November 1, 2025 • 34 mins
At the 2025 Mississippi Bar Convention, former State Supreme Court Justice Dawn Beam sat down with more than twenty leaders in law, policy, and public service—capturing three days of extraordinary conversations for a special seven-part series of her Hope Mississippi podcast. This is Part Six of Seven.
What does it really take to keep kids safe and families whole when poverty, addiction, and untreated mental illness pull them apart? In this episode, we begin with Judge Walt Brown of Adams County, then move into candid, heart-level discussions with family law attorney Jeremy McNinch and former Mississippi Bar President Blake Teller. Together, they trace a line from the youth court bench to private practice, showing how hope isn’t abstract—it’s built daily through practical tools, patient relationships, and courageous choices.
Judge Brown opens the curtain on youth court’s real center of gravity—neglect, not delinquency—and exposes the everyday obstacles most people never see: no car to reach court, no childcare for class, no path out of generational poverty. He shares how a local coalition extends treatment beyond a thirty-day stopgap and why peer-support specialists transform outcomes by walking alongside families between hearings, answering late-night texts, and speaking truth as people who’ve lived it. He also faces the most challenging question head-on: when does a child’s stability require severing parental rights—and who will step forward to love, and then let go?
With Jeremy McNinch, the lens shifts to family law's emotional and spiritual weight. He reveals why listening can be as powerful as litigating, how faith steadies families in crisis, and why leaving the door open to resolution often heals more than courtroom brinkmanship ever could.
Finally, Blake Teller widens the view to the profession—the Mississippi Bar’s renewed focus on civility, mentorship, and closing rural justice deserts through law-school outreach and internships that lead young lawyers into small-town practice. Expect grounded wisdom and actionable hope: fund a treatment program, mentor a struggling parent, consider foster care, or—if you’re a lawyer or student—bring your skills to a Mississippi community that needs you most.
Subscribe, share this conversation with a friend who cares about kids and communities, and leave a review with one action you’ll take to spread hope where you live.
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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Episode Transcript
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SPEAKER_00 (00:10):
One in four kids live in poverty.
SPEAKER_03 (00:16):
One in five food prize.
SPEAKER_01 (00:21):
Build collaborations and build hope with those who
are struggling.
SPEAKER_00 (00:30):
Hope, Mississippi.
SPEAKER_02 (00:34):
Hello and welcome back to the Mississippi Bar.
I am here with my dear friendWalt Brown, who is a judge in
Adams County.
Welcome.
SPEAKER_04 (00:45):
Hey, Don, it's always great to see you.
SPEAKER_02 (00:47):
Well, it's great to see you.
You know, you go to law schooland you have no earthly idea
what you're gonna do when youget out.
Did you think you would be ajudge?
I never dreamed of that.
SPEAKER_04 (00:57):
Ironically, I never dreamed about to be a
prosecutor.
I I did that for a while and andI certainly, but I ha always
kind of had in the back of mymind that I might want to be a
youth court judge.
And I always really enjoyedtalking to Judge Hudson and all
the stuff he did for AdamsCounty in the state of
Mississippi, and and uh so herewe are.
SPEAKER_02 (01:15):
Well, we want to give a shout out to John Hudson.
He was the youth court judge inAdams County for 31 years, then
went on to help Mississippi andand lead the way in very
positive change in the area ofyouth court and in protecting
children and youth.
And so he is just a fabulousperson.
SPEAKER_04 (01:37):
Yes, and I had the advantage of walking into a a
really nice, well-oiled machinethere, as best as as you can be
as a youth court.
Uh he had a great staff, most ofthem are still with me, and all
the programs, you know, hedidn't shy away from any grants
or programs and was one of thefirst courts to have a family
(01:57):
drug court and parent rep andall the other things that go
with that.
And some things have come andgone, but he he laid the
predicate for me and I've I Ieased into it, so I had a great
advantage in that regard.
SPEAKER_02 (02:08):
Well, Judge, I want to talk about that a little bit.
You know, I say I felt mosthelpless when I was sitting on a
bench in a black robe with alittle gavel hammer type thing.
I was seeing people that did nothave housing, that didn't have
mental health care, and so manythings.
(02:28):
And that's what we need in courtis we need a tool chest, a judge
does, to be able to help peopleovercome obstacles and become
healthy parents and then canprovide good care for their
children.
Can you just talk a little bitabout that?
SPEAKER_04 (02:47):
We take so many things for granted.
Some days we're in court andwe're going, where is so-and-so?
They're not here.
Well, judge, they don't have acar.
You know, they don't have aride.
Or their ride can't pick themup, or they charge them five
bucks to take them to courtevery time.
So there there there are there'sa segment of our population that
really lives just day to day.
(03:07):
You know, I don't know what thesolution is.
It's not gonna happen overnight.
A lot of it has to do witheducation.
A lot of this is generational,you know.
Some of the older people thatI'm work with in in uh youth
court will say things like,Well, Judge, his mama was in
youth court and we were here,you know, or his mother was a
foster child, and now thischild's in danger of becoming a
(03:29):
foster child.
And it's cyclical.
You know, we do see some successstories.
You know, every once in a whileI run into somebody and I barely
remember, and they'll they'llgive me a big hug and say,
Judge, we're doing great now.
I got three kids and I got ajob, and you know, and uh, but
for every one of those, there'seight or ten that we can't seem
to get over the hump, but we'reworking on it.
SPEAKER_02 (03:50):
Well, this podcast is about hope, Mississippi, and
we certainly celebrate.
I totally agree with you, whenyou see somebody that's
overcome, boy, that only notonly they are not only are
experiencing hope, but thatgives us hope as we try to serve
the public.
But in Mississippi, where one infour of our kids lives in
poverty, one in five are fooddeprived.
(04:13):
Your job as a youth court judgein the area of neglect is huge.
SPEAKER_04 (04:19):
Well, it's it's the part that a lot of people don't
understand about youth court.
And I didn't, quite frankly, youknow, when I you know, when
people say, Well, I'm a youthcourt judge, or you're the youth
court judge, you know, how manykids you put in jail today, or
how many what about those badkids?
And I said, It's the it's notthe bad kids that we deal with,
it's the the bad parents or theparents that just can't seem to
get it together.
(04:39):
You know this, the abuse andneglect side in youth court is
75% of what we do.
You know, but the delinquencypart is it happens, but it's not
as common and it's not as timeconsuming.
But a lot of it's connected, youknow.
Some of these children that arebeing found to be delinquent or
not going to school, they arevictims of abuse and neglect
(05:00):
because their parents just arenot raising them.
I think of one case we got rightnow involving a mother working a
couple jobs, she's never home,and the children aren't going to
school, and the oldest child isstaying home and raising the
younger children, and and wejust can't seem to get her out
of that.
She's one of the ones I justtalked about that doesn't have a
car.
SPEAKER_02 (05:18):
Poverty is real and it is driving a lot of this and
generational poverty.
You talk about she was a fosterchild and now her child is a
foster child, and Mississippineeds to break that cycle of
generational poverty.
And one way it's done is throughcollaborations like what you
(05:41):
have in Natchez, where thecommunity comes together and
provides those resources.
SPEAKER_04 (05:47):
Well, and you and then you throw drug addiction,
substance abuse, alcoholism ontop of that, mental health
mental health, you know, a lotof these parents are suffering
from substance abuse disordersand mental health disorders,
bipolar, you know, and thesethese kids just don't have a
chance, you know.
And sadly, you know, weoccasionally have to terminate
(06:09):
those rights just so that babyor that child can have some
stability, you know.
And so that's that's part of it.
But you you mentioned communityinvolvement.
That's something I'm trying toget a little more into because
I've I've I've kind of haven'tdone that as much as I would
have liked.
We do have a a c a children andfamilies coalition down there.
We've had a we have a fundraiserevery year at we call it Trucks
(06:32):
on the Bluff, but it's a such atruck event that is growing each
year.
The money we raise from thatused to send parents to
treatment.
I mean real treatment.
I mean the kind that that laststhree to six to nine months.
