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Hope Mississippi
A bimonthly podcast educating Mississippians about the needs of fellow citizens, encouraging residents to work together to change the trajectory of our families and children, and sharing success stories.
Hope Mississippi
MS State Bar 4 - Faith, Justice, and Leadership
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.
Hello and welcome back to the Mississippi.
Speaker 1:Bar Convention at Sandestin.
Speaker 1:I am here with Amanda Green, alexander Welcome. Thank you for having me. I met her some time ago as a young lawyer, is that right?
Speaker 2:Not even a lawyer. I think I was in law school. Maybe my second year in law school.
Speaker 1:Where'd you grow up?
Speaker 2:Well, I'm a Baptist preacher's daughter too, so we could probably share some jokes and silly stories together. You know, one point is that your family helps make you who.
Speaker 1:You are right, absolutely, absolutely, from the base to the beginning. I tell you that the benefit of having a small family but a large family. Both of my parents are the oldest in their family, which means everything that happens that needs to be taken care of. They take care of it and even now, as the children of the oldest very close In fact, they'll be joining me on tomorrow or later on today at the bar convention. And then I have one daughter, mari, who is just finished up, headed to Howard in the fall, so we'll be headed to DC and my mom is also here with me as well, and so she's kind of the rock.
Speaker 1:Dad passed away in 2007, but I continue to sort of plug on. It's so funny how God gives you all these wonderful blessings and sometimes he gives them to you all at the same time. So in 2007, I get the opportunity to open this brand new office and building and then get a baby on the way, because as I was decorating I was like, oops, what's going on? And here we are, and so relatively new husband, relatively new baby and brand new and everything is good. And God has said this is what you want, this is what you asked for. This is the actual statement on the back of your freshman dorm door, and you're about eight years ahead of schedule.
Speaker 2:So you know, I love that proverb three, five and six about how, when you just surrender to God, he really does direct your path, doesn't he?
Speaker 4:Every time One of my mom's favorite scriptures and probably something I've grown up on since the beginning. I was sitting in church actually the other day and I was thinking how do I know all of these scriptures just back. But that's what you kind of get pulled in and becomes just a part of your everyday routine, and so those are moments where you can be able to sit back and say, oh, remember that, remember the opportunity that God has for you, remember the providence 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:What we do in Mississippi is related to our faith, and we just heard from Governor Haley Barber about how God really provided, through Katrina and a lot of those scriptures, when the ox was in the ditch, when it was so dark. What a blessing to have our faith that we could hang on to, absolutely, absolutely so that saying you've come a long way, baby from Kokomo. Tell me all that you've got going on.
Speaker 4:So I'll tell you in October actually, our firm returned 20 years old, which is a big deal because my practice is defense work and so I'm kind of a unicorn in that regard. I've got three or four lawyers that work with me and I'll be honest, you know I'm a black woman in Mississippi and there are no other firms that do what we do. We do all defense work, representing businesses and employment spaces and workers' comp. We are actually in that space and surprisingly, we keep talking about this unicorn that we are. But it's been impactful because when I started the firm I was working a former deputy city attorney. I clerked with Justice King who is Justice King now but chief judge of the Court of Appeals at the time, and got a chance to be able to do that and that just kind of put me in the position where I then learned all these areas of law and, trying to figure out exactly what I wanted to do, had the benefit and the spectacular opportunity to have some judges and commissioners and people who loved on me to just simply go out and say, hey, willing to learn, teach me what you're doing, kind of how, like we ran across each other. I followed, you said, okay, we've got somebody who's doing family law, let's see if we can track 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 can believe it or not, a staff member of the Mississippi Bar and worked my way through grad school and so I started working with the Mississippi Bar in 1998 and delivered, you know, snacks and cokes and all these other great things for members of the Women in Profession Committee and the Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program. So I know where all of the good snacks are at the bar center when lawyers show up for meetings now. But then leaving that work my way through grad school head off to Mississippi College, and those relationships that I had have been just invaluable.
