Ann Hannaford Lamar

Mississippi Supreme Court

Mississippi

Biography

Justice Ann Hannaford Lamar joined the Mississippi Supreme Court on May 21, 2007, when Governor Haley Barbour appointed her upon Presiding Justice Kay B. Cobb’s retirement. In November 2008, Justice Lamar was elected to serve an eight year term, beginning January 1, 2009. She is the third woman to serve on the Mississippi Supreme Court.

Prior to her appointment to the Supreme Court, Justice Lamar served as a Circuit Court Judge in the 17th Circuit Court District, which encompasses Desoto, Tate, Panola, Yalobusha, and Tallahatchie counties. During her tenure as a circuit court judge, Justice Lamar served the Conference of Circuit Court Judges as Chairman in 2006-2007. She also presided over the 17th Circuit Drug Court, supervising program participants in four of the five counties.

Justice Lamar served as District Attorney in the 17th district until her appointment to the circuit bench in November, 2001. Prior to her election as District Attorney, she served nine years as an assistant district attorney and eight years in the private practice of law. Upon graduation from law school in 1982, Justice Lamar began practicing law with her husband in Senatobia at Lamar & Lamar.

Justice Lamar earned her law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1982, after attending Northwest Mississippi Junior College and earning a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Delta State University in 1974.

Since arriving at the Court, Justice Lamar has served on the Court’s Rules Committees, and she is now Chairman of the Criminal Rules Committee. She also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Mississippi Judicial College. In 2008, Justice Lamar served as Co-Chair of the Commission for the Study of Domestic Abuse Proceedings.

Justice Lamar is a member and past president of the William C. Keady American Inns of Court.

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

Mississippi

Professional Experience

Justice: Mississippi Supreme Court; 2007 - Current; Served on the Court’s Rules Committees, and is now Chairman of the Criminal Rules Committee

Judge: Circuit Court Judge in the 17th Circuit Court District; 2001 - 2007; Served the Conference of Circuit Court Judges as Chairman in 2006-2007. Presided over the 17th Circuit Drug Court.