You know, the state provides aservice for that, but it's only
thirty days normally.
And and a lot of the besttreatment places we found to be
(06:53):
are faith-based.
We're told that we can't forcepeople to go to faith based.
If we if we recommend a faithbase, we have to recommend, you
know, something that's notfaith-based.
But we've we've got had somedecent, pretty good luck with a
couple of places around thestate.
We need about twenty more.
You know, and I wish the statecould fund a place for parents
(07:13):
like this to go to to get clean,to spend some real significant
time there.
But it like I tell them, it'snot a magical place.
It's not like when you go toM.D.
Anderson, you get cured ofcancer.
You know, this cure is everyday.
I'm talking too much here, butwe recently got a grant for a
peer support specialist.
SPEAKER_02 (07:32):
Tell us what that is.
SPEAKER_04 (07:33):
The job description called for someone who's been in
recovery for over a year, ormaybe two years.
And we got a guy, uh we don't wedid have a lot of money in this
grant, so and ironically, wereached out to one of those
parents that told you about thatthe success story we had, and
they had a better job than whatwe could offer at at our place.
But we we've got a a guy nowthat's come in, he's from
(07:54):
Jackson.
He tells his story.
I mean, he was a drug addict, hewas well educated, but just fell
into the throes of drugaddiction and was homeless and
in jail.
And he's kind of been able toactually relate to these people
better than I can.
You know, it's easy for me tosit up there and say, you know,
I know how I know how you feelbecause I don't but this guy
(08:16):
does.
And so having a peer supportspecialist on board now, I think
I I highly recommend that to anyintervention court because uh he
he's done wonders with a lot ofthese people.
He talks to him, he text themevery day, how you doing?
You know, something we don't,you know, we see them a lot in
court, but not every day.
And and they call him sometimesand say, Look, I I feel like I
(08:36):
need to use.
What should I do?
You know?
SPEAKER_02 (08:38):
But that's what AA and addiction, they've
recognized the importance ofsomebody that has experienced
that.
SPEAKER_04 (08:45):
Yeah, it's like a sponsor.
SPEAKER_02 (08:46):
Absolutely.
They can help them understand,even the youth court system can
be so traumatic.
And so to have somebody that'swalked through that is helpful.
Okay, Walt, we're we're wrappingup here.
We've got two more minutes, butI want to ask you folks that
have encouraged you along theway.
You're helping lots of people,but you didn't get there on your
(09:08):
own.
Tell us a little bit about thefolks that have helped you get
to where you are.
SPEAKER_04 (09:13):
Well, my dad was a lawyer, and I went to college
specifically with the idea ofnot becoming a lawyer.
A little bit of a rebel, so tospeak.
Grew up in an old miss family,went to Mississippi State.
About halfway through school, Isaid, you know what, I I really
love history, political science,that thing.
So decided to go to law schooland I came back home and worked
for him for a long time.
(09:33):
He and his law partner, PhilipCarby, is a lawyer down in
Natchez.
I worked with him for a while.
Got an opportunity to go work atthe district attorney's office.
One of our former classmates whowas an assistant DA said, you
know, if you ever get a chance,this is a great job.
And I said, Well, I don't knowanything about criminal law
other than the little bit I'veappeared in court helping folks
trying to help people.
(09:54):
And I worked for Ronnie Harper,who was uh assistant DA for
eight years and a DA fortwenty-something years.
Really did a good job down inAdams County.
I was real fortunate to work forhim.
But I got to see the judges andall.
Judge Johnson, Judge Sanders, Iworked with them and uh Judge
Hudson.
You know, like I said, I wasalways sort of attracted to what
(10:15):
he was doing in the community.
So my grandparents, my mom, youknow, just I had a lot of
support.
And that's what a lot of thesechildren don't have.
And a lot of these families, youknow, the family support is
important.
Occasionally we have peoplefighting over kids in youth
court.
I want him no, you you take him,I I want him, I'll take him.
But a lot of times we don't haveanybody there.
And that's that's the sad thingwhen children, you know, like me
(10:39):
growing up had a lot of supportlike you talked about.
I wish a lot of these childrenhad more support, but especially
in this day and age, becauseit's a whole different world
we're living in now withtechnology and social media and
things just moving so fast.
But I I you know, my dad and mymom and those other lawyers and
judges, I think, guided me alongpretty well.
SPEAKER_02 (11:00):
So as we close out here and we want to encourage
people, get involved.
If you have an opportunity,contact your local child
protective service officer, thecourt, and see how you might can
be a mentor or a tutor or afoster parent.
There are just lots ofopportunities to make a
(11:21):
difference, and the court iscounting on the community to
surround that family, right?
SPEAKER_04 (11:26):
We're in dire need of foster parents.
That's gotta be the hardest job,way harder than any job I can
think of, because you take on achild, you fall in love with
that child, and then you have togive that child up.
It's because it's so emotional.
And so I, you know, I I've had acouple of friends call me, so
I'm thinking about being afoster parent.
I say, Well, there's someclasses you gotta go to, but
just understand this is this islife-changing for you and for
(11:48):
them, and and I'm still workingon a couple of them.
SPEAKER_02 (11:50):
But well, it's a certainly a great way to spread
hope across Mississippi.
Well, thank you for joining metoday and for all you do for
South Mississippi and helpingour children and youth.
SPEAKER_04 (12:01):
Well, Don, thank you for everything you've done.
It's hard to believe.
A couple of law students fromclass of 89 have risen to the
levels you've risen to and donea great job in the state of
Mississippi, and the youthcourts appreciate what you did
while you're on the SupremeCourt.
SPEAKER_02 (12:15):
I so appreciate that.
Y'all have a great day and makea difference in Mississippi and
spread hope.
Hope Mississippi is yoursalvation.
Hello, and welcome to theMississippi Bar Convention.
I am so delighted to have JeremyMcNich here.
(12:37):
Hello, Jeremy.
SPEAKER_03 (12:39):
Good morning, Your Honor.
How are you?
SPEAKER_02 (12:41):
I'm a lot happier since I'm not on the bench,
dear.
It is so good to see you.
Jeremy is a attorney in RankinCounty.
And one thing that I have to sayis a big thank you to you.
When I went back into privatepractice, you were the first to
help me with legal forms andthings.
(13:03):
And that's really what lawyersare all about is helping one
another.
SPEAKER_03 (13:09):
Oh, back in the, they say the old days, lawyers
really tried to work together inall ways.
I mean, whether it was just, youknow, on cases or whether it was
in the community, it was verycollegial.
And I think that's somethingthat is might be lacking in some
situations.
So I hope that we can all learna lesson from that.
Uh, you know, I I was more thanmore than happy to help you with
(13:29):
that.
SPEAKER_02 (13:30):
Well, I'll be glad to pay back the favor anytime.
The the average layperson reallyoftentimes doesn't understand
how lawyers we work together,but that's important for them
when we talk about trying toresolve their problems.
Can you talk about that just alittle bit?
SPEAKER_03 (13:47):
You know, there are those lawyers in my experience
that, you know, really try to dothat in almost every case, to
work together, to do what's bestfor clients.
And I love working with lawyerslike that.
And we need to be ready to gointo the courtroom to you know,
duke it out in front of ourgreat chancery circuit and
county court judges across thestate.
But I think it's reallyimportant to always keep that
(14:10):
door open.
And, you know, for anybody who'slooking for a lawyer, thing I I
like to tell my potentialclients is we we we get ready
for court, but I am always youknow ready to work something out
with the other side because onceyou put the case in the hands of
a judge, you you don't have asmuch control over the outcome.
SPEAKER_02 (14:28):
Absolutely.
Now, are you the family lawchair now?
SPEAKER_03 (14:31):
I I am.
This today is my last day as thethe the chair of the family law
section of the Mississippi Bar.
So in a few in just in a littlewhile, I'm gonna go hand the uh
the the gavel over to our nextchairman.
SPEAKER_02 (14:41):
So we got the big dog today for a little bit
longer.
But let's talk about theuniqueness of family law.
Very emotional.
