Attorney prepares to transition to judge

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The newest Chancery Court Judge for District 14-2 was sworn in on Wednesday.

Joe Studdard has practiced law for 31 years, but his new role will be significantly different than his former role as an attorney.

For the last three decades, Attorney Joe Studdard has worked dozens of cases, helping a long list of clients.

Now, Studdard will be determining the outcomes.

For 15 years, Studdard Law Firm has been Joe Studdard’s home away from home.

Now, the seasoned attorney has until June 30, to close this significant chapter in his life.

“Obviously, I’m not able to continue representing everybody in court locally, because I would be in front of people who are on the bench with me and that would require a special appointment from the Supreme Court for me to continue, so I will be transitioning those files, and I just look forward to working with the new attorneys to get my clients situated.”

Studdard said giving up those things was part of why his decision to run for judge wasn’t taken lightly.

“In fact, I struggled with it for so long, that I actually was a late qualifier. I qualified very late in the process and all of that was due just to me giving it serious thought before I gave up practice, because I’ve gotten to know so many people and have helped so many people that I still maintain great relationships with.”

He’s also built relationships with many local lawyers over the years.

Now, instead of working side by side with them, he’ll be sitting in front of them in the courtroom.

“It will require a change in the way that we relate to each other because as a judge, I’m not going to be in a situation where I can show any favoritism to anybody, whether they have helped me in the past, or not helped me.”

Studdard will be jumping from this seat, to this one, but he won’t be alone.

His right hand is also making the move.

“It meant everything. I mean, we’ve been together so long. I felt like that we would just stay together.”

Cindy Strickland has been with Studdard 31 years, since the start of his law career.

Now, she’ll be the court administrator for him at the Lowndes County Courthouse.

“In the law office, I’ve done like production of all types of documents, law office management, just things like that and here I think mainly just, will be dealing with the court, setting the docket.”

Studdard and Strickland will be moving into their new offices next week.

In the meantime, they say the process of transitioning clients and files will continue.