easterling offers powerful reflections on mentorship and hope within the justice system. Crediting numerous female role models who shaped her career, she now makes it her mission to mentor others. Perhaps most movingly, Judge Easterling describes keeping a folder of thank-you notes from defendants she treated firmly but fairly, who later found recovery and stability—tangible evidence that "everyone deserves a second chance."
Throughout these conversations, a vision emerges of legal practice that balances justice with mercy, and professionalism with compassion. For those considering legal careers, these leaders emphasize that success comes not just from technical skill but from reliability, integrity, and willingness to serve communities where one attorney can make an enormous difference.
How might your legal career bring hope to Mississippi? Listen now to be inspired by these servant leaders who are transforming communities through the law.
Hope Mississippi's Mission: The sobering reality remains: one in four Mississippi children lives in poverty, and one in five experiences food insecurity. These statistics aren't just numbers—they're our collective challenge. Through these conversations, we discover that Mississippi's transformation occurs through individual commitments to mentor, encourage, and be present for others. The small acts of hope accumulate into the broader "miracles" we celebrate.
Join us for new episodes on the 1st and 15th of each month as we continue sharing stories of transformation from across Mississippi. Each story reminds us that when we contribute our unique gifts, Mississippi rises together.
Join us for new episodes on the 1st and 15th of each month as we continue sharing stories of transformation from across Mississippi. Each story reminds us that when we contribute our unique gifts, Mississippi rises together.
Hope Mississippi's Mission: The sobering reality remains: one in four Mississippi children lives in poverty, and one in five experiences food insecurity. These statistics aren't just numbers—they're our collective challenge. Through these conversations, we discover that Mississippi's transformation occurs through individual commitments to mentor, encourage, and be present for others. The small acts of hope accumulate into the broader "miracles" we celebrate.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Hello and welcome back to the Mississippi.
Bar Convention at Sandestin.
(00:53):
I am here with Amanda Green,alexander Welcome.
Thank you for having me.
I met her some time ago as ayoung lawyer, is that right?
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Not even a lawyer.
I think I was in law school.
Maybe my second year in lawschool.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Where'd you grow up?
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Well, I'm a Baptist preacher's daughter too, so we
could probably share some jokesand silly stories together.
You know, one point is thatyour family helps make you who.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
You are right, absolutely, absolutely, from the
base to the beginning.
I tell you that the benefit ofhaving a small family but a
large family.
Both of my parents are theoldest in their family, which
means everything that happensthat needs to be taken care of.
They take care of it and evennow, as the children of the
oldest very close In fact,they'll be joining me on
(02:25):
tomorrow or later on today atthe bar convention.
And then I have one daughter,mari, who is just finished up,
headed to Howard in the fall, sowe'll be headed to DC and my
mom is also here with me as well, and so she's kind of the rock.
Dad passed away in 2007, but Icontinue to sort of plug on.
It's so funny how God gives youall these wonderful blessings
(02:52):
and sometimes he gives them toyou all at the same time.
So in 2007, I get theopportunity to open this brand
new office and building and thenget a baby on the way, because
as I was decorating I was like,oops, what's going on?
And here we are, and sorelatively new husband,
relatively new baby and brandnew and everything is good.
And God has said this is whatyou want, this is what you asked
for.
This is the actual statement onthe back of your freshman dorm
door, and you're about eightyears ahead of schedule.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
So you know, I love that proverb three, five and six
about how, when you justsurrender to God, he really does
direct your path, doesn't he?
Speaker 4 (03:24):
Every time One of my mom's favorite scriptures and
probably something I've grown upon since the beginning.
I was sitting in churchactually the other day and I was
thinking how do I know all ofthese scriptures just back.
But that's what you kind of getpulled in and becomes just a
part of your everyday routine,and so those are moments where
you can be able to sit back andsay, oh, remember that, remember
the opportunity that God hasfor you, remember the providence
(03:47):
that he has for your life,remember the Hebrew 12 and all
of the cloud of witnesses which,by the way, is what got me
through law school.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
What we do in Mississippi is related to our
faith, and we just heard fromGovernor Haley Barber about how
God really provided, throughKatrina and a lot of those
scriptures, when the ox was inthe ditch, when it was so dark.
What a blessing to have ourfaith that we could hang on to,
absolutely, absolutely so thatsaying you've come a long way,
(04:24):
baby from Kokomo.
Tell me all that you've gotgoing on.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
So I'll tell you in October actually, our firm
returned 20 years old, which isa big deal because my practice
is defense work and so I'm kindof a unicorn in that regard.
I've got three or four lawyersthat work with me and I'll be
honest, you know I'm a blackwoman in Mississippi and there
are no other firms that do whatwe do.
(04:49):
We do all defense work,representing businesses and
employment spaces and workers'comp.
We are actually in that spaceand surprisingly, we keep
talking about this unicorn thatwe are.
But it's been impactful becausewhen I started the firm I was
working a former deputy cityattorney.
I clerked with Justice King whois Justice King now but chief
judge of the Court of Appeals atthe time, and got a chance to
(05:12):
be able to do that and that justkind of put me in the position
where I then learned all theseareas of law and, trying to
figure out exactly what I wantedto do, had the benefit and the
spectacular opportunity to havesome judges and commissioners
and people who loved on me tojust simply go out and say, hey,
willing to learn, teach me whatyou're doing, kind of how, like
we ran across each other.
I followed, you said, okay,we've got somebody who's doing
(05:34):
family law, let's see if we cantrack her down and harass her.
But I really wasn't harassing,hopefully so, and then being
able to just sort of, you know,be in those positions.
I actually was, if you canbelieve it or not, a staff
member of the Mississippi Barand worked my way through grad
school and so I started workingwith the Mississippi Bar in 1998
(05:56):
and delivered, you know, snacksand cokes and all these other
great things for members of theWomen in Profession Committee
and the Lawyers and JudgesAssistance Program.
So I know where all of the goodsnacks are at the bar center
when lawyers show up formeetings now.
But then leaving that work myway through grad school head off
to Mississippi College, andthose relationships that I had
(06:18):
have been just invaluable.
I don't think you get a chanceto walk around and be a PK, as
we say, a preacher's kid, andnot know and talk to everybody.
I remember mom and dad runninginto people in the grocery store
and it would take us like anhour and a half to get groceries
when everybody else just beenin and out in 20 minutes.
But those connections, familyconnections, friendships,
relationships One of the tenantsof our firm and our actual logo
(06:41):
is Do Justly, love Mercy andWalk H humbly, and those are the
words that are on the bottom ofour letterhead and we're not
straying away from that at all.
All of the things and all thepeople saying this about
politics and this or whatever,that's who we are at the core,
and so I've had our firm to walkin those same tenets to be sure
that we're doing people right.
(07:01):
And so, you know, a lot of timesdefense lawyers get a bad rap,
but the reality is you need alawyer who is going to be able
to provide a fair assessment ofwhat's happening, to be able to
say you know what turns out,this person does need some
support, turns out, they do havethese legitimate damages and
we've got to do somethingdifferently.
That's a bold thing to do, andI'll tell you, it has been a
(07:22):
great joy to be able to do thatand to not waver.
The beauty of having your ownfirm is just that you can
literally tell your clients.
