Meridian native to be sworn in as appeals judge

By By William F. West / community editor
Jan. 6, 2003
While a formal ceremony may take place later, a former Meridian resident was scheduled to take the official oath of office today as a state Appeals Court judge.
Kenny Griffis won the job by defeating incumbent Jim Brantley in the Nov. 5 election. Griffis, 41, was to be sworn in by Appeals Court Chief Judge Roger McMillin.
Griffis said he still plans to have a swearing in ceremony but he has not decided on a date and location. He said he'd like to possibly have two swearing in ceremonies one in Meridian, the other in the Jackson area, where he currently resides.
But Griffis said he has had more important matters to deal with chiefly the Dec. 26 birth of a fifth young son, Parker Brooks.
Griffis' wife, Mary Helen, 32, gave birth at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson. The baby weighs 8 pounds 14 ounces and is 211/4 inches long. The other sons are Sean Michael, 9; T.K., 4; and two-year-old twins Edwin and Robert.
Brantley, a Madison attorney and Leake County native, and Griffis, a Ridgeland attorney, competed in a district that includes most of East Central Mississippi plus all of Rankin County and the southeastern part of Madison County.
Gov. Ronnie Musgrove appointed Brantley in 2001 to fill the judgeship following the retirement of Judge Mary Libby Payne. However, state law required Brantley to have to stand for re-election the same year as a congressional election, forcing him to have to hit to the campaign trail.
Griffis began his campaign in Meridian in late July, flanked by his father, Pete, and his mother, Clarice. The couple, married for more than 45 years, supervised the Masonic home, where Griffis and his sister were also raised. The home today is known as Hope Village.