Trump taps 2 MS supreme court justices for federal judge positions. Who are they?
President Donald Trump nominated two Mississippi Supreme Court justices this week for two vacant federal court positions in northern Mississippi.
Trump announced the nominations of Mississippi Supreme Court justices James Maxwell and Robert Chamberlin in Aug. 12 posts on Truth Social, saying Maxwell had “done an incredible job” and Chamberlain had “proven his dedication” to Mississippians.
A few steps have to happen before the justices take their new roles, so here’s everything you need to know about the justices and the nomination process:
Who are the nominated MS justices?
Former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant appointed Justice Maxwell to the Mississippi Supreme Court in January 2016, according to the Mississippi Judiciary website.
Justice Maxwell is a Republican and a member of the First Baptist Church in Oxford, according to VoteSmart.org. He graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law.
Before becoming a Mississippi Supreme Court justice, he held the following positions, according to DemandJustice:
- Justice for the Mississippi Court of Appeals
- Assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi
Justice Chamberlin is a Republican and a member of the United Methodist Church in Hernando, according to VoteSmart.org. He is also a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law.
The following are his previous positions before Mississippi Supreme Court justice, according to DemandJustice:
- Circuit judge for 17th Circuit District in Mississippi
- Mississippi Senator
- Municipal prosecutor for the City of Horn Lake
Officials respond to the nominations
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) both supported the president’s nominations in separate statements.
“I believe Justice Maxwell and Justice Chamberlin have a conservative judicial philosophy and knowledge of the law that will serve our state and nation well,” Hyde-Smith said in an Aug. 12 statement.
A spokesperson for the Mississippi Judiciary declined comment on behalf of the justices in an Aug. 15 email to McClatchy News.
What happens next?
Before the justices are able to take their positions, the Senate will have to confirm their appointments. It is rare for senators to reject a nomination, according to the Library of Congress.
Once the nominations are confirmed, it is up to Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves to choose their replacements for the Mississippi Supreme Court. Those elections will be held in November 2026.