Speaker 4:I don't think you get a chance to walk around and be a PK, as we say, a preacher's kid, and not know and talk to everybody. I remember mom and dad running into people in the grocery store and it would take us like an hour and a half to get groceries when everybody else just been in and out in 20 minutes. But those connections, family connections, friendships, relationships One of the tenants of our firm and our actual logo is Do Justly, love Mercy and Walk H humbly, and those are the words that are on the bottom of our letterhead and we're not straying away from that at all. All of the things and all the people saying this about politics and this or whatever, that's who we are at the core, and so I've had our firm to walk in those same tenets to be sure that we're doing people right.
Speaker 4:And so, you know, a lot of times defense lawyers get a bad rap, but the reality is you need a lawyer who is going to be able to provide a fair assessment of what's happening, to be able to say you know what turns out, this person does need some support, turns out, they do have these legitimate damages and we've got to do something differently. That's a bold thing to do, and I'll tell you, it has been a great joy to be able to do that and to not waver. The beauty of having your own firm is just that you can literally tell your clients. This is what I believe is happening, this is our strategy, this is the right thing to do, and so I've committed, after 22 years, that I'm doing the work that I enjoy doing with the people who I enjoy doing the work for, and the type of work that's making an impact on the community.
Speaker 2:Oh, I love it, I just love it. You know, I've been a sole practitioner much of my life when I wasn't in public service. And to really be the wheel behind justice, to help people to do the right thing, is just a great feeling. Certainly, you make very good money when you work hard, yes, but the feeling of helping people do the right thing, that's hope in our justice system.
Speaker 4:It really is. It really is. I had a case where I was serving as the employer's representative for a workers' compensation claim and I had a claimant who had had this terrible injury and we kind of walked through and talked through everything. Because it's a self-insurer, that means that folks really know the person who's actually heard and care about the person who's actually hurt. And I remember running into him, probably about three weeks or so after his case was resolved. He says I just want to say thank you, Ms Alexander, for making sure that everything was taken care of.
Speaker 4:My lawyer said you called and talked to him like I was calling him and harassing him every day. I said well, I wanted to make sure you had what you need. You're not going to be able to work again. I need to make sure that you're taken care of. That's my goal, it's my client's goal. We want to make sure you're in a good place and so being able to be able to have the gift of being able to do that, and to do it in a way that doesn't really sort of alienate people and bring them sort of in a place of conciliation, is a wonderful and blessing. And able to do that I've been super active in the bar. So every time I'm doing something I'm always thinking about that. So I'm even actually on the ballot now for nominee for the bar president.
Speaker 2:This year you go, girl. That is fabulous. Well, look, you have taken the ball and run with it in our profession and we cannot thank you enough for that To that person out there. We're going to talk to two people. We're going to talk first to the citizen out there that has an issue and they're going to encounter our judicial system. What would you tell them about the system and about the hope that we have for the future?
Speaker 4:I would say maintain that hope. I would say go in with an open mind and a place of peace and listen right, because the reality is, everyone wants to be heard, everyone wants an opportunity to be heard, and that is the beauty of our judicial system it provides you an opportunity to be heard, whether you are a person who is, you know, working and tilting corn and whatever you need to be doing in the field, or you are a person who is working and tilting corn and whatever you need to be doing in the field, or you're the person who is a Fortune 500 executive. The reality is our laws are set up just for that and the rule of law is super important to be able to say that that judge that you're going to appear before is going to be the person who, hopefully, is following just that the rule of law and no matter where you come from, no matter what you're doing, that you still always have the benefit of our judicial system.
Speaker 2:I was a judge for years and my prayer was to just get it right. Yes, once you get to the level of a chancellor or the Supreme Court, you can't count the votes. What you got to do is know that you followed the law, and I could live with the results, just because I didn't always like the decision that I had to make. But as long as we follow the Constitution, that's what people are counting on.
Speaker 4:That's absolutely right, absolutely right, and something that we hopefully is a guiding principle in the way we conduct ourselves, and others.
Speaker 2:Well, folks should have faith in the judicial system because there are lots of folks that are working toward that end. Absolutely that other group we want to talk to are those young people out there. We want to certainly challenge them to be lawyers. But also you talked about how, along the way your family brought people along, you slowed down and visited. Talk a little bit about that, both to the young person as well as to those adults out there to bring our young folks along program that pushed, pushed, pushed me.