This is what I believe ishappening, this is our strategy,
this is the right thing to do,and so I've committed, after 22
years, that I'm doing the workthat I enjoy doing with the
people who I enjoy doing thework for, and the type of work
that's making an impact on thecommunity.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Oh, I love it, I just love it.
You know, I've been a solepractitioner much of my life
when I wasn't in public service.
And to really be the wheelbehind justice, to help people
to do the right thing, is just agreat feeling.
Certainly, you make very goodmoney when you work hard, yes,
but the feeling of helpingpeople do the right thing,
that's hope in our justicesystem.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
It really is.
It really is.
I had a case where I wasserving as the employer's
representative for a workers'compensation claim and I had a
claimant who had had thisterrible injury and we kind of
walked through and talkedthrough everything.
Because it's a self-insurer,that means that folks really
know the person who's actuallyheard and care about the person
who's actually hurt.
And I remember running into him, probably about three weeks or
(08:29):
so after his case was resolved.
He says I just want to saythank you, Ms Alexander, for
making sure that everything wastaken care of.
My lawyer said you called andtalked to him like I was calling
him and harassing him every day.
I said well, I wanted to makesure you had what you need.
You're not going to be able towork again.
I need to make sure that you'retaken care of.
That's my goal, it's myclient's goal.
We want to make sure you're ina good place and so being able
(08:50):
to be able to have the gift ofbeing able to do that, and to do
it in a way that doesn't reallysort of alienate people and
bring them sort of in a place ofconciliation, is a wonderful
and blessing.
And able to do that I've beensuper active in the bar.
So every time I'm doingsomething I'm always thinking
about that.
So I'm even actually on theballot now for nominee for the
bar president.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
This year you go, girl.
That is fabulous.
Well, look, you have taken theball and run with it in our
profession and we cannot thankyou enough for that To that
person out there.
We're going to talk to twopeople.
We're going to talk first tothe citizen out there that has
(09:31):
an issue and they're going toencounter our judicial system.
What would you tell them aboutthe system and about the hope
that we have for the future?
Speaker 4 (09:42):
I would say maintain that hope.
I would say go in with an openmind and a place of peace and
listen right, because thereality is, everyone wants to be
heard, everyone wants anopportunity to be heard, and
that is the beauty of ourjudicial system it provides you
an opportunity to be heard,whether you are a person who is,
(10:02):
you know, working and tiltingcorn and whatever you need to be
doing in the field, or you area person who is working and
tilting corn and whatever youneed to be doing in the field,
or you're the person who is aFortune 500 executive.
The reality is our laws are setup just for that and the rule
of law is super important to beable to say that that judge that
you're going to appear beforeis going to be the person who,
hopefully, is following justthat the rule of law and no
(10:24):
matter where you come from, nomatter what you're doing, that
you still always have thebenefit of our judicial system.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
I was a judge for years and my prayer was to just
get it right.
Yes, once you get to the levelof a chancellor or the Supreme
Court, you can't count the votes.
What you got to do is know thatyou followed the law, and I
could live with the results,just because I didn't always
like the decision that I had tomake.
But as long as we follow theConstitution, that's what people
(10:51):
are counting on.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
That's absolutely right, absolutely right, and
something that we hopefully is aguiding principle in the way we
conduct ourselves, and others.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Well, folks should have faith in the judicial
system because there are lots offolks that are working toward
that end.
Absolutely that other group wewant to talk to are those young
people out there.
We want to certainly challengethem to be lawyers.
But also you talked about how,along the way your family
brought people along, you sloweddown and visited.
(11:22):
Talk a little bit about that,both to the young person as well
as to those adults out there tobring our young folks along
program that pushed, pushed,pushed me.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
But the reality is there were the benefit of having
just little elders in thecommunity who would just simply
give you the words ofencouragement to say you can do
it.
I think the biggest thing is mybrother always says that if you
(11:53):
can believe it, you can achieveit, and I think that that is
helpful.
And even when you can't guess,who can?
A God that we love and serve.
And so I think being able toshare and say you know, our
biggest and greatest challengeis to love each other, that is
the number one commandment, ifyou've got to guess one, and
that benefit of being able toshare and love and protect and
(12:13):
move forward, that's absolutely.
I think it's priceless.
And I would say to young folksout there who are just like, let
me try to figure it out, justkeep hope, keep hope, keep
believing it, because we doserve a wonderful God who has
the benefit of honoring ourservice.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Wow, what a blessing it's been to talk with you.
I'm so proud of you and thegood work that you're doing.
I know that the future isbright for you.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
So thanks for sharing .
Yes, thank you.
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Hope.
Mississippi is your salvation.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Hello and welcome back to the Mississippi Bar
Convention where we're visitingwith folks here and I have the
unique privilege of visitingwith Dean Fred Slobock.
Dean, tell the audience alittle bit about yourself.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Grew up in Mississippi, went to Mississippi
College undergrad, went to OleMiss Law and then practiced for
a number of years before I gotinto legal education and have
been in Texas, california,florida before finally getting
to come home.
I'm starting my third year asthe dean of the Ole Miss Law
School and my wife and I arejust absolutely delighted to be
(13:24):
home.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Well, as a graduate of Ole Miss Law School, I'm
reminded of so many professorsthat invested in me.
I was just a little old girl,that fresh out of college, and
wasn't quite sure what I wasdoing, but they poured wisdom
and knowledge, as well as thelaw, into me, and I'm forever
grateful to professors that havedone that.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
That's the same way I felt about going to Ole Miss
Law School.
It changed my life and it was,as you said, because so many of
the faculty members went aboveand beyond to really make sure
that I was getting everything Ineeded.
Because I came from a familythat didn't have any lawyers, I
didn't really know anythingabout the law other than what I
saw in popular media.
(14:07):
I went to law school thinking Iwas going to be the next Perry
Mason, someone who not only wasable to get his own client
acquitted but was able to getthe real murderer to confess on
the stand in open court in frontof the jury.
When I got to law school, Irealized how many opportunities
you have to have an impact as alawyer, and it was the faculty
(14:29):
that really helped me exploreall of that and I obviously
loved it so much.
I basically decided to comeback as a professional home and
stay in legal education as well.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
You know, I think that's a real important point
because when we talk aboutlawyers, a law degree simply
teaches you how to thinkanalytically and understand what
the nature of the law is, butyou can take that and go into
business and do great things orso many varieties of ways that
(15:00):
lawyers make a difference in theworld.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
I absolutely agree.
In fact, I've got a speech Iwon't give it on why everyone in
America ought to go to lawschool.
What it does is it teaches youhow to think analytically the
critical thinking, legalanalysis but also to become a
problem solver.
And it's that analyticalthinking and problem solving
ability that makes it such autilitarian degree that you can
go into any field within the lawor into business, public policy
(15:25):
, anything outside the sort oftraditional practice of law.
The opportunities for someonegoing through legal education
are just.
They're just amazing andthey're really not cabined in to
just a one set sort of idea ofwhat it means to be a lawyer.
It's a great degree for anynumber of professional fields.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
The Baptist preacher's daughter, amy, wants
to say amen amen amen because itreally is a wonderful way to
leave the world better than youfound it by helping people solve
their problems.
We listened to Governor HaleyBarber earlier today and I was
reminded about how blessed weare to live in Mississippi,
(16:11):
where we all work together andlawyers in Mississippi.