SPEAKER_03 (14:52):
Yes, ma'am.
You know, it it people like tosay that family law attorneys
are part counselor, part lawyer.
And of course, you know, somesome family law attorneys
actually were counselors beforethey began the practice of law.
The emotions really can affectthe case in so many ways.
People may not be at their bestwhen they're going through one
of life's biggest challenges andchanges, whether it's a child
(15:14):
custody case, a divorce case,they are so, so emotional.
And, you know, that really isone of the most difficult things
to deal with in one of thesecases.
One thing that I get asked a lotwhen somebody says, you know,
what do you do for a living?
I'm a lawyer.
Don't hold it against me, iswhat I always say.
And when they say, What kind oflaw do you practice?
I say, Well, I do, you know,divorce and child custody, and
(15:35):
they look and they say, Oh, I hahow do you do that?
I used to get offended by that,but I understand where people
are coming from.
And what I like to tell peopleis that when I am meeting with
people, when I'm meeting withclients, if they mention, I pray
that it works out this way, oryou know, I just am leaning into
my faith, I try to seize thatopportunity to really talk with
(15:58):
them about their spiritual lifeand to try to approach it from
that standpoint.
And I just feel like sometimes Ifeel like the Lord speaks
through me.
And I'm not saying I'm anybodyspecial.
I think we all have thatopportunity as lawyers to really
speak to people about theirinnermost thoughts and problems,
and and I like to talk to peopleabout their faith.
(16:19):
I really do.
SPEAKER_02 (16:20):
Jeremy, you beat me to the punch.
I was I'm sorry.
SPEAKER_03 (16:25):
I knew I probably learned it from you.
SPEAKER_02 (16:27):
Well, I knew that you were a member of my
brother's church, Pine Lake, andI also know your heart.
And that is so true.
You know, God gifts us withdifferent gifts, and we're the
challenge is to use those and befaithful.
And not everybody is cut out tobe a family lawyer, but those of
us that have that gift, it's a agift to help speak wisdom and to
(16:53):
help them to make wise choices.
It's the gift of listening,because a lot of times they just
need a listening ear, someone tounderstand.
And then there are times theyneed a fighter.
To me, that's a gift to be afighter and to go in the
courtroom and and help the courtto make the right decision.
Having been a judge as well asan advocate, I can say at the
(17:16):
end of the day, everybody in thecourtroom wants to do the right
thing.
SPEAKER_03 (17:20):
I just gotta say this, you know, God has worked a
miracle in my life through PineLake.
I mean, really.
It's amazing.
It really is.
And our chancellors in RankinCounty, I and I know so many
across the state are are peopleof faith, and I know that helps
them in making their decisions,and I know that they lean on
their faith in doing that.
(17:41):
And it's important.
It's so important because at theend of the day, that's that's
what it's all, that's what ourlife should all be about.
Being a fighter, yes, very,very, very important.
Being having the ability to goin there and do what's right for
your client, fight for yourclient, and help the judge make
the right decision, but thatlistening ear, you you said it
so well, that is what we canreally bring to to our clients
(18:03):
in the community as family lawattorneys.
SPEAKER_02 (18:06):
And you know, Christians need somebody has a
strong faith to help thembecause I know we all want to
make wise decisions.
I I remember one time I waslistening to a preacher and he
talked about that God hatesdivorce.
I hate divorce.
I absolutely hate it.
But I called my dad one time andI mean, am I aiding and abetting
(18:28):
a sin by, you know, doing this?
And Daddy said, Sugar baby, bythe time they get to me or you,
all they need is a peacefulburial.
The marriage is so broken.
And so our challenge, yourchallenge, my challenge, is to
be a godly lawyer who helps themto make wise decisions that not
(18:54):
only impact them, but theirchildren and their family.
SPEAKER_03 (18:58):
And you know, I heard uh one of our in Rankin
County, one of our judges, JudgeRoberts, once I heard him say
that, you know, we all asChristians, Christian lawyers
and judges, we we I think we allstruggle with that, that God it
I mean, it's said in the NewTestament, you know, God hates
divorces.
I share that that question thatyou said.
I mean, my aiding and abettingand your dad's awesome, by the
(19:19):
way.
Um and I and I love what hesaid, and I and I heard Judge
Roberts say something similar.
He said, you know, when peopleare going through a divorce,
sometimes they try to inject theLord into the marriage when it
was never there in the firstplace.
So if it wasn't there when theygot married.
It's it's a little disingenuousto now think that, you know, it
that now I I'm not saying it'simpossible.
Maybe, maybe the Lord enteredthe marriage or whatever, but a
(19:42):
lot of times, like you said, itit was never there to begin
with.
On that note, I mean, I wouldsay one thing that I've I've
found is that, you know, sin issin.
I mean, that's what I'm learningin my in my life, in my
spiritual walk into my practice,that whether it's adultery,
right, that's that's the onethat that people, you know, they
(20:02):
always think about.
But whether it's uh adultery orwhether it's abusing a substance
or whether it's abusing anotherperson physically or
emotionally, I mean, sin is sin.
It just comes out in differentways, and Satan is looking for
every chance that there is in abeliever's life or believers'
marriages to separate them.
SPEAKER_02 (20:24):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_03 (20:26):
Every every any little way, just any little
crack, married people have to beon guard for that.
I love talking to people aboutnot getting a divorce.
Amen.
That is my favorite thing.
When I'm talking to somebody, Ialways try when they come into
my office, I try to say, if theysay, you know, I wish we could
just work things out, I say,whoa, whoa, whoa, let's stop.
I I'm like, okay, what can wedo?
(20:46):
Let's talk about that.
What what can we change aboutthe way you do things?
You know, what can what can youset aside that is that is
impeding you you and your spousefrom getting back together?
How can I help you lay thatdown?
Because if you get a divorce, ifyou decide to get a divorce, it
is going to change your familytree for all of eternity.
If you think about it, as longas there's human beings on the
(21:09):
earth and you've decided toseparate your family that way,
it's it's going in a differentdirection.
SPEAKER_02 (21:13):
You're so right, but it happens where I'm I I one of
the hardest things I everlearned is that the only person
I can make decisions for ismyself.
God gives us an opportunity tohelp people, and what a
blessing.
It really does bring hope in themost difficult of times.
And I so appreciate your sharingyour experience in this.
(21:39):
One final question.
When we talk to young peopleabout the joy of practicing law
and being able to make adifference, children's young
people out there who arethinking about practicing law,
how rewarding it can be, how youreally can minister through it.
SPEAKER_03 (21:57):
Well, I would say I have been teaching at MC Law for
over 10 years, and I've had thethe distinct honor of being
allowed to do that.
And I just want to say thank youto the administration at MC Law
for letting me get into thelives of so many students over
the years.
It's been an amazing experience.
And and what I would say to youknow, anybody that's thinking
(22:19):
about entering the practice oflaw, that it is not what you
think it is, number one, so becareful.
And and what you should do isfind a lawyer that practices the
kind of law that you're thinkingabout doing and shadow them, get
a job with them, volunteerwhatever, so you can see what
they do.
And then the the other thing isit is probably the most
(22:40):
difficult, you know,postgraduate type of degree to
get once you get out of there inthe world, because you are
struggling with everybody else'sproblems all the time,
especially in what we as familylaw attorneys do.
But it can be so rewarding that,you know, you can you, like I
said, you really can speak topeople about their faith,
listen, and try to help themsolve problems from a practical
(23:02):
standpoint.
And I just want to tell you thething I like to say, and anybody
is welcome to use this line thatI got from your brother in
church, is that at the end ofthe day, we're supposed to care
about our families, our spouses,our jobs.
We have all theseresponsibilities that we got to
care for.
But at the end of the day, ifyou are a believer, it is this
life is about you and Jesus.
(23:24):
It it's that relationship.
We got and we got to leteverything else pass away and
focus on that.
Again, care for care for yourpeople.
Do what you're supposed to do.
But if you are a believer, youhave to remember it is God and
you.
And and if you can approach lifefrom that way, which it is, I'm
working on it, and everybodyelse is.
