Southerland seeks county judge position
Published 7:08 pm Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Marcie T. Southerland has announced her candidacy for the position of County Judge for Warren County.
The non-partisan election is November 6, 2018.
County courts have exclusive jurisdiction over eminent domain proceedings and juvenile matters. In counties with a county court, the judge also serves as the youth court judge. The courts share jurisdiction with circuit and chancery courts in some civil matters, and have a jurisdictional limit of up to $200,000. County courts may handle non-capital felony cases transferred from circuit court.
“I want my 35 years of experience in public service and private law practice to work for the people who come before the county court and youth court,” Southerland said of her decision to seek the office. “Our courts should be accessible and the people should be treated with fairness and with respect.
“Our children are our future. Parental responsibility and community involvement are key to our children’s success. I want to serve as youth court judge to ensure that all who should be held accountable will be and at the same time, work on behalf of our children to ensure that no child falls through the cracks.
“In my current position of assistant district attorney, too often I find that our young people are being lost to the criminal justice system.”
Southerland, 64, has been in public service since 1983. At 29, she was elected Warren County Northern District Justice Court Judge, a position she held for almost 17 years. In November 2014, District Attorney Ricky Smith appointed her to serve as assistant district attorney for the 9th Judicial District, which includes Warren, Sharkey and Issaquena Counties, and she is primarily responsible for prosecuting violent crimes against persons, drug crimes and crimes against children.
In 1996, she opened a general law practice in Vicksburg that included representing of clients in circuit court, chancery court, county court, youth court, the Mississippi Supreme Court and the United States District Court.
During her years of private practice, her primary focus was family law matters including divorce, child custody and support, as well as matters pertaining to children’s cases in youth court involving abuse and neglect and children charged with acts of delinquency. She maintained state certification as guardian ad litem for children, which authorized her to represent the best interest of children in chancery court and youth youtt matters.
In 2003, when Judge John S. Price was first elected county court and youth court judge, the Warren County Board of Supervisors appointed Southerland to serve as county prosecuting attorney to fill Price’s unexpired term. She was later appointed to serve as special youth court prosecutor and special youth court judge.
In 2006, she was appointed special master for the 9th Judicial District Chancery Court where she presided over civil commitment cases until 2012, when she was appointed by the Warren County Board of Supervisors to serve as the board’s attorney.
As board attorney, Southerland was also responsible for handling lawsuits involving casino taxation cases in circuit court, matters in county court, mediations on behalf of Warren County, specifically a case involving the former circuit clerk of Warren County who was found to have misappropriated taxpayers’ money in excess of $800,000.
Southerland worked with the state Auditor’s Office and the Mississippi Attorney General’s office to bring the case to a successful resolution in 2014, when the clerk was removed from office and ordered to make restitution to Warren County.
Southerland is a 1972 graduate of H.V. Cooper High School and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Mississippi College and a law degree from Mississippi College School of Law. She received a certification in mediation from the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada.
She is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association and the Warren County Bar Association, where she served as past vice president and president, and was actively involved in the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project and currently serves on the board of directors for the Mississippi Prosecutors Association. She is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club and is involved in various community organizations that work together to help youth.
She has three children, Lee Ann Stuart, Matt Southerland and Branan Southerland, all of whom live and work in Warren County. She has nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
“I ask each of you to allow my experience and my qualifications work for you, the voters of Warren County. I humbly ask that you allow me to serve as your County and Youth Court Judge. Respectfully, I ask for your prayers, your support and your vote for County Judge on Nov. 6, 2018.”