They are the backbone of thelocal community.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Yes, absolutely.
In fact, I think one of themost important aspects of being
a lawyer is being a leader.
Lawyers are leaders.
Lawyer is being a leader.
Lawyers are leaders.
What we do to train lawyers inlaw school and the work that we
do after we leave law schoolputs us in a position to be able
to be leaders in localcommunities, and that's a really
important aspect.
In fact, this last semester, Ico-taught a class at the law
(16:40):
school on leadership in law.
It was wonderful because wewere able to bring in lots of
guest speakers who had usedtheir law degree and their
practice in ways that clearlyexhibited leadership.
We talked about leadershiptheory and how law and
leadership fit so closelytogether.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
You're so right about that.
I just interviewed Joy Phillips.
And you know, I think sometimesfolks think that all lawyers do
is sit around and look at lawbooks or now it's the computer.
But we talked about herleadership in Hurricane Katrina
and how she helped the bank tothink outside the box.
Within 24 hours they werehanding out money, and you never
(17:24):
know what that degree is goingto help you to do.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
Yes, it's a wonderfully utilitarian degree,
and I think that Joy is aperfect example of how you can
use it in ways that might benon-traditional, but it still
goes back to that.
You're thinking outside the box, that's your analytical
reasoning, your criticalthinking, and then that
problem-solving piece that comesin as well.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Let's talk about Mississippi and the needs that
we have found in Mississippi toencourage folks to locate in
small towns.
I know I've worked with you andthe dean from MC on that, but
let's talk a little bit aboutthat.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
As you know, there are many rural communities and
small towns that either have noattorneys or have very few
attorneys and in many cases, thefew attorneys that already it's
twofold.
One is there are fewer peopleto actually handle the legal
(18:30):
issues and legal needs of thosecommunities, but then there's
also a lack of that naturallawyer leadership in those
communities where they are thebackbone of those communities,
and so it's really important, inmy opinion and the reason that
I love serving on theMississippi Access to Justice
Commission is that we canaddress, try to address some of
those issues and try to figureout how we can get more of our
(18:53):
attorneys, especially the youngattorneys who are in law school
now or coming out of law schoolsoon, to think about going into
those small towns and ruralcommunities where there's such
significant need and where therecan be such tremendous
professional and personalgratification.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
So Mississippi isn't alone in this.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
It is not.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
It's a national trend or a void that we are seeing.
What are some things that we'vetalked about?
About how we might couldencourage folks and also nurture
them.
It's scary when you're gettingout of law school and you want
me to go.
Where and who am I going to beable to ask for help?
Speaker 1 (19:30):
We've taken a few steps already.
We have a program that the baris actually helping to support
where the law schools willactually provide a small stipend
for a student after their firstor second year to go into a
rural community and sort ofparticipate with a local
attorney and sort of learn whatit would be like to be in a
small town or rural community,because a lot of students just
(19:53):
aren't aware and they're alittle concerned.
So we've taken a few baby stepsand we've had some of our
students from Ole Miss go intothose settings and have loved it
and have decided that thatreally is what they want to do.
On a more programmatic level,we're looking at what some other
states have done that have beenaffected for relatively small
amounts of resources.
(20:14):
So, for example, one areathat's been very successful is
South Dakota.
South Dakota developed a rurallegal attorney recruitment
program and what they did wasand it was actually led by their
Supreme Court, the Chiefjustice of their Supreme Court
they decided to go to thelegislature and ask for a small
amount of money it was less than$500,000 for the pilot project
(20:37):
that would provide a smallstipend for a graduate of a law
school to go into one of therural legal deserts, as they
referred to them, and practicefor five years.
They had to make a commitmentto practice for five years and
they would receive a stipend ofabout $17,000 each year to do
that.
They had an 80% success ratethat after that five-year
(21:00):
commitment 80% of thoseattorneys stay in those rural
areas, and so now a number ofcounties in South Dakota that
had either a small number ofattorneys or no attorneys at all
now have lawyers who are ableto serve the needs of those
small towns.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
And that's a concern for all Mississippians, because
when we talk about end justicefor all, if you don't have
access to a lawyer and to acourtroom, your rights are being
impacted.
So it's something that we allneed to be aware of, and this is
a employment area that we needgreat young students to come
(21:39):
into, and there are folks thatwill help them all along the way
right.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Yes, there are folks that will help them all along
the way and the bar has somementoring programs those
students can participate in,those young lawyers can
participate in.
Lawyers informally fromneighboring counties are
delighted to help mentor younglawyers.
So that's another thing youmentioned earlier about
Mississippi and how we all getalong and we all work together.
That's one of the great thingsabout Mississippi is that
(22:05):
everybody's willing to helpmentor young attorneys.
If we have time, can I give youan example?
Yes, we had one of our alumswho years ago did well in law
school, graduated, took a job ina big firm in Jackson
Mississippi, did well, madepartner.
But something was missing.
He had grown up in a ruralcommunity, in a rural county in
(22:27):
Mississippi and he made thedecision to go back home and set
up as a sole practitioner andwhat he found was that the
community just absolutelywelcomed him in and they were so
grateful that there was someonenow that they would be able to
turn to.
And he was a little bitconcerned initially about the
financial aspect of it.
(22:47):
But what he discovered was thatthere were so many institutions
, even public, part-time kindsof positions, like a city judge
or those kinds of things thatwere there and they were begging
attorneys to take thosepositions that he not only did
well for the community but hedid well financially himself,
(23:08):
and they embraced him so muchthat they actually, after a
number of years, sent him to thelegislature as their elected
representative.
So it's a prime example of howyou can go into these small
towns and rural communities andhave tremendous professional
satisfaction and, at the sametime, not sacrifice in terms of
(23:32):
your financial situation.
You can have a very fulfillingprofessional career.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Well, I would note you're talking about him and not
her, because I recently openedmy practice in Sumrall, and boy
has it been a blessing.
It is so much fun helping otherfolks and you know when you
have a problem, folks arewilling to invest to help get
that wise counsel, and so myhusband wonders why I hadn't
(23:56):
done this a long time ago.
But from a personal standpointI feel like I've died and gone
to heaven, because every day, Iget to make a difference
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
I get to make a difference Absolutely, and that
is something that I think isprobably easier to see.
The difference you make is inthe small towns and rural
communities, where one personreally can make a difference in
another person's life.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
You know, those are the Perry Mason moments really
they are, they are.
Well, thank you so much forsitting down with me and for all
that you do to make Mississippia better place.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
Thanks, Judge.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Hello and welcome back to the Mississippi Bar
Convention.
I'm here with Judge MichelleEasterling.
So glad to have you today.
Thank you so much for having me.
Could you just tell us a littlebit about yourself?
Speaker 3 (24:46):
Sure, I am a circuit judge in the 16th District of
Mississippi.
That includes Clay, Lowndes,Octobaha and Noxchimie Counties
but I'm also a mom and a wifeand I'm a resident of my
community and just a stakeholderas well as a, I would say, a
(25:07):
servant leader, where I can be.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
Oh, that is wonderful .
You are my kind of girl and youknow I grew up in Columbus.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
I did not know that.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
Well, I graduated from Caldwell High School, who's
not there anymore, but I'mreminded of so many people in
Columbus that I will, andforever indebted to, who molded
me and helped me to be theperson that I am.