But that is what I try to tellpeople who are going through
(23:44):
these struggles.
It will provide hope.
It will provide peace and joy ifyou try to approach your life
and your problems from thatperspective.
SPEAKER_02 (23:52):
I rest my case based on what you said, okay?
Just what a blessing.
Folks out there, leave the worlda better place.
I don't know about you, but Iwant to hear well done when I
cross that final finish line.
And that really is the onlyfinish line that matters.
So have a great day, and I hopethat you've can hear something
(24:13):
today that you can take away andapply to your life.
Hope Mississippi is yoursalvation.
Welcome back to the MississippiBar Convention in Sandestin.
I am so thrilled to welcomeBlake Teller to the show today.
(24:33):
Good morning, Blake.
SPEAKER_05 (24:35):
Good morning, Justice Beam.
It's good to see you again.
It's been a long time.
SPEAKER_02 (24:40):
Good to see you, dear.
Blake is attorney in Vicksburg,but could you just kind of tell
everyone about yourself?
SPEAKER_05 (24:47):
Sure, just a little brief background.
I am an attorney in Vicksburg.
My grandfather was an attorneyin Vicksburg, Landman Teller,
then my dad, who everyone knowsis Landy Teller, was as well.
And after I graduated lawschool, I worked in Jackson for
three years at the Brunini LawFirm and then went back to join
(25:08):
them and had a fun year uh withmy granddad still coming into
the office practicing at age 87,and then he passed away,
unfortunately, but he was withit throughout his whole life and
career, and that's somebody thatuh was a big role model for me
as long as as as well as my dad.
So that kind of got me into thelegal profession.
SPEAKER_02 (25:30):
When we think of Hope, Mississippi, isn't it a
generational thing?
Isn't it great that we havegreat roots that we can then
pass on that to othergenerations?
SPEAKER_05 (25:41):
We really do.
That's what the great thingsabout the state of Mississippi
is our family within the familyand outside the family.
We're a small state andeverybody knows everybody, it
seems.
SPEAKER_02 (25:53):
So you're right.
You know, we're here at the BarConvention and this really is a
family.
It's kind of hard for lay peopleto understand how we may fight
back and forth, plaintiffs anddefendants, it but at the same
time, we all recognize we'repart of a much bigger justice
system.
SPEAKER_05 (26:14):
Yes, I agree with that, and and that's one of the
great things about our bar, theMississippi Bar, is special in
that regard, and we do look atit as a very important factor
for camaraderie amongstattorneys so that the justice
system can work in a better wayrather than having uncivil
(26:35):
actions toward each other duringlitigation, especially where you
see that, but in other fields aswell.
But it's important for us to getalong and work for solutions for
our clients and and the peopleof Mississippi.
SPEAKER_02 (26:47):
You know, I recently re-entered the law practice, and
I just absolutely love helpingpeople solve their problems.
It's important that lawyers worktogether.
I don't know about you, but Ihave my list of folks that I can
work with and I can trust, andthey're just a few of them on
the list that I have to makesure that I put everything in
(27:09):
the record.
SPEAKER_05 (27:10):
Right.
I know that that is, yeah.
We probably all have that alittle bit, but it is much more
pleasant to work through anissue with people that you can
get along with and work with,and usually your clients are
happier at the end too when youcan get a resolution and let
them move on with life fromthose issues.
SPEAKER_02 (27:30):
So when we talk to the average citizen in
Mississippi, the vast majorityof the bar are all in that
effort at the end of the day toreceive justice.
And we don't claim to be perfectin the bar.
We we have a discipline systemthat makes all of us work
(27:50):
together, right?
SPEAKER_05 (27:51):
We self-discipline attorneys, and that's all done
through the Mississippi Bar.
SPEAKER_02 (27:57):
So when we talk about the justice system, you
can trust it because we areself-regulating.
We want to make sure thateverybody is dealing fairly,
right?
SPEAKER_05 (28:07):
Correct.
We have a great uh generalcounsel staff at the Mississippi
Bar, Missy Scott, and she'sdoing a really good job.
She took over for Adam Kilgore,and they have some other staff
as well that work hard for thatto make sure attorneys are
playing by the rules and doingthings the right way.
SPEAKER_02 (28:26):
Okay, I'm gonna let y'all know a secret.
Blake was a past recent pastpresident of the bar.
So you know firsthand this,right?
SPEAKER_05 (28:35):
That's right.
We I've worked closely with thebar staff uh for that year.
Well, really three years becauseyou're president-elect, then
you're president, and thenimmediate past president.
So it's it's a three-yearcommitment, really, to work in
that position.
But um, it's a real honor to bethere and to work with them and
(28:56):
to work for the all theattorneys of the state and to
try to address issues thateverybody's facing.
You raised one before we went onthe air about uh access to
justice, and we called it desertareas where you have a lot of
rural communities, especially instates like Mississippi, where
there's not many attorneys.
Some counties may have oneattorney.
(29:18):
I remember holding a virtuallocal bar meeting online when I
was president and I was speakingto one of the attorneys and I
might have been Itawamba Countyor somewhere up there in
northeast Mississippi, and Isaid, Well, so how many members
of in the bar for for yourcounty?
And the lady said, I'm it.
SPEAKER_02 (29:38):
So actually, my husband's from Itawamba County.
And so when I was looking atgoing into private practice, I
thought Itawamba, but they nowhave another lawyer.
SPEAKER_05 (29:48):
So they they've doubled their population of
attorney.
SPEAKER_02 (29:53):
But my Summerall, where I live, they didn't have a
lawyer that was really active,and so I stubbed.
My law firm there, and it's justbeen amazing.
It's so important that lawyers,that that the communities have
lawyers all across our state.
Our cities need lawyers to helpthem follow the law.
(30:14):
We have municipal courts thatneed judges and prosecutors.
That is a huge need inMississippi.
SPEAKER_05 (30:21):
Yeah.
So a couple of programs that wewere worked on even before my
term as president, they were inthe works, but we started having
our Access to Justice Committeego to the law schools and speak
to them about opportunities forrural practice where make them
aware that if you go into arural community, I mean you
(30:42):
might not be pay paid the bigbucks like a big firm could do
immedi immediately, but you'regoing to have opportunities that
that you're you don't evenrealize to be a part of a
community, to be in thegovernmental arena if you want
to, to to provide services thatthat community needs, and and
you can do just finefinancially.
(31:05):
It's not all about the big moneyand the big cities.
SPEAKER_02 (31:19):
And there's nothing like those Perry Mason moments
at the local level, small towns,small communities, and yet we're
all about doing good.
SPEAKER_05 (31:30):
That's right.
And uh you do have greatopportunity, and I I would
encourage our law students, ouryoung attorneys to try to go
spend a little time in a asmaller community.
Uh, we have a program, it's asummer internship program that
the bar does with the lawschools as well to give students
(31:52):
an opportunity during the summerto spend to shadow or intern
with a rural attorney, and theyhave some little bit of money to
help pay for living expenses andand a little bit of a salary,
maybe if you want to call itthat, but and then give them
that experience and hopefullyhook them in to say, I do want
to practice in a smallcommunity.
SPEAKER_02 (32:13):
Well, from my perspective, it's been a huge
blessing to practice in a smallcommunity.
It's so exciting because younever know from one minute to
another what you're gonna see.
So it it's really great.
We got two more minutes.
So who influenced you along theway and encourage folks out
(32:33):
there to encourage other people,not just in law practice, but
just to bring hope acrossMississippi?
SPEAKER_05 (32:40):
I mentioned that my grandfather and father were
attorneys before me, and theywere certainly huge influences
in my life, obviously, and theywere very big on the Mississippi
bar and what it means to notjust attorneys, but to
Mississippi and our communitiesbecause of service to others is
(33:03):
really what it's all about, andservice to our clients, our
community, trying to improvelife as it is.
