Toni Walker Terrett was elected as judge for the Ninth District Circuit Court of Mississippi in November 2018. She is the first woman to serve in this capacity in her elected district. As a circuit court judge, Judge Terrett presides over felony criminal and civil matters in Warren, Sharkey and Issaquena Counties. She is also a presiding judge for the Ninth District Intervention Court which provides long-term treatment and attention for drug and alcohol addiction and/or chronic mental illness.

Judge Terrett served more than nine years as Community Court judge, senior Municipal Court judge for the City of Vicksburg. There, she oversaw the implementation of the house arrest program and the use of a collection agency for past-due fines. She supervised two departments – Court Services and Community Services; and developed the Community Impact Panel – an initiative that provides mentoring by community leaders to younger, first-time nonviolent offenders.

While at the Vicksburg Municipal Court, she served as the project director for the Vicksburg Domestic Violence Victims’ Empowerment Program. As director, she helped to expand the program to provide more services to victims while holding defendants accountable and educating the community.

She previously worked as a solo practitioner, a Drug Court Public Defender, law clerk to Ninth District Chancellor Vicki Barnes, and contract attorney for the Mississippi Center for Legal Services.

She has also served on the faculty of Alcorn State University teaching courses such as mass communications law and social media.

She is a member of the American Bar, Mississippi Bar, Warren County and Magnolia Bar Associations.

Education:

Vicksburg High School (magna cum laude), class of 1992

Tougaloo College (magna cum laude), earned bachelor’s degree in chemistry, 1996

Purdue University, one year of graduate studies, 1996-1997

University of Memphis, master of arts in journalism, 1998

Mississippi College School of Law, juris doctorate, class of 2005

Professional Service/Recognitions:

Fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation, 2022

Access for Justice Committee, Mississippi Bar Association

Member of Committee on Continuing Judicial Education, 2021

Fellow of the Judicial Engagement Network, 2019

Graduate of the Mississippi Bar Leadership Forum, 2015

Memberships and Service (past and current):

Cary Christian Center, Board Member, 2019 – present (currently board secretary)

NAMI-MS, Board Member, 2022-present

Mountain of Faith Ministries, former Board Member (served as President and Vice President), 2011-2019

National Association of Women Judges

Mississippi Association of Women Judges

Women for Progress of Mississippi

Vicksburg Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Has volunteered with various organizations such as United Way of Central MS and the Salvation Army

Past coordinator of Magnolia Bar Association Restoration Day in Warren County

Host of annual “Empowerment Hour” and Youth Leadership workshop at Warren County Courthouse, 2019-present

Honors and Acknowledgements:

Excellence Award, Vicksburg High School, 2020

Outstanding Community Service Award, Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary, 2019

Social Action Trailblazer Award, Southern Region of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., 2018

Recognized by The Vicksburg Post as a Community Hero, 2017

Community Awareness Award, Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 2016

Recognized by The Mississippi Business Journal as a Leader in Law, 2016

Recognized by The Mississippi Business Journal as one of the 50 Leading Business Women, 2010

Personal:

Certified Zumba instructor

Member of Mt. Alban Baptist Church, musician for Women of Faith choir

China Grove Baptist Church, musician for senior choir

Judge Terrett has five children and one grandchild.

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