James E. Graves, Jr.
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Justice James E. Graves, Jr., began his term as a justice on the Mississippi Supreme Court on November 1, 2001. He was appointed by the Governor and then was elected by the people in November 2004. Justice Graves is currently the only African-American on the nine member court. Justice Graves previously served as a Circuit Court Judge for 10 years. He was appointed in February 1991 to serve as Circuit Court Judge. He was elected to the position in a special election in September 1991, where he received seventy-seven percent of the votes cast. He was re-elected without opposition in 1994 and 1998.
He graduated from Sumner Hill High School in Clinton, Mississippi, where he was valedictorian. He was also selected as the school's Star Student because he had both the highest grade point average and the highest ACT (American College Test) score. He attended Millsaps College, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. After working at the Department of Public Welfare for almost two years, he enrolled at Syracuse University College of Law, where he received his law degree. He also holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York.
He worked as a staff attorney at Central Mississippi Legal Services. As a special assistant attorney general, he was head of the Human Services Division of the Attorney General's Office. Just prior to being appointed Circuit Judge, he was director of the Division of Child Support Enforcement of the Mississippi Department of Human Services. He was also engaged in the private practice of law for more than three years.
His teaching experience includes serving as a teaching team member at Harvard Law School where he taught trial advocacy. He has been a presenter at Stanford Law School on two occasions and was a jurist-in-residence at Syracuse University School of Law. Justice Graves has also served as an adjunct professor at Jackson State University, Tougaloo College, and Millsaps College where he taught media law, civil rights law, and sociology of law.
Justice Graves has been recognized by numerous organizations for his commitment to the principle of equal justice for all and for his outstanding ability as a judge. The Hinds County Bar Association named Justice Graves the recipient of its Innovation Award in 2000 in recognition of his pioneering efforts in creating the first state-of-the-art high-tech courtroom in Mississippi state courts, in establishing the first court website for a Mississippi state trial court, and in implementing electronic filing of court documents. The National Bar Association awarded him its first Distinguished Jurist Award in 1996. The National Conference of Black Lawyers selected him from among judges nationwide to receive the Judge of the Year Award in 1992. The Millsaps College Black Students Association named Justice Graves the recipient of its Alumnus of the Year Award in 1993. He received the NAACP Legal Award in 2004.
Recently, Justice Graves has received two national awards: In 2005, the 100 Black Men of America named him the recipient of its Equal Justice Award; and in 2006, the National Conference of Black Mayors gave him the President's Award. Both awards were in recognition of his tireless efforts in giving back to our communities, in serving the citizens of the State of Mississippi and in serving as a role model and mentor for youth throughout the nation.
