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Chancery Court Judge District 18, Place 1

Chancery Courts have jurisdiction over disputes in matters involving equity; domestic matters including adoptions, custody disputes and divorces; guardianships; sanity hearings; wills; and challenges to constitutionality of state laws. Land records are filed in Chancery Court.Chancery Courts have jurisdiction over juvenile matters in counties which have no County Court. The chancellor may appoint a lawyer in private practice to sit as a youth court referee to hear juvenile matters such as delinquency, abuse and neglect.Trials are typically heard by a chancellor without a jury, although state law allows parties to request a jury in Chancery Court.There are 20 Chancery Court districts and 52 Chancery Court judges. The number of chancery judges per district ranges from one to four. Chancery Court judges are selected in non-partisan elections to serve four-year terms.

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    Jenessa Carter Hicks
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Sarah J. Liddy
    (NP)

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    Jennifer Shackelford
    (NP)

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    Michael Noel Watts
    (NP)

Biographical Information

Please outline your general judicial philosophy and cite any role models.

How will you balance being an independent judge and an elected official?

What qualifies you to be a judge beyond a law degree? Why should I vote for you?

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Qualifications & Education B.A., 2006 in Political Science from Louisiana Tech University. J.D., 2009 from the University of Mississippi School of Law.
Links - Social Media, Other facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588584779648
E-mail jenessaforjudge@gmail.com
Mailing Address PO Box 2388
Oxford, MS 38655
I believe our court system works best when it is fair, the people involved are prepared, and it is accessible to everyone who appears before the Court. If elected, my court will be accessible to attorneys and litigants alike. The law will be applied evenly--without favortism, without fear, and without agenda. I value professionalism, preparation, and consistency on the bench. Above all, I believe the public deserves a judge who listens, follows the law, and earns trust through fairness and work ethic.
A judge's very job is based in independence. If judges aren't independent, the Court system lacks credibility. As a judge, common sense indicates that 50% of those who come before me will be unhappy with my rulings because the other side prevailed. The job of a judge is not to make everyone happy: it is to reach the appropriate decision when the facts and the law are considered. The public deserves nothing less than a truly independent judge.
Chancery Court handles family matters (divorce, child custody, child support, conservatorships, guardianships, estates, and the like). As a Chancery Court Judge, litigants would come before me on what is likely one of the most difficult days of their lives. My decisions will literally change the lives of people, including children. This is a heavy responsibility and one I would not take lightly. I have practiced in Chancery Court for 17 years and have handled ALL types of chancery matters--not just some types. In addition to my experience as an attorney, I have been a litigant who has come to the Chancery Court for help when my husband and I were named the legal guardians of our niece and nephew in 2022. I know and have seen personally how a Chancellor's decisions can literally shape lives for years to come. I would be honored to put both professional and personal experience to work in serving the 18th District as Chancery Court Judge.
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