So they were my big influencers,if you will, and the programs we
talked about today, I I try touse those to reach out to the
young attorneys coming up andencourage them to be community
(33:25):
involved, not just focused onwhat they can earn a living, but
to focus on service to othersand a part of that is their job,
but part of it is just being acommunity involvement person
that making sure our communitiesare just bet get better through
those services.
SPEAKER_02 (33:44):
You know, when I think about that, I think about
that Bible verse about layup foryourself treasures in heaven,
and I certainly am making decentmoney and uh because that's just
what you have to do.
You gotta cover it everything.
But when you help someone,you're laying up treasures in
heaven, you're making adifference.
SPEAKER_05 (34:06):
I agree with that, Dawn.
That's a great point.
And uh certainly God and Jesusare very important to me, gets
into a whole nother arena there,but uh I think that people need
to be involved from church tocommunity to their careers and
always be focused on servingothers.
SPEAKER_02 (34:25):
Well, Blake, thank you so much for joining me
today.
And if you are listening, don'tjust sit there.
Find out how you can bring hopeacross Mississippi.
Thanks a bunch.
SPEAKER_05 (34:38):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_00 (34:44):
Hope, Mississippi.
One in four kids live in poverty.
SPEAKER_03 (00:16):
One in five food prize.
SPEAKER_01 (00:21):
Build collaborations and build hope with those who
are struggling.
SPEAKER_00 (00:30):
Hope, Mississippi.
SPEAKER_02 (00:34):
Hello and welcome back to the Mississippi Bar.
I am here with my dear friendWalt Brown, who is a judge in
Adams County.
Welcome.
SPEAKER_04 (00:45):
Hey, Don, it's always great to see you.
SPEAKER_02 (00:47):
Well, it's great to see you.
You know, you go to law schooland you have no earthly idea
what you're gonna do when youget out.
Did you think you would be ajudge?
I never dreamed of that.
SPEAKER_04 (00:57):
Ironically, I never dreamed about to be a
prosecutor.
I I did that for a while and andI certainly, but I ha always
kind of had in the back of mymind that I might want to be a
youth court judge.
And I always really enjoyedtalking to Judge Hudson and all
the stuff he did for AdamsCounty in the state of
Mississippi, and and uh so herewe are.
SPEAKER_02 (01:15):
Well, we want to give a shout out to John Hudson.
He was the youth court judge inAdams County for 31 years, then
went on to help Mississippi andand lead the way in very
positive change in the area ofyouth court and in protecting
children and youth.
And so he is just a fabulousperson.
SPEAKER_04 (01:37):
Yes, and I had the advantage of walking into a a
really nice, well-oiled machinethere, as best as as you can be
as a youth court.
Uh he had a great staff, most ofthem are still with me, and all
the programs, you know, hedidn't shy away from any grants
or programs and was one of thefirst courts to have a family
(01:57):
drug court and parent rep andall the other things that go
with that.
And some things have come andgone, but he he laid the
predicate for me and I've I Ieased into it, so I had a great
advantage in that regard.
SPEAKER_02 (02:08):
Well, Judge, I want to talk about that a little bit.
You know, I say I felt mosthelpless when I was sitting on a
bench in a black robe with alittle gavel hammer type thing.
I was seeing people that did nothave housing, that didn't have
mental health care, and so manythings.
(02:28):
And that's what we need in courtis we need a tool chest, a judge
does, to be able to help peopleovercome obstacles and become
healthy parents and then canprovide good care for their
children.
Can you just talk a little bitabout that?
SPEAKER_04 (02:47):
We take so many things for granted.
Some days we're in court andwe're going, where is so-and-so?
They're not here.
Well, judge, they don't have acar.
You know, they don't have aride.
Or their ride can't pick themup, or they charge them five
bucks to take them to courtevery time.
So there there there are there'sa segment of our population that
really lives just day to day.
(03:07):
You know, I don't know what thesolution is.
It's not gonna happen overnight.
A lot of it has to do witheducation.
A lot of this is generational,you know.
Some of the older people thatI'm work with in in uh youth
court will say things like,Well, Judge, his mama was in
youth court and we were here,you know, or his mother was a
foster child, and now thischild's in danger of becoming a
(03:29):
foster child.
And it's cyclical.
You know, we do see some successstories.
You know, every once in a whileI run into somebody and I barely
remember, and they'll they'llgive me a big hug and say,
Judge, we're doing great now.
I got three kids and I got ajob, and you know, and uh, but
for every one of those, there'seight or ten that we can't seem
to get over the hump, but we'reworking on it.
SPEAKER_02 (03:50):
Well, this podcast is about hope, Mississippi, and
we certainly celebrate.
I totally agree with you, whenyou see somebody that's
overcome, boy, that only notonly they are not only are
experiencing hope, but thatgives us hope as we try to serve
the public.
But in Mississippi, where one infour of our kids lives in
poverty, one in five are fooddeprived.
(04:13):
Your job as a youth court judgein the area of neglect is huge.
SPEAKER_04 (04:19):
Well, it's it's the part that a lot of people don't
understand about youth court.
And I didn't, quite frankly, youknow, when I you know, when
people say, Well, I'm a youthcourt judge, or you're the youth
court judge, you know, how manykids you put in jail today, or
how many what about those badkids?
And I said, It's the it's notthe bad kids that we deal with,
it's the the bad parents or theparents that just can't seem to
get it together.
(04:39):
You know this, the abuse andneglect side in youth court is
75% of what we do.
You know, but the delinquencypart is it happens, but it's not
as common and it's not as timeconsuming.
But a lot of it's connected, youknow.
Some of these children that arebeing found to be delinquent or
not going to school, they arevictims of abuse and neglect
(05:00):
because their parents just arenot raising them.
I think of one case we got rightnow involving a mother working a
couple jobs, she's never home,and the children aren't going to
school, and the oldest child isstaying home and raising the
younger children, and and wejust can't seem to get her out
of that.
She's one of the ones I justtalked about that doesn't have a
car.
SPEAKER_02 (05:18):
Poverty is real and it is driving a lot of this and
generational poverty.
You talk about she was a fosterchild and now her child is a
foster child, and Mississippineeds to break that cycle of
generational poverty.
And one way it's done is throughcollaborations like what you
(05:41):
have in Natchez, where thecommunity comes together and
provides those resources.
SPEAKER_04 (05:47):
Well, and you and then you throw drug addiction,
substance abuse, alcoholism ontop of that, mental health
mental health, you know, a lotof these parents are suffering
from substance abuse disordersand mental health disorders,
bipolar, you know, and thesethese kids just don't have a
chance, you know.
And sadly, you know, weoccasionally have to terminate
(06:09):
those rights just so that babyor that child can have some
stability, you know.
And so that's that's part of it.
But you you mentioned communityinvolvement.
That's something I'm trying toget a little more into because
I've I've I've kind of haven'tdone that as much as I would
have liked.
We do have a a c a children andfamilies coalition down there.
We've had a we have a fundraiserevery year at we call it Trucks
(06:32):
on the Bluff, but it's a such atruck event that is growing each
year.
The money we raise from thatused to send parents to
treatment.
I mean real treatment.
I mean the kind that that laststhree to six to nine months.
You know, the state provides aservice for that, but it's only
thirty days normally.
And and a lot of the besttreatment places we found to be
(06:53):
are faith-based.
We're told that we can't forcepeople to go to faith based.
If we if we recommend a faithbase, we have to recommend, you
know, something that's notfaith-based.
But we've we've got had somedecent, pretty good luck with a
couple of places around thestate.
We need about twenty more.
You know, and I wish the statecould fund a place for parents
(07:13):
like this to go to to get clean,to spend some real significant
time there.
But it like I tell them, it'snot a magical place.
It's not like when you go toM.D.
Anderson, you get cured ofcancer.
You know, this cure is everyday.
I'm talking too much here, butwe recently got a grant for a
peer support specialist.
SPEAKER_02 (07:32):
Tell us what that is.
SPEAKER_04 (07:33):
The job description called for someone who's been in
recovery for over a year, ormaybe two years.
And we got a guy, uh we don't wedid have a lot of money in this
grant, so and ironically, wereached out to one of those
parents that told you about thatthe success story we had, and
they had a better job than whatwe could offer at at our place.
