From Staff Reports
District 1 of the Mississippi Supreme Court has a new representative.
Gov. Phil Bryant announced last week that he has appointed Mississippi Court of Appeals Judge Kenny Griffis to the post, replacing retiring Chief Justice William (Bill) Waller Jr.
Mississippi Supreme Court District 1 is comprised of Sunflower Bolivar, Claiborne, Copiah, Hinds, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Jefferson, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Madison, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Rankin, Scott, Sharkey, Warren, Washington and Yazoo counties.
“Judge Griffis has served exceptionally on the Mississippi Court of Appeals, and his wealth of experience on the bench will prove very valuable as he moves into his new role,” Gov. Bryant said. “He has an outstanding legal mind and is highly respected among his peers. I have full faith Judge Griffis will be a real asset to the Mississippi Supreme Court. Additionally, I am thankful for Chief Justice Waller for admirably serving the people of Mississippi for more than 22 years on the state’s highest court, and I wish him well in retirement. The people of Mississippi owe him a debt of gratitude.”
Griffis is a 15-year justice on the Court of Appeals for District 3, Position 2, according to a release from the governor’s office.
“I thank Governor Bryant for this appointment, and I am humbled by his expression of confidence in me,” said Griffis. “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the people of Mississippi on the Court of Appeals for the last sixteen years. I look forward to the opportunity to serve on the Supreme Court. I am committed to the rule of law, to apply the law fairly and impartially and to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of Mississippi.”
Prior to being elected to the Mississippi Court of Appeals, Griffis was in private law practice at the Griffis Law Firm, PLLC, in Ridgeland, the release said.
He was also in private practice from 1995-2000 with Lingle, Griffis & Southern, PLLC, in Jackson.
Griffis has served as an adjunct professor of law for both the Mississippi College School of Law and the University of Mississippi School of Law.
He has also been an adjunct professor and instructor at Belhaven University and Meridian Community College.