Speaker 4:But the reality is there were the benefit of having just little elders in the community who would just simply give you the words of encouragement to say you can do it. I think the biggest thing is my brother always says that if you can believe it, you can achieve it, 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 to share and say you know, our biggest and greatest challenge is to love each other, that is the number one commandment, if you've got to guess one, and that benefit of being able to share and love and protect and move forward, that's absolutely. I think it's priceless. And I would say to young folks out there who are just like, let me try to figure it out, just keep hope, keep hope, keep believing it, because we do serve a wonderful God who has the benefit of honoring our service.
Speaker 2:Wow, what a blessing it's been to talk with you. I'm so proud of you and the good work that you're doing. I know that the future is bright for you.
Speaker 4:So thanks for sharing. Yes, thank you. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1:Hope. Mississippi is your salvation.
Speaker 2:Hello and welcome back to the Mississippi Bar Convention where we're visiting with folks here and I have the unique privilege of visiting with Dean Fred Slobock. Dean, tell the audience a little bit about yourself.
Speaker 1:Grew up in Mississippi, went to Mississippi College undergrad, went to Ole Miss Law and then practiced for a number of years before I got into legal education and have been in Texas, california, florida before finally getting to come home. I'm starting my third year as the dean of the Ole Miss Law School and my wife and I are just absolutely delighted to be home.
Speaker 2:Well, as a graduate of Ole Miss Law School, I'm reminded of so many professors that invested in me. I was just a little old girl, that fresh out of college, and wasn't quite sure what I was doing, but they poured wisdom and knowledge, as well as the law, into me, and I'm forever grateful to professors that have done that.
Speaker 1: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 above and beyond to really make sure that I was getting everything I needed. Because I came from a family that didn't have any lawyers, I didn't really know anything about the law other than what I saw in popular media. I went to law school thinking I was going to be the next Perry Mason, someone who not only was able to get his own client acquitted but was able to get the real murderer to confess on the stand in open court in front of the jury. When I got to law school, I realized how many opportunities you have to have an impact as a lawyer, and it was the faculty that really helped me explore all of that and I obviously loved it so much. I basically decided to come back as a professional home and stay in legal education as well.
Speaker 2:You know, I think that's a real important point because when we talk about lawyers, a law degree simply teaches you how to think analytically and understand what the nature of the law is, but you can take that and go into business and do great things or so many varieties of ways that lawyers make a difference in the world.
Speaker 1:I absolutely agree. In fact, I've got a speech I won't give it on why everyone in America ought to go to law school. What it does is it teaches you how to think analytically the critical thinking, legal analysis but also to become a problem solver. And it's that analytical thinking and problem solving ability that makes it such a utilitarian degree that you can go into any field within the law or into business, public policy, anything outside the sort of traditional practice of law. The opportunities for someone going through legal education are just. They're just amazing and they're really not cabined in to just a one set sort of idea of what it means to be a lawyer. It's a great degree for any number of professional fields.
Speaker 2:The Baptist preacher's daughter, amy, wants to say amen amen amen because it really is a wonderful way to leave the world better than you found it by helping people solve their problems. We listened to Governor Haley Barber earlier today and I was reminded about how blessed we are to live in Mississippi, where we all work together and lawyers in Mississippi. They are the backbone of the local community.
Speaker 1:Yes, absolutely. In fact, I think one of the most 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 in law school and the work that we do after we leave law school puts us in a position to be able to be leaders in local communities, and that's a really important aspect. In fact, this last semester, I co-taught a class at the law school on leadership in law. It was wonderful because we were able to bring in lots of guest speakers who had used their law degree and their practice in ways that clearly exhibited leadership. We talked about leadership theory and how law and leadership fit so closely together.
Speaker 2:You're so right about that. I just interviewed Joy Phillips. And you know, I think sometimes folks think that all lawyers do is sit around and look at law books or now it's the computer. But we talked about her leadership in Hurricane Katrina and how she helped the bank to think outside the box. Within 24 hours they were handing out money, and you never know what that degree is going to help you to do.
