Gov. Tate Reeves has appointed another judge to the Mississippi Supreme Court.
The governor announced Monday that he has appointed Amanda Tollison of Oxford to the Northern District 3, Place 2 seat to fill the vacancy left by James Maxwell II. Tollison will begin on the bench Sept. 1 after Maxwell was nominated by President Trump in August 2025 and was later confirmed in December.
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Tollison is currently a partner with Butler Snow LLP, where she has practiced since 2012. According to the governor’s office, she has extensive experience in administrative and election law, governmental and appellate litigation, and regulatory matters. Tollison also has extensive experience in commercial and product liability litigation and criminal defense at the state and federal level.
“Amanda has distinguished herself throughout her career as an excellent attorney, respected leader in The Mississippi Bar, and dedicated public servant,” Reeves said. “Her extensive legal experience, knowledge of Mississippi’s legal system, and longstanding commitment to public service make her exceptionally qualified for the bench.”
Before joining Butler Snow, Tollison served as legal counsel to former Gov. Haley Barbour from 2008 to 2012, where she advised the former governor on matters regarding legal and electoral matters and more.
“I am deeply grateful to Governor Reeves for this appointment and humbled by his trust in me to fulfill the duties of a justice on the Mississippi Supreme Court,” Tollison said. “I will faithfully uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and I look forward to serving the people of Mississippi with integrity, fairness, and a steadfast commitment to justice.”
If a midterm vacancy occurs on the Mississippi Supreme Court, the temporary justice appointed by the governor will serve out the remainder of the predecessor’s term if four or fewer years remain. In Tollison’s case, however, the newly-appointed justice will only hold the title until a special election can determine a full-time officeholder since Maxwell was reelected less than two years ago.
Reeves did not announce the date of a special election for the Supreme Court seat, but one is expected to take place sometime this fall. The winner of that election will serve the remainder of Maxwell’s term. Mississippi Supreme Court justices are elected to eight-year terms.
