MS Supreme Court Losing Another Justice

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – A third justice is leaving the Mississippi Supreme Court, continuing turnover on the nine-member body.

Justice Ann H. Lamar of Senatobia says she’ll retire at the end of her current term in December.

Unlike two other justices, the 63-year-old will not resign early, meaning Gov. Phil Bryant won’t name a replacement. Voters in the state’s Northern District will elect a successor to an eight-year term in a nonpartisan election in November.

Lamar was appointed in 2007 and won a full term in 2008.

Bryant named Mississippi Court of Appeals Judge James D. Maxwell II to the court after David Chandler resigned to lead Mississippi’s child welfare system.

The governor named Chancery Judge Dawn Beam of Sumrall to replace Randy Pierce. He’s resigning Feb. 1 to lead the Mississippi Judicial College.