Speaker 1:Yes, it's a wonderfully utilitarian degree, and I think that Joy is a perfect example of how you can use it in ways that might be non-traditional, but it still goes back to that. You're thinking outside the box, that's your analytical reasoning, your critical thinking, and then that problem-solving piece that comes in as well.
Speaker 2:Let's talk about Mississippi and the needs that we have found in Mississippi to encourage folks to locate in small towns. I know I've worked with you and the dean from MC on that, but let's talk a little bit about that.
Speaker 1:As you know, there are many rural communities and small towns that either have no attorneys or have very few attorneys and in many cases, the few attorneys that already it's twofold. One is there are fewer people to actually handle the legal issues and legal needs of those communities, but then there's also a lack of that natural lawyer leadership in those communities where they are the backbone of those communities, and so it's really important, in my opinion and the reason that I love serving on the Mississippi Access to Justice Commission is that we can address, try to address some of those issues and try to figure out how we can get more of our attorneys, especially the young attorneys who are in law school now or coming out of law school soon, to think about going into those small towns and rural communities where there's such significant need and where there can be such tremendous professional and personal gratification.
Speaker 2:So Mississippi isn't alone in this.
Speaker 1:It is not.
Speaker 2:It's a national trend or a void that we are seeing. What are some things that we've talked about? About how we might could encourage folks and also nurture them. It's scary when you're getting out of law school and you want me to go. Where and who am I going to be able to ask for help?
Speaker 1:We've taken a few steps already. We have a program that the bar is actually helping to support where the law schools will actually provide a small stipend for a student after their first or second year to go into a rural community and sort of participate with a local attorney and sort of learn what it would be like to be in a small town or rural community, because a lot of students just aren't aware and they're a little concerned. So we've taken a few baby steps and we've had some of our students from Ole Miss go into those settings and have loved it and have decided that that really is what they want to do. On a more programmatic level, we're looking at what some other states have done that have been affected for relatively small amounts of resources. So, for example, one area that's been very successful is South Dakota.
Speaker 1:South Dakota developed a rural legal attorney recruitment program and what they did was and it was actually led by their Supreme Court, the Chief justice of their Supreme Court they decided to go to the legislature and ask for a small amount of money it was less than $500,000 for the pilot project that would provide a small stipend for a graduate of a law school to go into one of the rural legal deserts, as they referred to them, and practice for five years. They had to make a commitment to practice for five years and they would receive a stipend of about $17,000 each year to do that. They had an 80% success rate that after that five-year commitment 80% of those attorneys stay in those rural areas, and so now a number of counties in South Dakota that had either a small number of attorneys or no attorneys at all now have lawyers who are able to serve the needs of those small towns.
Speaker 2:And that's a concern for all Mississippians, because when we talk about end justice for all, if you don't have access to a lawyer and to a courtroom, your rights are being impacted. So it's something that we all need to be aware of, and this is a employment area that we need great young students to come into, and there are folks that will help them all along the way right.
Speaker 1:Yes, there are folks that will help them all along the way and the bar has some mentoring programs those students can participate in, those young lawyers can participate in. Lawyers informally from neighboring counties are delighted to help mentor young lawyers. So that's another thing you mentioned earlier about Mississippi and how we all get along and we all work together. That's one of the great things about Mississippi is that everybody's willing to help mentor young attorneys. If we have time, can I give you an example? Yes, we had one of our alums who years ago did well in law school, graduated, took a job in a big firm in Jackson Mississippi, did well, made partner.
Speaker 1:But something was missing. He had grown up in a rural community, in a rural county in Mississippi and he made the decision to go back home and set up as a sole practitioner and what he found was that the community just absolutely welcomed him in and they were so grateful that there was someone now that they would be able to turn to. And he was a little bit concerned initially about the financial aspect of it. But what he discovered was that there were so many institutions, even public, part-time kinds of positions, like a city judge or those kinds of things that were there and they were begging attorneys to take those positions that he not only did well for the community but he did well financially himself, and they embraced him so much that they actually, after a number of years, sent him to the legislature as their elected representative. So it's a prime example of how you can go into these small towns and rural communities and have tremendous professional satisfaction and, at the same time, not sacrifice in terms of your financial situation. You can have a very fulfilling professional career.