But we we've got a a guy nowthat's come in, he's from
(07:54):
Jackson.
He tells his story.
I mean, he was a drug addict, hewas well educated, but just fell
into the throes of drugaddiction and was homeless and
in jail.
And he's kind of been able toactually relate to these people
better than I can.
You know, it's easy for me tosit up there and say, you know,
I know how I know how you feelbecause I don't but this guy
(08:16):
does.
And so having a peer supportspecialist on board now, I think
I I highly recommend that to anyintervention court because uh he
he's done wonders with a lot ofthese people.
He talks to him, he text themevery day, how you doing?
You know, something we don't,you know, we see them a lot in
court, but not every day.
And and they call him sometimesand say, Look, I I feel like I
(08:36):
need to use.
What should I do?
You know?
SPEAKER_02 (08:38):
But that's what AA and addiction, they've
recognized the importance ofsomebody that has experienced
that.
SPEAKER_04 (08:45):
Yeah, it's like a sponsor.
SPEAKER_02 (08:46):
Absolutely.
They can help them understand,even the youth court system can
be so traumatic.
And so to have somebody that'swalked through that is helpful.
Okay, Walt, we're we're wrappingup here.
We've got two more minutes, butI want to ask you folks that
have encouraged you along theway.
You're helping lots of people,but you didn't get there on your
(09:08):
own.
Tell us a little bit about thefolks that have helped you get
to where you are.
SPEAKER_04 (09:13):
Well, my dad was a lawyer, and I went to college
specifically with the idea ofnot becoming a lawyer.
A little bit of a rebel, so tospeak.
Grew up in an old miss family,went to Mississippi State.
About halfway through school, Isaid, you know what, I I really
love history, political science,that thing.
So decided to go to law schooland I came back home and worked
for him for a long time.
(09:33):
He and his law partner, PhilipCarby, is a lawyer down in
Natchez.
I worked with him for a while.
Got an opportunity to go work atthe district attorney's office.
One of our former classmates whowas an assistant DA said, you
know, if you ever get a chance,this is a great job.
And I said, Well, I don't knowanything about criminal law
other than the little bit I'veappeared in court helping folks
trying to help people.
(09:54):
And I worked for Ronnie Harper,who was uh assistant DA for
eight years and a DA fortwenty-something years.
Really did a good job down inAdams County.
I was real fortunate to work forhim.
But I got to see the judges andall.
Judge Johnson, Judge Sanders, Iworked with them and uh Judge
Hudson.
You know, like I said, I wasalways sort of attracted to what
(10:15):
he was doing in the community.
So my grandparents, my mom, youknow, just I had a lot of
support.
And that's what a lot of thesechildren don't have.
And a lot of these families, youknow, the family support is
important.
Occasionally we have peoplefighting over kids in youth
court.
I want him no, you you take him,I I want him, I'll take him.
But a lot of times we don't haveanybody there.
And that's that's the sad thingwhen children, you know, like me
(10:39):
growing up had a lot of supportlike you talked about.
I wish a lot of these childrenhad more support, but especially
in this day and age, becauseit's a whole different world
we're living in now withtechnology and social media and
things just moving so fast.
But I I you know, my dad and mymom and those other lawyers and
judges, I think, guided me alongpretty well.
SPEAKER_02 (11:00):
So as we close out here and we want to encourage
people, get involved.
If you have an opportunity,contact your local child
protective service officer, thecourt, and see how you might can
be a mentor or a tutor or afoster parent.
There are just lots ofopportunities to make a
(11:21):
difference, and the court iscounting on the community to
surround that family, right?
SPEAKER_04 (11:26):
We're in dire need of foster parents.
That's gotta be the hardest job,way harder than any job I can
think of, because you take on achild, you fall in love with
that child, and then you have togive that child up.
It's because it's so emotional.
And so I, you know, I I've had acouple of friends call me, so
I'm thinking about being afoster parent.
I say, Well, there's someclasses you gotta go to, but
just understand this is this islife-changing for you and for
(11:48):
them, and and I'm still workingon a couple of them.
SPEAKER_02 (11:50):
But well, it's a certainly a great way to spread
hope across Mississippi.
Well, thank you for joining metoday and for all you do for
South Mississippi and helpingour children and youth.
SPEAKER_04 (12:01):
Well, Don, thank you for everything you've done.
It's hard to believe.
A couple of law students fromclass of 89 have risen to the
levels you've risen to and donea great job in the state of
Mississippi, and the youthcourts appreciate what you did
while you're on the SupremeCourt.
SPEAKER_02 (12:15):
I so appreciate that.
Y'all have a great day and makea difference in Mississippi and
spread hope.
Hope Mississippi is yoursalvation.
Hello, and welcome to theMississippi Bar Convention.
I am so delighted to have JeremyMcNich here.
(12:37):
Hello, Jeremy.
SPEAKER_03 (12:39):
Good morning, Your Honor.
How are you?
SPEAKER_02 (12:41):
I'm a lot happier since I'm not on the bench,
dear.
It is so good to see you.
Jeremy is a attorney in RankinCounty.
And one thing that I have to sayis a big thank you to you.
When I went back into privatepractice, you were the first to
help me with legal forms andthings.
(13:03):
And that's really what lawyersare all about is helping one
another.
SPEAKER_03 (13:09):
Oh, back in the, they say the old days, lawyers
really tried to work together inall ways.
I mean, whether it was just, youknow, on cases or whether it was
in the community, it was verycollegial.
And I think that's somethingthat is might be lacking in some
situations.
So I hope that we can all learna lesson from that.
Uh, you know, I I was more thanmore than happy to help you with
(13:29):
that.
SPEAKER_02 (13:30):
Well, I'll be glad to pay back the favor anytime.
The the average layperson reallyoftentimes doesn't understand
how lawyers we work together,but that's important for them
when we talk about trying toresolve their problems.
Can you talk about that just alittle bit?
SPEAKER_03 (13:47):
You know, there are those lawyers in my experience
that, you know, really try to dothat in almost every case, to
work together, to do what's bestfor clients.
And I love working with lawyerslike that.
And we need to be ready to gointo the courtroom to you know,
duke it out in front of ourgreat chancery circuit and
county court judges across thestate.
But I think it's reallyimportant to always keep that
(14:10):
door open.
And, you know, for anybody who'slooking for a lawyer, thing I I
like to tell my potentialclients is we we we get ready
for court, but I am always youknow ready to work something out
with the other side because onceyou put the case in the hands of
a judge, you you don't have asmuch control over the outcome.
SPEAKER_02 (14:28):
Absolutely.
Now, are you the family lawchair now?
SPEAKER_03 (14:31):
I I am.
This today is my last day as thethe the chair of the family law
section of the Mississippi Bar.
So in a few in just in a littlewhile, I'm gonna go hand the uh
the the gavel over to our nextchairman.
SPEAKER_02 (14:41):
So we got the big dog today for a little bit
longer.
But let's talk about theuniqueness of family law.
Very emotional.
SPEAKER_03 (14:52):
Yes, ma'am.
You know, it it people like tosay that family law attorneys
are part counselor, part lawyer.
And of course, you know, somesome family law attorneys
actually were counselors beforethey began the practice of law.
The emotions really can affectthe case in so many ways.
People may not be at their bestwhen they're going through one
of life's biggest challenges andchanges, whether it's a child
(15:14):
custody case, a divorce case,they are so, so emotional.
And, you know, that really isone of the most difficult things
to deal with in one of thesecases.
One thing that I get asked a lotwhen somebody says, you know,
what do you do for a living?
I'm a lawyer.
Don't hold it against me, iswhat I always say.
And when they say, What kind oflaw do you practice?
I say, Well, I do, you know,divorce and child custody, and
(15:35):
they look and they say, Oh, I hahow do you do that?
I used to get offended by that,but I understand where people
are coming from.
