Local attorney Noel Rogers is the new District 2 Justice Court judge for Jones County. He will be officially sworn in later this afternoon.
Rogers was appointed Tuesday morning by the Jones County supervisors to fill the vacancy created when Governor Tate Reeves appointed Billie Graham as the new Chancery Court judge of the 19th Chancery Court District of Mississippi. Graham's appointment came on Thursday afternoon, July 23. She succeeded Franklin C. McKenzie Jr. of Laurel, who retired June 30. McKenzie Jr. was first elected as a 19th District Chancery Court judge in 1994 and took office in 1995.
Rogers will now occupy the judge’s seat held by Graham until November. A special election to fill the seat for a full term will be held on Tuesday, November 3. Other candidates interviewed and considered by the supervisors on Tuesday morning were Marian Allen, Sonny Saul, Jerry Sharpe and Jack Armstrong
"The Supervisors don't very often get this opportunity to voice their opinion on a Justice Court judge like this," commented Board President Johnny Burnett. "We've had top of the line candidates, and any one of the five could have been appointed on their qualifications."
"Today is a wonderful day in my life," exclaimed Noel Rogers. "I just hope that I do justice to the citizens of Jones County. I'm going to give my all to uphold the laws and the constitution of the State of Mississippi. I appreciate the Board of Supervisors having confidence in me to do the job. I want the citizens to know I'm going to be fair and use common sense, but yet uphold the law."