Let's talk about you and as yougrew up.
(25:35):
I mean you're a circuit judgenow.
Let's just talk a little bitabout none of us got here by
ourselves, right?
Absolutely.
Let's just talk about whoinfluenced your life.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
I had numerous influences in my life as a young
woman growing up on the GulfCoast in Mississippi.
I remember Judge MargaretAlfonso, claire Sequel Hornsby.
Those were some people thatadmired from a distance.
A local real estate agent namedNell Frisbee, who was one of
the hardest working femalerealtors on the Gulf Coast and
(26:07):
later into the New Orleansmarket, had a lot of strong
women who encouraged me.
My mother also.
Although she did not pursue anykind of legal career, she was a
legal secretary and worked veryhard, long hours, and I learned
a lot from her about workinghard and finishing jobs and
(26:30):
being reliable.
So I had a lot of that as ayoung woman on the Gulf Coast
and then later went to collegeat Millsaps in Jackson, where I
also met some wonderful peoplein the Millsaps community, as
well as in the Secretary ofState's office where I worked
part time, as well as theStudent Health Department at
(26:51):
Millsaps.
I had a lot of different jobs asa college kid.
I can still remember Ms LindaSmith was an Assistant Secretary
of State in the Public LandsDivision who encouraged me, as
well as Constance Slaughter,harvey, if you remember Connie.
She also worked as an AssistantSecretary.
I'll never forget her tellingHarvey.
If you remember Connie, shealso worked as an assistant
secretary I'll never forget hertelling us if you are going to
(27:11):
do something you say you'regoing to do it, you better darn
well do it.
Don't be a flake.
When you are committing tosomething, you do the job.
And so here I am now and folkslike you and Lydia Quarles and
Judge Sharon Aycock there's somany Just Judge Justice, former
Justice Lenora Prather and I sayformer, she's deceased
(27:33):
obviously All of these womenhave been very vital in my
development, like I said, from ayoung age on the Gulf Coast to
a young lawyer in NorthMississippi, and I'm grateful
for all of the gifts that I'vebeen given, the advice, the
encouragement, etc.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
Well, I'm reminded.
We're headed to the PricePrather Luncheon in a minute,
where we celebrate all the greatwomen, and many of those that
touched your life certainlytouched mine and would not have
done the things I've donewithout their wisdom.
Wise counsel is so important,and the idea of self-discipline
if you say you're going to do it, do it.
(28:13):
Be there on time.
And I think when people knowthat they can rely on us, we
excel.
And so, for the folks that arelistening out there, and
particularly young people, bethat person you can count on
right, absolutely, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
And don't shy away Just because something is new or
you may not have experience init.
You can always learn.
You have people that aresurrounding you, people like you
, people like Lydia that wetalked about.
There's always somebody therethat's going to support and
encourage you, but sometimes youhave to find them.
You have to ask, but don't beafraid to take on a new
(28:49):
challenge and don't be afraid toask for help at the same time.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
I'm on the other side of life now where a lot of
people helped me, but the ideaof helping bring people along.
Talk about that just a minute,the opportunities that you have,
and then the blessing of beingable to see how you make a
difference in Mississippi.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
The importance of bringing others along and being
a hand in need in a time of needvery important.
I'm reminded of LieutenantGovernor Gandy and the Evelyn
Gandy lecture series that youand I always.
We were there and learned somuch about the importance of
being that encourager, beingthat mentor, even if it's a de
(29:35):
facto mentor.
I think that's ourresponsibility to other women in
the legal profession certainly,but really in any profession.
I have had the opportunity as ajudge to include young college
students, even high schoolstudents who want to learn about
the law, to come and sit in mycourt.
(29:55):
I make them feel welcome.
I think it's important torecognize them and introduce
them to the district attorney,the assistant district attorney,
the defense bar, theMississippi Department of
Corrections.
I want people to see, and notjust women, but all young people
to see.
There are so many options thatyou can pursue with a legal
(30:15):
degree and I want to expose asmany of those young folks to a
legal career however possible.
And if I can use my role as ajudge to ask others to talk with
this young lady or this youngman, I'm going to do that.
Getting back to the part of yourquestion about opportunities to
see hope in our communities.
(30:39):
I will say that, as a circuitjudge, I have seen a lot of
people suffering from addictions.
Those addictions cause them anynumber of problems and horrible
consequences, anywhere frombroken marriages to losing
children, but also to beingcharged with serious felony
crimes.
One of the things that I havehad the pleasure of seeing it's
(31:01):
not all the time, but it's justa couple of times in three years
but where I've had to beparticularly hard on an
individual defendant who was anaddict, where I have placed them
back in jail for violating aterm and condition of their bond
, which is to remain drug-free.
As hard as that was to do, thereward is to get a message down
(31:23):
the road, and I just had onerecently where a young man said
thank you for being tough on me,thank you for the advice to get
out of this certain community,which I don't need to say on the
air but he said I've done thatand I found myself a job and I
am drug free, and it's beeneight months or nine months,
(31:43):
however it was.
He said thank you.
And then another time where Igot a message from a mother on
Mother's Day that said thank youfor being so hard on my child
because he's doing the best he'sever done and he's been drug
(32:04):
fee for, you know, a year now.
And those messages, I printthose out and I keep them in my
little desk drawer in a folderso that when the days are hard
and you feel like you don'tnecessarily make an impact on
someone's life in a positive way, I go and read those and those
examples of hope that everyonehas value.
Everyone deserves a secondchance.
(32:26):
I'm not necessarily fond ofthird, fourth, fifth, sixth
chances, but I try to help folkswhere I can and it does remind
me that we are all in thistogether and we've got to lend a
hand.
Sometimes that hand is a littleharsh, you know, but if we can
temper it with mercy andkindness, I think in the end
(32:48):
we'll be blessed in spades withthe outcome of a positive change
in members of our community.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
Well, we are so blessed to have you serve as a
circuit judge in Mississippi.
One other question when we talkabout hope in Mississippi, the
role of the judicial system, thejustice system not just
judicial, but the lawyers,judges, everybody that works in
it how does that play a role inbringing folks home?
Speaker 3 (33:18):
Number one we're always going to have crime, Just
like Jesus said, we're alwaysgoing to have the poor with us.
We're always going to have thepoor and we're always going to
have crime.
I think that the judicialsystem, which I have a great
passion, love and respect forand that's why I'm doing my job
the judicial system is made upof some very good people and,
like you said, from the lawenforcement to the prosecutors,
(33:42):
to the defense bar, to thejudges and the court personnel.
I think we all have to rememberthat those are public servants.
Those are people that serve thecommunity.
It's incumbent upon us toremember who we work for and to
do so in a way that makes ourGod proud of us.
Remember we want to treateveryone with dignity and
(34:03):
respect and give them that dueprocess, give them a fair
hearing, a fair trial.
I think it's incumbent on us toremember that.
I think we have some very goodpeople in that judicial system
that truly want to help.
We have a lot of people withservants' hearts in the judicial
system just to understand thatthey have a job to do, but they
(34:24):
also are merciful andcompassionate people Not
everybody, but the majority ofthem.
So I think that is what Ishould emphasize about.
Hope in Mississippi with regardto the judicial system is that I
know firsthand the good peoplethat we have working for the
betterment of our community.
