Kitchens

Incumbent Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Jim Kitchens said he believes experience is overwhelmingly in his favor as he seeks a return to the bench.

A self-described “country lawyer from Crystal Springs,” Kitchens is running again for District 1, Place 3 against Court of Appeals Judge Kenny Griffis, of Meridian. The election is scheduled for Nov. 8. The district includes 22 counties spanning as far north to Bolivar County to Jefferson County in the south and Lauderdale County to the east.

“I think the breath of a justice’s experience is important. My opponent has a lot of experience, but to my knowledge, he has no criminal law experience but on the Court of Appeals,” Kitchens said Friday during a visit to Meridian. “I have a vast amount of experience on both sides of the table in criminal law.”

Kitchens was elected three times as district attorney and spent 32 years in private law practice, representing citizens from every walk of life. He said he still has a hunger for the job.

“I feel like I have something left to offer. I work hard at it and thrive on it,” Kitchens said. I don’t know any reason why I should stop. I’ve learned a lot and have seen a lot. All those things are useful at the state’s highest court. I think I have approached my duty on the court very carefully and brought years of experience to bear.”

Kitchens said he realizes the court’s decisions are far-reaching.

“Our decisions affect everybody in the entire state. I’m always aware of the people involved in the case and it’s just not legal theories the lawyers have,” Kitchens said. “When the Supreme Court speaks, judges and lawyers are listening.”

Kitchens recalled his small-town roots.

“I practiced law in Jackson for the last 20 years of my practice. Mississippi is a rural state and comprised of many small communities. In my law practice, I thought of myself as a country lawyer. I helped families with their legal problems. I didn’t represent big business. My goal was to help those people, whether it was something simple like a deed. I brought that background with me to the Supreme Court. You’ve got to keep in mind it’s important that cases involve flesh and blood people with real problems.

“I’ve got a real good reservoir of experience based on decisions from my days of law practice and living among the rank and file citizens of Mississippi all my life,” Kitchens added. “I have a vast amount of experience in criminal law. I’m the only candidate in the race who does.”

A justice is meant to be impartial at all times. Kitchens gave a baseball analogy in describing his job.

“I’m there to call a ball a ball and a strike a strike and did it come across the plate at the right height,” Kitchens said. “I think that is pretty apt.”