Speaker 2:Well, I would note you're talking about him and not her, because I recently opened my practice in Sumrall, and boy has it been a blessing. It is so much fun helping other folks and you know when you have a problem, folks are willing to invest to help get that wise counsel, and so my husband wonders why I hadn't done this a long time ago. But from a personal standpoint I feel like I've died and gone to heaven, because every day, I get to make a difference Absolutely.
Speaker 1:I get to make a difference Absolutely, and that is something that I think is probably easier to see. The difference you make is in the small towns and rural communities, where one person really can make a difference in another person's life.
Speaker 2:You know, those are the Perry Mason moments really they are, they are. Well, thank you so much for sitting down with me and for all that you do to make Mississippi a better place.
Speaker 3:Thanks, Judge.
Speaker 2:Hello and welcome back to the Mississippi Bar Convention. I'm here with Judge Michelle Easterling. So glad to have you today. Thank you so much for having me. Could you just tell us a little bit about yourself?
Speaker 3: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 wife and I'm a resident of my community and just a stakeholder as well as a, I would say, a servant leader, where I can be.
Speaker 2:Oh, that is wonderful. You are my kind of girl and you know I grew up in Columbus.
Speaker 3:I did not know that.
Speaker 2:Well, I graduated from Caldwell High School, who's not there anymore, but I'm reminded of so many people in Columbus that I will, and forever indebted to, who molded me and helped me to be the person that I am. Let's talk about you and as you grew up. I mean you're a circuit judge now. Let's just talk a little bit about none of us got here by ourselves, right? Absolutely. Let's just talk about who influenced your life.
Speaker 3:I had numerous influences in my life as a young woman growing up on the Gulf Coast in Mississippi. I remember Judge Margaret Alfonso, claire Sequel Hornsby. Those were some people that admired from a distance. A local real estate agent named Nell Frisbee, who was one of the hardest working female realtors on the Gulf Coast and later into the New Orleans market, had a lot of strong women who encouraged me. My mother also. Although she did not pursue any kind of legal career, she was a legal secretary and worked very hard, long hours, and I learned a lot from her about working hard and finishing jobs and being reliable. So I had a lot of that as a young woman on the Gulf Coast and then later went to college at Millsaps in Jackson, where I also met some wonderful people in the Millsaps community, as well as in the Secretary of State's office where I worked part time, as well as the Student Health Department at Millsaps.
Speaker 3:I had a lot of different jobs as a college kid. I can still remember Ms Linda Smith was an Assistant Secretary of State in the Public Lands Division who encouraged me, as well as Constance Slaughter, harvey, if you remember Connie. She also worked as an Assistant Secretary. I'll never forget her telling Harvey. If you remember Connie, she also worked as an assistant secretary I'll never forget her telling us if you are going to do something you say you're going to do it, you better darn well do it. Don't be a flake. When you are committing to something, you do the job. And so here I am now and folks like you and Lydia Quarles and Judge Sharon Aycock there's so many Just Judge Justice, former Justice Lenora Prather and I say former, she's deceased obviously All of these women have been very vital in my development, like I said, from a young age on the Gulf Coast to a young lawyer in North Mississippi, and I'm grateful for all of the gifts that I've been given, the advice, the encouragement, etc.
Speaker 2:Well, I'm reminded. We're headed to the Price Prather Luncheon in a minute, where we celebrate all the great women, and many of those that touched your life certainly touched mine and would not have done the things I've done without their wisdom. Wise counsel is so important, and the idea of self-discipline if you say you're going to do it, do it. Be there on time. And I think when people know that they can rely on us, we excel. And so, for the folks that are listening out there, and particularly young people, be that person you can count on right, absolutely, absolutely.
Speaker 3:And don't shy away Just because something is new or you may not have experience in it. You can always learn. You have people that are surrounding you, people like you, people like Lydia that we talked about. There's always somebody there that's going to support and encourage you, but sometimes you have to find them. You have to ask, but don't be afraid to take on a new challenge and don't be afraid to ask for help at the same time.
Speaker 2:I'm on the other side of life now where a lot of people helped me, but the idea of helping bring people along. Talk about that just a minute, the opportunities that you have, and then the blessing of being able to see how you make a difference in Mississippi.
