On August 17, 2026, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves announced the appointment of Amanda James Tollison of Oxford to the Mississippi Supreme Court, filling a vacancy in Northern District 3, Place 2.
Tollison steps into a seat previously held by former state Supreme Court Justice James Maxwell. Maxwell left the state bench following his confirmation to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi after being nominated by President Donald Trump.
For Mississippi’s legal community, the appointment of Tollison marks the introduction of a former gubernatorial legal counsel to the state’s highest appellate court. Her official term begins on September 1, 2026, and will run until the seat is filled by a special election.
A Career Rooted in Mississippi Law and Public Service
Tollison brings private practice and public sector experience to the Mississippi Supreme Court bench. According to the Magnolia Tribune, she has been a partner at Butler Snow LLP since 2012.
Before her tenure at Butler Snow, Tollison practiced law at Bradley Arant Rose & White LLP and Phelps Dunbar LLP. Her credentials also include a stint as legal counsel to former Governor Haley Barbour, where she advised the executive branch on legal, legislative, and policy matters.
Beyond her casework, Tollison has maintained a commitment to institutional leadership within the legal profession. She previously served as President of the Mississippi Bar, as a member of the Board of Bar Commissioners, and as a trustee and fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation.
Governor Reeves praised Tollison’s background during the Monday announcement, noting her dedication to the state. “Her extensive legal experience, knowledge of Mississippi’s legal system, and longstanding commitment to public service make her exceptionally qualified for the bench,” Reeves said, as reported by the Magnolia Tribune.
Tollison earned her undergraduate degree from Mississippi State University before securing her law degree from the Mississippi School of Law. In accepting the appointment, Tollison emphasized her dedication to constitutional principles.
“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, according to the Magnolia Tribune. “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.”
Shifting Dynamics on the State’s Highest Court
Tollison’s appointment marks the second time in less than a month that Governor Reeves has appointed a new justice to the Mississippi Supreme Court, Northern District 3.
In late July 2026, Governor Reeves appointed Celeste Embrey Wilson of Southaven to the Mississippi Supreme Court, Northern District 3, Place 1. Wilson succeeded former state Supreme Court Justice Robert Chamberlin, who also transitioned to the federal bench after being nominated by President Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi.
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