And what I like to tell peopleis that when I am meeting with
people, when I'm meeting withclients, if they mention, I pray
that it works out this way, oryou know, I just am leaning into
my faith, I try to seize thatopportunity to really talk with
(15:58):
them about their spiritual lifeand to try to approach it from
that standpoint.
And I just feel like sometimes Ifeel like the Lord speaks
through me.
And I'm not saying I'm anybodyspecial.
I think we all have thatopportunity as lawyers to really
speak to people about theirinnermost thoughts and problems,
and and I like to talk to peopleabout their faith.
(16:19):
I really do.
SPEAKER_02 (16:20):
Jeremy, you beat me to the punch.
I was I'm sorry.
SPEAKER_03 (16:25):
I knew I probably learned it from you.
SPEAKER_02 (16:27):
Well, I knew that you were a member of my
brother's church, Pine Lake, andI also know your heart.
And that is so true.
You know, God gifts us withdifferent gifts, and we're the
challenge is to use those and befaithful.
And not everybody is cut out tobe a family lawyer, but those of
us that have that gift, it's a agift to help speak wisdom and to
(16:53):
help them to make wise choices.
It's the gift of listening,because a lot of times they just
need a listening ear, someone tounderstand.
And then there are times theyneed a fighter.
To me, that's a gift to be afighter and to go in the
courtroom and and help the courtto make the right decision.
Having been a judge as well asan advocate, I can say at the
(17:16):
end of the day, everybody in thecourtroom wants to do the right
thing.
SPEAKER_03 (17:20):
I just gotta say this, you know, God has worked a
miracle in my life through PineLake.
I mean, really.
It's amazing.
It really is.
And our chancellors in RankinCounty, I and I know so many
across the state are are peopleof faith, and I know that helps
them in making their decisions,and I know that they lean on
their faith in doing that.
(17:41):
And it's important.
It's so important because at theend of the day, that's that's
what it's all, that's what ourlife should all be about.
Being a fighter, yes, very,very, very important.
Being having the ability to goin there and do what's right for
your client, fight for yourclient, and help the judge make
the right decision, but thatlistening ear, you you said it
so well, that is what we canreally bring to to our clients
(18:03):
in the community as family lawattorneys.
SPEAKER_02 (18:06):
And you know, Christians need somebody has a
strong faith to help thembecause I know we all want to
make wise decisions.
I I remember one time I waslistening to a preacher and he
talked about that God hatesdivorce.
I hate divorce.
I absolutely hate it.
But I called my dad one time andI mean, am I aiding and abetting
(18:28):
a sin by, you know, doing this?
And Daddy said, Sugar baby, bythe time they get to me or you,
all they need is a peacefulburial.
The marriage is so broken.
And so our challenge, yourchallenge, my challenge, is to
be a godly lawyer who helps themto make wise decisions that not
(18:54):
only impact them, but theirchildren and their family.
SPEAKER_03 (18:58):
And you know, I heard uh one of our in Rankin
County, one of our judges, JudgeRoberts, once I heard him say
that, you know, we all asChristians, Christian lawyers
and judges, we we I think we allstruggle with that, that God it
I mean, it's said in the NewTestament, you know, God hates
divorces.
I share that that question thatyou said.
I mean, my aiding and abettingand your dad's awesome, by the
(19:19):
way.
Um and I and I love what hesaid, and I and I heard Judge
Roberts say something similar.
He said, you know, when peopleare going through a divorce,
sometimes they try to inject theLord into the marriage when it
was never there in the firstplace.
So if it wasn't there when theygot married.
It's it's a little disingenuousto now think that, you know, it
that now I I'm not saying it'simpossible.
Maybe, maybe the Lord enteredthe marriage or whatever, but a
(19:42):
lot of times, like you said, itit was never there to begin
with.
On that note, I mean, I wouldsay one thing that I've I've
found is that, you know, sin issin.
I mean, that's what I'm learningin my in my life, in my
spiritual walk into my practice,that whether it's adultery,
right, that's that's the onethat that people, you know, they
(20:02):
always think about.
But whether it's uh adultery orwhether it's abusing a substance
or whether it's abusing anotherperson physically or
emotionally, I mean, sin is sin.
It just comes out in differentways, and Satan is looking for
every chance that there is in abeliever's life or believers'
marriages to separate them.
SPEAKER_02 (20:24):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_03 (20:26):
Every every any little way, just any little
crack, married people have to beon guard for that.
I love talking to people aboutnot getting a divorce.
Amen.
That is my favorite thing.
When I'm talking to somebody, Ialways try when they come into
my office, I try to say, if theysay, you know, I wish we could
just work things out, I say,whoa, whoa, whoa, let's stop.
I I'm like, okay, what can wedo?
(20:46):
Let's talk about that.
What what can we change aboutthe way you do things?
You know, what can what can youset aside that is that is
impeding you you and your spousefrom getting back together?
How can I help you lay thatdown?
Because if you get a divorce, ifyou decide to get a divorce, it
is going to change your familytree for all of eternity.
If you think about it, as longas there's human beings on the
(21:09):
earth and you've decided toseparate your family that way,
it's it's going in a differentdirection.
SPEAKER_02 (21:13):
You're so right, but it happens where I'm I I one of
the hardest things I everlearned is that the only person
I can make decisions for ismyself.
God gives us an opportunity tohelp people, and what a
blessing.
It really does bring hope in themost difficult of times.
And I so appreciate your sharingyour experience in this.
(21:39):
One final question.
When we talk to young peopleabout the joy of practicing law
and being able to make adifference, children's young
people out there who arethinking about practicing law,
how rewarding it can be, how youreally can minister through it.
SPEAKER_03 (21:57):
Well, I would say I have been teaching at MC Law for
over 10 years, and I've had thethe distinct honor of being
allowed to do that.
And I just want to say thank youto the administration at MC Law
for letting me get into thelives of so many students over
the years.
It's been an amazing experience.
And and what I would say to youknow, anybody that's thinking
(22:19):
about entering the practice oflaw, that it is not what you
think it is, number one, so becareful.
And and what you should do isfind a lawyer that practices the
kind of law that you're thinkingabout doing and shadow them, get
a job with them, volunteerwhatever, so you can see what
they do.
And then the the other thing isit is probably the most
(22:40):
difficult, you know,postgraduate type of degree to
get once you get out of there inthe world, because you are
struggling with everybody else'sproblems all the time,
especially in what we as familylaw attorneys do.
But it can be so rewarding that,you know, you can you, like I
said, you really can speak topeople about their faith,
listen, and try to help themsolve problems from a practical
(23:02):
standpoint.
And I just want to tell you thething I like to say, and anybody
is welcome to use this line thatI got from your brother in
church, is that at the end ofthe day, we're supposed to care
about our families, our spouses,our jobs.
We have all theseresponsibilities that we got to
care for.
But at the end of the day, ifyou are a believer, it is this
life is about you and Jesus.
(23:24):
It it's that relationship.
We got and we got to leteverything else pass away and
focus on that.
Again, care for care for yourpeople.
Do what you're supposed to do.
But if you are a believer, youhave to remember it is God and
you.
And and if you can approach lifefrom that way, which it is, I'm
working on it, and everybodyelse is.
But that is what I try to tellpeople who are going through
(23:44):
these struggles.
It will provide hope.
It will provide peace and joy ifyou try to approach your life
and your problems from thatperspective.
SPEAKER_02 (23:52):
I rest my case based on what you said, okay?
Just what a blessing.
Folks out there, leave the worlda better place.
I don't know about you, but Iwant to hear well done when I
cross that final finish line.
And that really is the onlyfinish line that matters.
So have a great day, and I hopethat you've can hear something
(24:13):
today that you can take away andapply to your life.
Hope Mississippi is yoursalvation.
Welcome back to the MississippiBar Convention in Sandestin.
I am so thrilled to welcomeBlake Teller to the show today.
(24:33):
Good morning, Blake.
SPEAKER_05 (24:35):
Good morning, Justice Beam.
It's good to see you again.
It's been a long time.
SPEAKER_02 (24:40):
Good to see you, dear.
Blake is attorney in Vicksburg,but could you just kind of tell
everyone about yourself?
