Terrett swearing in set for Thursday at courthouse

Published 3:41 pm Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Retiring senior 9th Circuit District Judge Isadore Patrick will administer the oath of office to judge-elect Toni Walker Terrett during swearing in ceremonies at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in the circuit courtroom at the Warren County Courthouse, 1009 Cherry St.

Other members of state judiciary, including Circuit Court Judge M. James Chaney, Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Leslie King and Court of Appeals Judge Latrice Westbrooks, are expected to attend.

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Terrett, who served as Vicksburg municipal judge, was elected 9th Circuit District Court Judge for Place 1 in November, succeeding Patrick. She begins her term Jan. 2.

During her tenure with the city, she also served as the city’s community court judge and judge pro tem, was the project director for the Vicksburg Domestic Violence Victims’ Empowerment Program and supervised the court services, community service and house arrest programs.

A native of Vicksburg, Terrett graduated from Vicksburg High School and received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Tougaloo College in 1996. She has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Memphis and a law degree from the Mississippi College School of Law in 2005.

Before becoming a full-time judge, she had a private law practice and served as a Drug Court public defender and a contract attorney for the Mississippi Center for Legal Services.

She served as a law clerk for Ninth District Chancellor Vicki Roach Barnes.

Terrett is a member of the American Bar, Mississippi Bar, Magnolia Bar and Warren County Bar associations. She has been recognized as a 2018 Social Action Trailblazer by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., a 2016 “Leader in Law” by the Mississippi Business Journal.

She received a Community Awareness award from the Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence and other recognitions by local, state and regional groups for various community service and social action projects she has initiated and participated in.

Terrett and her husband Andre are the parents of five children. They are members of Mount Alban M.B. Church.

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

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