Women now comprise one-third of Mississippi’s Supreme Court justices—the highest proportion in state history—after Gov. Tate Reeves filled two vacancies created by judges departing to become U.S. district court judges.
Amanda Jones Tollison, an attorney and former legal counselor for then-Gov. Haley Barbour, will serve on the Mississippi Supreme Court Northern District 3, Place 2. She fills the vacancy created by the departure of former Justice James D. Maxwell II, who left for an appointed federal judgeship, Reeves announced on Monday.
President Donald Trump appointed Maxwell to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi in August 2025. The U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination in December 2025. Maxwell’s state Supreme Court seat has been open since then.
“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 in a Monday press release. “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.”
Last month, Reeves announced that Celeste Embrey Wilson, a circuit court judge for DeSoto County, would serve on the court’s Northern District 3, Place 1. She replaced Robert P. Chamberlin, whom Trump also nominated to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi in August 2025. The U.S. Senate confirmed his nomination in December 2025, and Chamberlin’s Supreme Court seat has been vacant ever since.
“I am deeply honored and humbled by this appointment and grateful for the confidence Governor Reeves has placed in me,” Wilson said in a July 27 press release. “I look forward to serving the people of Mississippi with integrity and an unwavering commitment to our Constitution and the rule of law.”
Wilson’s term began on Aug. 1, while Tollison’s will begin on Sept. 1. Both will serve on the court until the governor calls a special election for each seat.
The two new justices will join Jenifer Branning of Philadelphia, Mississippi, as the women on the state Supreme Court bench, along with the six men currently on the court.
Tollison is an attorney and a partner at Butler Snow LLP, where she has worked since 2012 on administrative and regulatory law, governmental litigation, and election and campaign finance law. The attorney was a legal counselor for then-Gov. Barbour from 2008 to 2012, where she assisted him with legal, legislative, and policy matters, like judicial appointments, elections, budgeting and disaster recovery efforts. She served as president of the Mississippi Bar from July 2019 to July 2020.
Tollison began her legal career at Bradley Arant Rose & White LLP and Phelps Dunbar LLP, where she practiced commercial and product liability law when defending clients in state and federal courts.
“Amanda has distinguished herself throughout her career as an excellent attorney, respected leader in The Mississippi Bar, and dedicated public servant,” Reeves said in a Monday press release. “Her extensive legal experience, knowledge of Mississippi’s legal system, and longstanding commitment to public service make her exceptionally qualified for the bench.”
Tollison obtained her Juris Doctorate at the University of Mississippi School of Law and her Bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University. She has been a member of the Board of Bar Commissioners and a trustee and fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation. In 2005, she provided pro-bono legal services to Mississippians after Hurricane Katrina while she was leading the Disaster Legal Assistance Program during her time as president of the Young Lawyers Division of the Mississippi Bar.
She is the wife of current Third Circuit Judicial District Court Judge and former state Sen. Gray Tollison, who first served in the Senate as a Democrat before switching to the Republican Party.
Wilson became a circuit judge after working for seven years as an assistant district attorney for Mississippi’s 17th Judicial District, prosecuting cases in north Mississippi.
She has been the circuit court judge for Mississippi’s 21st Judicial District, which encompasses DeSoto County, since 2017, when then-Gov. Phil Bryant appointed her to the position. When she started that position, it was in the 17th Circuit Court District, which at the time included DeSoto, Panola, Tallahatchie, Tate and Yalobusha counties. Wilson was the DeSoto County court judge from January 2009 until February 2017.
She obtained her juris doctor from the University of Memphis School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from Delta State University.
“Judge Wilson has dedicated her career to serving the people of Mississippi with integrity, fairness, and a steadfast commitment to the rule of law,” Gov. Reeves said in a July 27 press release. “Her extensive judicial and prosecutorial experience, proven leadership within Mississippi’s court system, and deep understanding of our legal system make her an outstanding choice to serve on the Mississippi Supreme Court. I am confident she will faithfully serve the people of our state.”
Mississippi Free Press stories are always free because we believe everyone should have access to quality journalism. Donations from readers like you make that possible. Please click here to give to help sustain and grow vital, people-over-power journalism for Mississippians.
Readers can sign up for our free newsletters here.