Speaker 3:The importance of bringing others along and being a hand in need in a time of need very important. I'm reminded of Lieutenant Governor Gandy and the Evelyn Gandy lecture series that you and I always. We were there and learned so much about the importance of being that encourager, being that mentor, even if it's a de facto mentor. I think that's our responsibility to other women in the legal profession certainly, but really in any profession. I have had the opportunity as a judge to include young college students, even high school students who want to learn about the law, to come and sit in my court. I make them feel welcome. I think it's important to recognize them and introduce them to the district attorney, the assistant district attorney, the defense bar, the Mississippi Department of Corrections. I want people to see, and not just women, but all young people to see. There are so many options that you can pursue with a legal degree and I want to expose as many of those young folks to a legal career however possible. And if I can use my role as a judge to ask others to talk with this young lady or this young man, I'm going to do that.
Speaker 3:Getting back to the part of your question about opportunities to see hope in our communities. I will say that, as a circuit judge, I have seen a lot of people suffering from addictions. Those addictions cause them any number of problems and horrible consequences, anywhere from broken marriages to losing children, but also to being charged with serious felony crimes. One of the things that I have had the pleasure of seeing it's not all the time, but it's just a couple of times in three years but where I've had to be particularly hard on an individual defendant who was an addict, where I have placed them back in jail for violating a term and condition of their bond, which is to remain drug-free. As hard as that was to do, the reward is to get a message down the road, and I just had one recently 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 that and I found myself a job and I am drug free, and it's been eight months or nine months, however it was. He said thank you.
Speaker 3:And then another time where I got a message from a mother on Mother's Day that said thank you for being so hard on my child because he's doing the best he's ever done and he's been drug fee for, you know, a year now. And those messages, I print those out and I keep them in my little desk drawer in a folder so that when the days are hard and you feel like you don't necessarily make an impact on someone's life in a positive way, I go and read those and those examples of hope that everyone has value. Everyone deserves a second chance. I'm not necessarily fond of third, fourth, fifth, sixth chances, but I try to help folks where I can and it does remind me that we are all in this together and we've got to lend a hand. Sometimes that hand is a little harsh, you know, but if we can temper it with mercy and kindness, I think in the end we'll be blessed in spades with the outcome of a positive change in members of our community.
Speaker 2:Well, we are so blessed to have you serve as a circuit judge in Mississippi. One other question when we talk about hope in Mississippi, the role of the judicial system, the justice system not just judicial, but the lawyers, judges, everybody that works in it how does that play a role in bringing folks home?
Speaker 3:Number one we're always going to have crime, Just like Jesus said, we're always going to have the poor with us. We're always going to have the poor and we're always going to have crime. I think that the judicial system, which I have a great passion, love and respect for and that's why I'm doing my job the judicial system is made up of some very good people and, like you said, from the law enforcement to the prosecutors, to the defense bar, to the judges and the court personnel. I think we all have to remember that those are public servants. Those are people that serve the community. It's incumbent upon us to remember who we work for and to do so in a way that makes our God proud of us. Remember we want to treat everyone with dignity and respect and give them that due process, give them a fair hearing, a fair trial. I think it's incumbent on us to remember that. I think we have some very good people in that judicial system that truly want to help. We have a lot of people with servants' hearts in the judicial system just to understand that they have a job to do, but they also are merciful and compassionate people Not everybody, but the majority of them. So I think that is what I should emphasize about.
Speaker 3:Hope in Mississippi with regard to the judicial system is that I know firsthand the good people that we have working for the betterment of our community. Be patient with all of us and for us to be patient with those who come before us and come in front of us or that we represent. Remember that if we will follow those commandments, love your neighbor as yourself. Everyone's our neighbor, you know, and that's just so important and I don't mean to come across as trying to be holy roller or wonky, but I think it's true and I found that in my job. I hope that your listeners will just remember that we're all in this together and it takes all of us to have a future that we will be proud of, to share with our 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:Wow, I so enjoyed visiting with you and I know our listeners did. Thanks for joining us today.
Speaker 3:Thank you so much for doing what you're doing with this podcast. I cannot wait to go home and subscribe. Thank you.
Speaker 2:Hope Mississippi.
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