Be patient with all of us andfor us to be patient with those
(34:48):
who come before us and come infront of us or that we represent
.
Remember that if we will followthose commandments, love your
neighbor as yourself.
Everyone's our neighbor, youknow, and that's just so
important and I don't mean tocome across as trying to be holy
roller or wonky, but I thinkit's true and I found that in my
(35:08):
job.
I hope that your listeners willjust remember that we're all in
this together and it takes allof us to have a future that we
will be proud of, to share withour children and our
grandchildren and et cetera.
Just remember, we're all human,we're all neighbors and we got
to love each other.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
Wow, I so enjoyed visiting with you and I know our
listeners did.
Thanks for joining us today.
Speaker 3 (35:34):
Thank you so much for doing what you're doing with
this podcast.
I cannot wait to go home andsubscribe.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
Hope Mississippi.
Hello and welcome back to the Mississippi.
Bar Convention at Sandestin.
(00:53):
I am here with Amanda Green,alexander Welcome.
Thank you for having me.
I met her some time ago as ayoung lawyer, is that right?
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Not even a lawyer.
I think I was in law school.
Maybe my second year in lawschool.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Where'd you grow up?
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Well, I'm a Baptist preacher's daughter too, so we
could probably share some jokesand silly stories together.
You know, one point is thatyour family helps make you who.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
You are right, absolutely, absolutely, from the
base to the beginning.
I tell you that the benefit ofhaving a small family but a
large family.
Both of my parents are theoldest in their family, which
means everything that happensthat needs to be taken care of.
They take care of it and evennow, as the children of the
oldest very close In fact,they'll be joining me on
(02:25):
tomorrow or later on today atthe bar convention.
And then I have one daughter,mari, who is just finished up,
headed to Howard in the fall, sowe'll be headed to DC and my
mom is also here with me as well, and so she's kind of the rock.
Dad passed away in 2007, but Icontinue to sort of plug on.
It's so funny how God gives youall these wonderful blessings
(02:52):
and sometimes he gives them toyou all at the same time.
So in 2007, I get theopportunity to open this brand
new office and building and thenget a baby on the way, because
as I was decorating I was like,oops, what's going on?
And here we are, and sorelatively new husband,
relatively new baby and brandnew and everything is good.
And God has said this is whatyou want, this is what you asked
for.
This is the actual statement onthe back of your freshman dorm
door, and you're about eightyears ahead of schedule.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
So you know, I love that proverb three, five and six
about how, when you justsurrender to God, he really does
direct your path, doesn't he?
Speaker 4 (03:24):
Every time One of my mom's favorite scriptures and
probably something I've grown upon since the beginning.
I was sitting in churchactually the other day and I was
thinking how do I know all ofthese scriptures just back.
But that's what you kind of getpulled in and becomes just a
part of your everyday routine,and so those are moments where
you can be able to sit back andsay, oh, remember that, remember
the opportunity that God hasfor you, remember the providence
(03:47):
that he has for your life,remember the Hebrew 12 and all
of the cloud of witnesses which,by the way, is what got me
through law school.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
What we do in Mississippi is related to our
faith, and we just heard fromGovernor Haley Barber about how
God really provided, throughKatrina and a lot of those
scriptures, when the ox was inthe ditch, when it was so dark.
What a blessing to have ourfaith that we could hang on to,
absolutely, absolutely so thatsaying you've come a long way,
(04:24):
baby from Kokomo.
Tell me all that you've gotgoing on.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
So I'll tell you in October actually, our firm
returned 20 years old, which isa big deal because my practice
is defense work and so I'm kindof a unicorn in that regard.
I've got three or four lawyersthat work with me and I'll be
honest, you know I'm a blackwoman in Mississippi and there
are no other firms that do whatwe do.
(04:49):
We do all defense work,representing businesses and
employment spaces and workers'comp.
We are actually in that spaceand surprisingly, we keep
talking about this unicorn thatwe are.
But it's been impactful becausewhen I started the firm I was
working a former deputy cityattorney.
I clerked with Justice King whois Justice King now but chief
judge of the Court of Appeals atthe time, and got a chance to
(05:12):
be able to do that and that justkind of put me in the position
where I then learned all theseareas of law and, trying to
figure out exactly what I wantedto do, had the benefit and the
spectacular opportunity to havesome judges and commissioners
and people who loved on me tojust simply go out and say, hey,
willing to learn, teach me whatyou're doing, kind of how, like
we ran across each other.
I followed, you said, okay,we've got somebody who's doing
(05:34):
family law, let's see if we cantrack her down and harass her.
But I really wasn't harassing,hopefully so, and then being
able to just sort of, you know,be in those positions.
I actually was, if you canbelieve it or not, a staff
member of the Mississippi Barand worked my way through grad
school and so I started workingwith the Mississippi Bar in 1998
(05:56):
and delivered, you know, snacksand cokes and all these other
great things for members of theWomen in Profession Committee
and the Lawyers and JudgesAssistance Program.
So I know where all of the goodsnacks are at the bar center
when lawyers show up formeetings now.
But then leaving that work myway through grad school head off
to Mississippi College, andthose relationships that I had
(06:18):
have been just invaluable.
I don't think you get a chanceto walk around and be a PK, as
we say, a preacher's kid, andnot know and talk to everybody.
I remember mom and dad runninginto people in the grocery store
and it would take us like anhour and a half to get groceries
when everybody else just beenin and out in 20 minutes.
But those connections, familyconnections, friendships,
relationships One of the tenantsof our firm and our actual logo
(06:41):
is Do Justly, love Mercy andWalk H humbly, and those are the
words that are on the bottom ofour letterhead and we're not
straying away from that at all.
All of the things and all thepeople saying this about
politics and this or whatever,that's who we are at the core,
and so I've had our firm to walkin those same tenets to be sure
that we're doing people right.
(07:01):
And so, you know, a lot of timesdefense lawyers get a bad rap,
but the reality is you need alawyer who is going to be able
to provide a fair assessment ofwhat's happening, to be able to
say you know what turns out,this person does need some
support, turns out, they do havethese legitimate damages and
we've got to do somethingdifferently.
That's a bold thing to do, andI'll tell you, it has been a
(07:22):
great joy to be able to do thatand to not waver.
The beauty of having your ownfirm is just that you can
literally tell your clients.
This is what I believe ishappening, this is our strategy,
this is the right thing to do,and so I've committed, after 22
years, that I'm doing the workthat I enjoy doing with the
people who I enjoy doing thework for, and the type of work
that's making an impact on thecommunity.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Oh, I love it, I just love it.
You know, I've been a solepractitioner much of my life
when I wasn't in public service.
And to really be the wheelbehind justice, to help people
to do the right thing, is just agreat feeling.
Certainly, you make very goodmoney when you work hard, yes,
but the feeling of helpingpeople do the right thing,
that's hope in our justicesystem.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
It really is.
It really is.
I had a case where I wasserving as the employer's
representative for a workers'compensation claim and I had a
claimant who had had thisterrible injury and we kind of
walked through and talkedthrough everything.
Because it's a self-insurer,that means that folks really
know the person who's actuallyheard and care about the person
who's actually hurt.
And I remember running into him, probably about three weeks or
(08:29):
so after his case was resolved.
