Elected and Appointed Government Officials

Not many people think about federal judges in choosing those who have the most influence.  However, the last two years have been rather extraordinary for federal District Court Judge Carlton Reeves.  Reeves came from a private practice background and was active politically with the NAACP, the Magnolia Bar and the MS Center for Justice.  Having been nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate in 2010, Reeves has run into a vein of cases that are among the most hot-button cases Mississippi has seen in decades.

In late 2014, Reeves heard the landmark case (Campaign for Southern Equality v. Bryant) that found that the same sex marriage ban violated Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of the constitution and thus legalized gay marriage in Mississippi.  In 2016, Reeves issued the ruling that overturned Mississippi’s Religious Liberty Accommodations Act (HB 1523) before it became enacted into law.  Additionally, he’s heard other hot-button cases like those involving the Mississippi flag.

Though it’s safe to say that federal judges usually don’t seek the limelight, it’s undeniably found Reeves.  He’s proven to be one of the most influential district court judges in the country, and depending on how the political winds blow this November, he could have other opportunities at higher levels in the Court system.