SPEAKER_05 (24:47):
Sure, just a little brief background.
I am an attorney in Vicksburg.
My grandfather was an attorneyin Vicksburg, Landman Teller,
then my dad, who everyone knowsis Landy Teller, was as well.
And after I graduated lawschool, I worked in Jackson for
three years at the Brunini LawFirm and then went back to join
(25:08):
them and had a fun year uh withmy granddad still coming into
the office practicing at age 87,and then he passed away,
unfortunately, but he was withit throughout his whole life and
career, and that's somebody thatuh was a big role model for me
as long as as as well as my dad.
So that kind of got me into thelegal profession.
SPEAKER_02 (25:30):
When we think of Hope, Mississippi, isn't it a
generational thing?
Isn't it great that we havegreat roots that we can then
pass on that to othergenerations?
SPEAKER_05 (25:41):
We really do.
That's what the great thingsabout the state of Mississippi
is our family within the familyand outside the family.
We're a small state andeverybody knows everybody, it
seems.
SPEAKER_02 (25:53):
So you're right.
You know, we're here at the BarConvention and this really is a
family.
It's kind of hard for lay peopleto understand how we may fight
back and forth, plaintiffs anddefendants, it but at the same
time, we all recognize we'repart of a much bigger justice
system.
SPEAKER_05 (26:14):
Yes, I agree with that, and and that's one of the
great things about our bar, theMississippi Bar, is special in
that regard, and we do look atit as a very important factor
for camaraderie amongstattorneys so that the justice
system can work in a better wayrather than having uncivil
(26:35):
actions toward each other duringlitigation, especially where you
see that, but in other fields aswell.
But it's important for us to getalong and work for solutions for
our clients and and the peopleof Mississippi.
SPEAKER_02 (26:47):
You know, I recently re-entered the law practice, and
I just absolutely love helpingpeople solve their problems.
It's important that lawyers worktogether.
I don't know about you, but Ihave my list of folks that I can
work with and I can trust, andthey're just a few of them on
the list that I have to makesure that I put everything in
(27:09):
the record.
SPEAKER_05 (27:10):
Right.
I know that that is, yeah.
We probably all have that alittle bit, but it is much more
pleasant to work through anissue with people that you can
get along with and work with,and usually your clients are
happier at the end too when youcan get a resolution and let
them move on with life fromthose issues.
SPEAKER_02 (27:30):
So when we talk to the average citizen in
Mississippi, the vast majorityof the bar are all in that
effort at the end of the day toreceive justice.
And we don't claim to be perfectin the bar.
We we have a discipline systemthat makes all of us work
(27:50):
together, right?
SPEAKER_05 (27:51):
We self-discipline attorneys, and that's all done
through the Mississippi Bar.
SPEAKER_02 (27:57):
So when we talk about the justice system, you
can trust it because we areself-regulating.
We want to make sure thateverybody is dealing fairly,
right?
SPEAKER_05 (28:07):
Correct.
We have a great uh generalcounsel staff at the Mississippi
Bar, Missy Scott, and she'sdoing a really good job.
She took over for Adam Kilgore,and they have some other staff
as well that work hard for thatto make sure attorneys are
playing by the rules and doingthings the right way.
SPEAKER_02 (28:26):
Okay, I'm gonna let y'all know a secret.
Blake was a past recent pastpresident of the bar.
So you know firsthand this,right?
SPEAKER_05 (28:35):
That's right.
We I've worked closely with thebar staff uh for that year.
Well, really three years becauseyou're president-elect, then
you're president, and thenimmediate past president.
So it's it's a three-yearcommitment, really, to work in
that position.
But um, it's a real honor to bethere and to work with them and
(28:56):
to work for the all theattorneys of the state and to
try to address issues thateverybody's facing.
You raised one before we went onthe air about uh access to
justice, and we called it desertareas where you have a lot of
rural communities, especially instates like Mississippi, where
there's not many attorneys.
Some counties may have oneattorney.
(29:18):
I remember holding a virtuallocal bar meeting online when I
was president and I was speakingto one of the attorneys and I
might have been Itawamba Countyor somewhere up there in
northeast Mississippi, and Isaid, Well, so how many members
of in the bar for for yourcounty?
And the lady said, I'm it.
SPEAKER_02 (29:38):
So actually, my husband's from Itawamba County.
And so when I was looking atgoing into private practice, I
thought Itawamba, but they nowhave another lawyer.
SPEAKER_05 (29:48):
So they they've doubled their population of
attorney.
SPEAKER_02 (29:53):
But my Summerall, where I live, they didn't have a
lawyer that was really active,and so I stubbed.
My law firm there, and it's justbeen amazing.
It's so important that lawyers,that that the communities have
lawyers all across our state.
Our cities need lawyers to helpthem follow the law.
(30:14):
We have municipal courts thatneed judges and prosecutors.
That is a huge need inMississippi.
SPEAKER_05 (30:21):
Yeah.
So a couple of programs that wewere worked on even before my
term as president, they were inthe works, but we started having
our Access to Justice Committeego to the law schools and speak
to them about opportunities forrural practice where make them
aware that if you go into arural community, I mean you
(30:42):
might not be pay paid the bigbucks like a big firm could do
immedi immediately, but you'regoing to have opportunities that
that you're you don't evenrealize to be a part of a
community, to be in thegovernmental arena if you want
to, to to provide services thatthat community needs, and and
you can do just finefinancially.
(31:05):
It's not all about the big moneyand the big cities.
SPEAKER_02 (31:19):
And there's nothing like those Perry Mason moments
at the local level, small towns,small communities, and yet we're
all about doing good.
SPEAKER_05 (31:30):
That's right.
And uh you do have greatopportunity, and I I would
encourage our law students, ouryoung attorneys to try to go
spend a little time in a asmaller community.
Uh, we have a program, it's asummer internship program that
the bar does with the lawschools as well to give students
(31:52):
an opportunity during the summerto spend to shadow or intern
with a rural attorney, and theyhave some little bit of money to
help pay for living expenses andand a little bit of a salary,
maybe if you want to call itthat, but and then give them
that experience and hopefullyhook them in to say, I do want
to practice in a smallcommunity.
SPEAKER_02 (32:13):
Well, from my perspective, it's been a huge
blessing to practice in a smallcommunity.
It's so exciting because younever know from one minute to
another what you're gonna see.
So it it's really great.
We got two more minutes.
So who influenced you along theway and encourage folks out
(32:33):
there to encourage other people,not just in law practice, but
just to bring hope acrossMississippi?
SPEAKER_05 (32:40):
I mentioned that my grandfather and father were
attorneys before me, and theywere certainly huge influences
in my life, obviously, and theywere very big on the Mississippi
bar and what it means to notjust attorneys, but to
Mississippi and our communitiesbecause of service to others is
(33:03):
really what it's all about, andservice to our clients, our
community, trying to improvelife as it is.
So they were my big influencers,if you will, and the programs we
talked about today, I I try touse those to reach out to the
young attorneys coming up andencourage them to be community
(33:25):
involved, not just focused onwhat they can earn a living, but
to focus on service to othersand a part of that is their job,
but part of it is just being acommunity involvement person
that making sure our communitiesare just bet get better through
those services.
SPEAKER_02 (33:44):
You know, when I think about that, I think about
that Bible verse about layup foryourself treasures in heaven,
and I certainly am making decentmoney and uh because that's just
what you have to do.
You gotta cover it everything.
But when you help someone,you're laying up treasures in
heaven, you're making adifference.
SPEAKER_05 (34:06):
I agree with that, Dawn.
That's a great point.
And uh certainly God and Jesusare very important to me, gets
into a whole nother arena there,but uh I think that people need
to be involved from church tocommunity to their careers and
always be focused on servingothers.
SPEAKER_02 (34:25):
Well, Blake, thank you so much for joining me
today.
And if you are listening, don'tjust sit there.
Find out how you can bring hopeacross Mississippi.
Thanks a bunch.
SPEAKER_05 (34:38):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_00 (34:44):
Hope, Mississippi.
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