He says I just want to saythank you, Ms Alexander, for
making sure that everything wastaken care of.
My lawyer said you called andtalked to him like I was calling
him and harassing him every day.
I said well, I wanted to makesure you had what you need.
You're not going to be able towork again.
I need to make sure that you'retaken care of.
That's my goal, it's myclient's goal.
We want to make sure you're ina good place and so being able
(08:50):
to be able to have the gift ofbeing able to do that, and to do
it in a way that doesn't reallysort of alienate people and
bring them sort of in a place ofconciliation, is a wonderful
and blessing.
And able to do that I've beensuper active in the bar.
So every time I'm doingsomething I'm always thinking
about that.
So I'm even actually on theballot now for nominee for the
bar president.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
This year you go, girl.
That is fabulous.
Well, look, you have taken theball and run with it in our
profession and we cannot thankyou enough for that To that
person out there.
We're going to talk to twopeople.
We're going to talk first tothe citizen out there that has
(09:31):
an issue and they're going toencounter our judicial system.
What would you tell them aboutthe system and about the hope
that we have for the future?
Speaker 4 (09:42):
I would say maintain that hope.
I would say go in with an openmind and a place of peace and
listen right, because thereality is, everyone wants to be
heard, everyone wants anopportunity to be heard, and
that is the beauty of ourjudicial system it provides you
an opportunity to be heard,whether you are a person who is,
(10:02):
you know, working and tiltingcorn and whatever you need to be
doing in the field, or you area person who is working and
tilting corn and whatever youneed to be doing in the field,
or you're the person who is aFortune 500 executive.
The reality is our laws are setup just for that and the rule
of law is super important to beable to say that that judge that
you're going to appear beforeis going to be the person who,
hopefully, is following justthat the rule of law and no
(10:24):
matter where you come from, nomatter what you're doing, that
you still always have thebenefit of our judicial system.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
I was a judge for years and my prayer was to just
get it right.
Yes, once you get to the levelof a chancellor or the Supreme
Court, you can't count the votes.
What you got to do is know thatyou followed the law, and I
could live with the results,just because I didn't always
like the decision that I had tomake.
But as long as we follow theConstitution, that's what people
(10:51):
are counting on.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
That's absolutely right, absolutely right, and
something that we hopefully is aguiding principle in the way we
conduct ourselves, and others.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Well, folks should have faith in the judicial
system because there are lots offolks that are working toward
that end.
Absolutely that other group wewant to talk to are those young
people out there.
We want to certainly challengethem to be lawyers.
But also you talked about how,along the way your family
brought people along, you sloweddown and visited.
(11:22):
Talk a little bit about that,both to the young person as well
as to those adults out there tobring our young folks along
program that pushed, pushed,pushed me.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
But the reality is there were the benefit of having
just little elders in thecommunity who would just simply
give you the words ofencouragement to say you can do
it.
I think the biggest thing is mybrother always says that if you
(11:53):
can believe it, you can achieveit, and I think that that is
helpful.
And even when you can't guess,who can?
A God that we love and serve.
And so I think being able toshare and say you know, our
biggest and greatest challengeis to love each other, that is
the number one commandment, ifyou've got to guess one, and
that benefit of being able toshare and love and protect and
(12:13):
move forward, that's absolutely.
I think it's priceless.
And I would say to young folksout there who are just like, let
me try to figure it out, justkeep hope, keep hope, keep
believing it, because we doserve a wonderful God who has
the benefit of honoring ourservice.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Wow, what a blessing it's been to talk with you.
I'm so proud of you and thegood work that you're doing.
I know that the future isbright for you.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
So thanks for sharing .
Yes, thank you.
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Hope.
Mississippi is your salvation.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Hello and welcome back to the Mississippi Bar
Convention where we're visitingwith folks here and I have the
unique privilege of visitingwith Dean Fred Slobock.
Dean, tell the audience alittle bit about yourself.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Grew up in Mississippi, went to Mississippi
College undergrad, went to OleMiss Law and then practiced for
a number of years before I gotinto legal education and have
been in Texas, california,florida before finally getting
to come home.
I'm starting my third year asthe dean of the Ole Miss Law
School and my wife and I arejust absolutely delighted to be
(13:24):
home.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Well, as a graduate of Ole Miss Law School, I'm
reminded of so many professorsthat invested in me.
I was just a little old girl,that fresh out of college, and
wasn't quite sure what I wasdoing, but they poured wisdom
and knowledge, as well as thelaw, into me, and I'm forever
grateful to professors that havedone that.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
That's the same way I felt about going to Ole Miss
Law School.
It changed my life and it was,as you said, because so many of
the faculty members went aboveand beyond to really make sure
that I was getting everything Ineeded.
Because I came from a familythat didn't have any lawyers, I
didn't really know anythingabout the law other than what I
saw in popular media.
(14:07):
I went to law school thinking Iwas going to be the next Perry
Mason, someone who not only wasable to get his own client
acquitted but was able to getthe real murderer to confess on
the stand in open court in frontof the jury.
When I got to law school, Irealized how many opportunities
you have to have an impact as alawyer, and it was the faculty
(14:29):
that really helped me exploreall of that and I obviously
loved it so much.
I basically decided to comeback as a professional home and
stay in legal education as well.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
You know, I think that's a real important point
because when we talk aboutlawyers, a law degree simply
teaches you how to thinkanalytically and understand what
the nature of the law is, butyou can take that and go into
business and do great things orso many varieties of ways that
(15:00):
lawyers make a difference in theworld.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
I absolutely agree.
In fact, I've got a speech Iwon't give it on why everyone in
America ought to go to lawschool.
What it does is it teaches youhow to think analytically the
critical thinking, legalanalysis but also to become a
problem solver.
And it's that analyticalthinking and problem solving
ability that makes it such autilitarian degree that you can
go into any field within the lawor into business, public policy
(15:25):
, anything outside the sort oftraditional practice of law.
The opportunities for someonegoing through legal education
are just.
They're just amazing andthey're really not cabined in to
just a one set sort of idea ofwhat it means to be a lawyer.
It's a great degree for anynumber of professional fields.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
The Baptist preacher's daughter, amy, wants
to say amen amen amen because itreally is a wonderful way to
leave the world better than youfound it by helping people solve
their problems.
We listened to Governor HaleyBarber earlier today and I was
reminded about how blessed weare to live in Mississippi,
(16:11):
where we all work together andlawyers in Mississippi.
They are the backbone of thelocal community.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Yes, absolutely.
In fact, I think one of themost important aspects of being
a lawyer is being a leader.
Lawyers are leaders.
Lawyer is being a leader.
Lawyers are leaders.
What we do to train lawyers inlaw school and the work that we
do after we leave law schoolputs us in a position to be able
to be leaders in localcommunities, and that's a really
important aspect.
In fact, this last semester, Ico-taught a class at the law
(16:40):
school on leadership in law.
It was wonderful because wewere able to bring in lots of
guest speakers who had usedtheir law degree and their
practice in ways that clearlyexhibited leadership.
We talked about leadershiptheory and how law and
leadership fit so closelytogether.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
You're so right about that.
I just interviewed Joy Phillips.
And you know, I think sometimesfolks think that all lawyers do
is sit around and look at lawbooks or now it's the computer.
