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as an assistant district attorney, a countypublic defender, a member of the MississippiHouse of Representatives, and an adjunctinstructor at Mississippi College School ofLaw. Likewise, Judge Westbrooks wore manyhats before joining the Court of Appeals%u2014including assistant district attorney, countypublic defender, municipal judge, and legalcounsel for the Jackson Police Departmentin the Office of the City Attorney. JudgeWestbrooks also worked as a solo practitionerbefore taking the seat she now occupies. JudgeMcDonald began her legal career as an attorney at the former Southwest Mississippi LegalServices, where she served as staff attorney,managing attorney, and executive director.She too spent time in private practice, sheserved as a municipal judge and city attorney,and she served as attorney for a hospital,nursing home, and school district. And JudgeSt. P%u00e9 also worked as a solo practitioner beforejoining the bench, in addition to work as amunicipal judge and city attorney. As municipal judge for the City of Gautier, Judge St. P%u00e9became the first female to sit on a municipalbench in Jackson County.This wealth of experience operates inaddition to the experience of their colleagueson the Court. Before joining the benchPresiding Judge Jack Wilson spent time inprivate practice with two civil defense firms,focusing on appellate and general civil litigation. Judge Anthony Lawrence also spent timein private practice, before serving as DistrictAttorney for Jackson, George, and Greenecounties for 15 years. Judge David McCarty,a former solo practitioner, served as counselin more than 80 state and federal appeals andpresented oral argument more than 30 timesbefore various state and federal courts%u2014inaddition to his extensive work as an adjunctinstructor at Mississippi College School ofLaw. Judge John Emfinger previously servedas an assistant district attorney and as a special assistant attorney general, before servingfor more than 10 years as a circuit judge forRankin and Madison Counties. And JudgeJohn Weddle also served as public defender, assistant district attorney, and DistrictAttorney for the First Circuit Judicial Districtfor about nine years before joining the Court.So we celebrate our Court of Appealsfor making us feel at home%u2014all of us. Menand women, Black and white, plaintiff anddefense can rest easy knowing that the judgeswho decide our cases have practiced (and, infact, possess expertise) in the subject matterbefore them. May this storied Court enjoy30-plus more years of facilitating equal justicefor all Mississippians.Baker DonelsonBalch & Bingham LLPBossier & Associates PLLCBradleyButler SnowCarner & Rosemon PLLCCarr AllisonDaniel Coker Horton & Bell P.A.Hawkins Law, P.C.Hickman, Goza & Spragins PLLCJones Walker LLPMayo MalletteMitchell McNuttPittman, Roberts & Welsh PLLCStevens & WardTannehill Carmean PLLCTollison & Webb P.A.Wells Marble & Hurst PLLCWatkins & Eager PLLCCOURT OF APPEALS30th Anniversary CelebrationRefreshments Provided by:With the Support of These Sponsors:SPRING 2025 19