But we talked about herleadership in Hurricane Katrina
and how she helped the bank tothink outside the box.
Within 24 hours they werehanding out money, and you never
(17:24):
know what that degree is goingto help you to do.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
Yes, it's a wonderfully utilitarian degree,
and I think that Joy is aperfect example of how you can
use it in ways that might benon-traditional, but it still
goes back to that.
You're thinking outside the box, that's your analytical
reasoning, your criticalthinking, and then that
problem-solving piece that comesin as well.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Let's talk about Mississippi and the needs that
we have found in Mississippi toencourage folks to locate in
small towns.
I know I've worked with you andthe dean from MC on that, but
let's talk a little bit aboutthat.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
As you know, there are many rural communities and
small towns that either have noattorneys or have very few
attorneys and in many cases, thefew attorneys that already it's
twofold.
One is there are fewer peopleto actually handle the legal
(18:30):
issues and legal needs of thosecommunities, but then there's
also a lack of that naturallawyer leadership in those
communities where they are thebackbone of those communities,
and so it's really important, inmy opinion and the reason that
I love serving on theMississippi Access to Justice
Commission is that we canaddress, try to address some of
those issues and try to figureout how we can get more of our
(18:53):
attorneys, especially the youngattorneys who are in law school
now or coming out of law schoolsoon, to think about going into
those small towns and ruralcommunities where there's such
significant need and where therecan be such tremendous
professional and personalgratification.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
So Mississippi isn't alone in this.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
It is not.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
It's a national trend or a void that we are seeing.
What are some things that we'vetalked about?
About how we might couldencourage folks and also nurture
them.
It's scary when you're gettingout of law school and you want
me to go.
Where and who am I going to beable to ask for help?
Speaker 1 (19:30):
We've taken a few steps already.
We have a program that the baris actually helping to support
where the law schools willactually provide a small stipend
for a student after their firstor second year to go into a
rural community and sort ofparticipate with a local
attorney and sort of learn whatit would be like to be in a
small town or rural community,because a lot of students just
(19:53):
aren't aware and they're alittle concerned.
So we've taken a few baby stepsand we've had some of our
students from Ole Miss go intothose settings and have loved it
and have decided that thatreally is what they want to do.
On a more programmatic level,we're looking at what some other
states have done that have beenaffected for relatively small
amounts of resources.
(20:14):
So, for example, one areathat's been very successful is
South Dakota.
South Dakota developed a rurallegal attorney recruitment
program and what they did wasand it was actually led by their
Supreme Court, the Chiefjustice of their Supreme Court
they decided to go to thelegislature and ask for a small
amount of money it was less than$500,000 for the pilot project
(20:37):
that would provide a smallstipend for a graduate of a law
school to go into one of therural legal deserts, as they
referred to them, and practicefor five years.
They had to make a commitmentto practice for five years and
they would receive a stipend ofabout $17,000 each year to do
that.
They had an 80% success ratethat after that five-year
(21:00):
commitment 80% of thoseattorneys stay in those rural
areas, and so now a number ofcounties in South Dakota that
had either a small number ofattorneys or no attorneys at all
now have lawyers who are ableto serve the needs of those
small towns.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
And that's a concern for all Mississippians, because
when we talk about end justicefor all, if you don't have
access to a lawyer and to acourtroom, your rights are being
impacted.
So it's something that we allneed to be aware of, and this is
a employment area that we needgreat young students to come
(21:39):
into, and there are folks thatwill help them all along the way
right.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Yes, there are folks that will help them all along
the way and the bar has somementoring programs those
students can participate in,those young lawyers can
participate in.
Lawyers informally fromneighboring counties are
delighted to help mentor younglawyers.
So that's another thing youmentioned earlier about
Mississippi and how we all getalong and we all work together.
That's one of the great thingsabout Mississippi is that
(22:05):
everybody's willing to helpmentor young attorneys.
If we have time, can I give youan example?
Yes, we had one of our alumswho years ago did well in law
school, graduated, took a job ina big firm in Jackson
Mississippi, did well, madepartner.
But something was missing.
He had grown up in a ruralcommunity, in a rural county in
(22:27):
Mississippi and he made thedecision to go back home and set
up as a sole practitioner andwhat he found was that the
community just absolutelywelcomed him in and they were so
grateful that there was someonenow that they would be able to
turn to.
And he was a little bitconcerned initially about the
financial aspect of it.
(22:47):
But what he discovered was thatthere were so many institutions
, even public, part-time kindsof positions, like a city judge
or those kinds of things thatwere there and they were begging
attorneys to take thosepositions that he not only did
well for the community but hedid well financially himself,
(23:08):
and they embraced him so muchthat they actually, after a
number of years, sent him to thelegislature as their elected
representative.
So it's a prime example of howyou can go into these small
towns and rural communities andhave tremendous professional
satisfaction and, at the sametime, not sacrifice in terms of
(23:32):
your financial situation.
You can have a very fulfillingprofessional career.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Well, I would note you're talking about him and not
her, because I recently openedmy practice in Sumrall, and boy
has it been a blessing.
It is so much fun helping otherfolks and you know when you
have a problem, folks arewilling to invest to help get
that wise counsel, and so myhusband wonders why I hadn't
(23:56):
done this a long time ago.
But from a personal standpointI feel like I've died and gone
to heaven, because every day, Iget to make a difference
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
I get to make a difference Absolutely, and that
is something that I think isprobably easier to see.
The difference you make is inthe small towns and rural
communities, where one personreally can make a difference in
another person's life.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
You know, those are the Perry Mason moments really
they are, they are.
Well, thank you so much forsitting down with me and for all
that you do to make Mississippia better place.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
Thanks, Judge.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Hello and welcome back to the Mississippi Bar
Convention.
I'm here with Judge MichelleEasterling.
So glad to have you today.
Thank you so much for having me.
Could you just tell us a littlebit about yourself?
Speaker 3 (24:46):
Sure, I am a circuit judge in the 16th District of
Mississippi.
That includes Clay, Lowndes,Octobaha and Noxchimie Counties
but I'm also a mom and a wifeand I'm a resident of my
community and just a stakeholderas well as a, I would say, a
(25:07):
servant leader, where I can be.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
Oh, that is wonderful .
You are my kind of girl and youknow I grew up in Columbus.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
I did not know that.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
Well, I graduated from Caldwell High School, who's
not there anymore, but I'mreminded of so many people in
Columbus that I will, andforever indebted to, who molded
me and helped me to be theperson that I am.
Let's talk about you and as yougrew up.
(25:35):
I mean you're a circuit judgenow.
Let's just talk a little bitabout none of us got here by
ourselves, right?
Absolutely.
Let's just talk about whoinfluenced your life.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
I had numerous influences in my life as a young
woman growing up on the GulfCoast in Mississippi.
I remember Judge MargaretAlfonso, claire Sequel Hornsby.
Those were some people thatadmired from a distance.
A local real estate agent namedNell Frisbee, who was one of
the hardest working femalerealtors on the Gulf Coast and
(26:07):
later into the New Orleansmarket, had a lot of strong
women who encouraged me.
My mother also.
Although she did not pursue anykind of legal career, she was a
legal secretary and worked veryhard, long hours, and I learned
a lot from her about workinghard and finishing jobs and
(26:30):
being reliable.
So I had a lot of that as ayoung woman on the Gulf Coast
and then later went to collegeat Millsaps in Jackson, where I
also met some wonderful peoplein the Millsaps community, as
well as in the Secretary ofState's office where I worked
part time, as well as theStudent Health Department at
(26:51):
Millsaps.
I had a lot of different jobs asa college kid.
I can still remember Ms LindaSmith was an Assistant Secretary
of State in the Public LandsDivision who encouraged me, as
well as Constance Slaughter,harvey, if you remember Connie.
She also worked as an AssistantSecretary.
I'll never forget her tellingHarvey.
If you remember Connie, shealso worked as an assistant
secretary I'll never forget hertelling us if you are going to
(27:11):
do something you say you'regoing to do it, you better darn
well do it.
Don't be a flake.
When you are committing tosomething, you do the job.
And so here I am now and folkslike you and Lydia Quarles and
Judge Sharon Aycock there's somany Just Judge Justice, former
Justice Lenora Prather and I sayformer, she's deceased
(27:33):
obviously All of these womenhave been very vital in my
development, like I said, from ayoung age on the Gulf Coast to
a young lawyer in NorthMississippi, and I'm grateful
for all of the gifts that I'vebeen given, the advice, the
encouragement, etc.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
Well, I'm reminded.
We're headed to the PricePrather Luncheon in a minute,
where we celebrate all the greatwomen, and many of those that
touched your life certainlytouched mine and would not have
done the things I've donewithout their wisdom.
Wise counsel is so important,and the idea of self-discipline
if you say you're going to do it, do it.
(28:13):
Be there on time.
And I think when people knowthat they can rely on us, we
excel.
And so, for the folks that arelistening out there, and
particularly young people, bethat person you can count on
right, absolutely, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
And don't shy away Just because something is new or
you may not have experience init.
You can always learn.
You have people that aresurrounding you, people like you
, people like Lydia that wetalked about.
There's always somebody therethat's going to support and
encourage you, but sometimes youhave to find them.
You have to ask, but don't beafraid to take on a new
(28:49):
challenge and don't be afraid toask for help at the same time.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
I'm on the other side of life now where a lot of
people helped me, but the ideaof helping bring people along.
Talk about that just a minute,the opportunities that you have,
and then the blessing of beingable to see how you make a
difference in Mississippi.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
The importance of bringing others along and being
a hand in need in a time of needvery important.
I'm reminded of LieutenantGovernor Gandy and the Evelyn
Gandy lecture series that youand I always.
We were there and learned somuch about the importance of
being that encourager, beingthat mentor, even if it's a de
(29:35):
facto mentor.
I think that's ourresponsibility to other women in
the legal profession certainly,but really in any profession.
I have had the opportunity as ajudge to include young college
students, even high schoolstudents who want to learn about
the law, to come and sit in mycourt.
(29:55):
I make them feel welcome.
I think it's important torecognize them and introduce
them to the district attorney,the assistant district attorney,
the defense bar, theMississippi Department of
Corrections.
I want people to see, and notjust women, but all young people
to see.
There are so many options thatyou can pursue with a legal
(30:15):
degree and I want to expose asmany of those young folks to a
legal career however possible.
And if I can use my role as ajudge to ask others to talk with
this young lady or this youngman, I'm going to do that.
Getting back to the part of yourquestion about opportunities to
see hope in our communities.
(30:39):
I will say that, as a circuitjudge, I have seen a lot of
people suffering from addictions.
Those addictions cause them anynumber of problems and horrible
consequences, anywhere frombroken marriages to losing
children, but also to beingcharged with serious felony
crimes.
One of the things that I havehad the pleasure of seeing it's
(31:01):
not all the time, but it's justa couple of times in three years
but where I've had to beparticularly hard on an
individual defendant who was anaddict, where I have placed them
back in jail for violating aterm and condition of their bond
, which is to remain drug-free.
As hard as that was to do, thereward is to get a message down
(31:23):
the road, and I just had onerecently where a young man said
thank you for being tough on me,thank you for the advice to get
out of this certain community,which I don't need to say on the
air but he said I've done thatand I found myself a job and I
am drug free, and it's beeneight months or nine months,
(31:43):
however it was.
He said thank you.
And then another time where Igot a message from a mother on
Mother's Day that said thank youfor being so hard on my child
because he's doing the best he'sever done and he's been drug
(32:04):
fee for, you know, a year now.
And those messages, I printthose out and I keep them in my
little desk drawer in a folderso that when the days are hard
and you feel like you don'tnecessarily make an impact on
someone's life in a positive way, I go and read those and those
examples of hope that everyonehas value.
Everyone deserves a secondchance.
(32:26):
I'm not necessarily fond ofthird, fourth, fifth, sixth
chances, but I try to help folkswhere I can and it does remind
me that we are all in thistogether and we've got to lend a
hand.
Sometimes that hand is a littleharsh, you know, but if we can
temper it with mercy andkindness, I think in the end
(32:48):
we'll be blessed in spades withthe outcome of a positive change
in members of our community.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
Well, we are so blessed to have you serve as a
circuit judge in Mississippi.
One other question when we talkabout hope in Mississippi, the
role of the judicial system, thejustice system not just
judicial, but the lawyers,judges, everybody that works in
it how does that play a role inbringing folks home?
Speaker 3 (33:18):
Number one we're always going to have crime, Just
like Jesus said, we're alwaysgoing to have the poor with us.
We're always going to have thepoor and we're always going to
have crime.
I think that the judicialsystem, which I have a great
passion, love and respect forand that's why I'm doing my job
the judicial system is made upof some very good people and,
like you said, from the lawenforcement to the prosecutors,
(33:42):
to the defense bar, to thejudges and the court personnel.
I think we all have to rememberthat those are public servants.
Those are people that serve thecommunity.
It's incumbent upon us toremember who we work for and to
do so in a way that makes ourGod proud of us.
Remember we want to treateveryone with dignity and
(34:03):
respect and give them that dueprocess, give them a fair
hearing, a fair trial.
I think it's incumbent on us toremember that.
I think we have some very goodpeople in that judicial system
that truly want to help.
We have a lot of people withservants' hearts in the judicial
system just to understand thatthey have a job to do, but they
(34:24):
also are merciful andcompassionate people Not
everybody, but the majority ofthem.
So I think that is what Ishould emphasize about.
Hope in Mississippi with regardto the judicial system is that I
know firsthand the good peoplethat we have working for the
betterment of our community.
Be patient with all of us andfor us to be patient with those
(34:48):
who come before us and come infront of us or that we represent
.
Remember that if we will followthose commandments, love your
neighbor as yourself.
Everyone's our neighbor, youknow, and that's just so
important and I don't mean tocome across as trying to be holy
roller or wonky, but I thinkit's true and I found that in my
(35:08):
job.
I hope that your listeners willjust remember that we're all in
this together and it takes allof us to have a future that we
will be proud of, to share withour children and our
grandchildren and et cetera.
Just remember, we're all human,we're all neighbors and we got
to love each other.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
Wow, I so enjoyed visiting with you and I know our
listeners did.
Thanks for joining us today.
Speaker 3 (35:34):
Thank you so much for doing what you're doing with
this podcast.
I cannot wait to go home andsubscribe.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
Hope Mississippi.
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