Johnnie McDaniels at a glance
- Current role
- County Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Mississippi · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Johnnie McDaniels
County Court Judge · Mississippi Hinds County Court
Biography
Professional career
- Hinds County Circuit Court judge for District 3, elected in 2018, and is known for his background in juvenile justice leadership and reform initiatives
- Before becoming judge, McDaniels was a candidate in the 2014 youth court race and ran again in 2018, winning the runoff with over 63% of the vote.
- Prior Role: Executive Director of the Henley-Young Juvenile Justice Center in Jackson from 2015 until his election
- McDaniels has expressed interest in holistic juvenile justice reform, proposing that abuse/neglect and delinquency cases be handled under one judicial umbrella rather than separate dockets
Education
Additional information
- Elected: 2018 to replace Judge Bill Skinner
- While at Henley-Young, McDaniels oversaw significant reforms, including expanding mental health services, adding classroom programs taught by Jackson Public Schools teachers, and improving compliance with a 2012 federal consent decree
- Hinds County Court, Department District 3
- handling civil and criminal cases in his district.
- He has also sought to streamline case processing for juveniles charged as adults, aiming to reduce pretrial detention delays
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Electronic Media Coverage
Statewide
Mississippi allows electronic media coverage of public judicial proceedings in appellate and trial courts of record, subject to the rules and presiding judge control.
Electronic media coverage of public judicial proceedings shall be allowed in the appellate and trial courts of record in this state subject to the conditions below.Mississippi Rules for Electronic and Photographic Coverage of Judicial Proceedings ↗
Presiding Judge Discretion
Statewide
The presiding Mississippi justice or judge may limit or terminate electronic coverage when necessary to protect rights, witnesses, dignity of the court, or orderly proceedings.
The presiding justice or judge has the discretion to limit or terminate electronic coverage at any time during the proceedingsMississippi Rules for Electronic and Photographic Coverage of Judicial Proceedings ↗
Advance Notice For Media
Statewide
Mississippi media representatives must provide advance notice for electronic or photographic coverage under the court rules.
Rule 5 ... requires that media representatives give at least 48 hoursMississippi Rules for Electronic and Photographic Coverage of Judicial Proceedings ↗
Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 26, 2026.
Mississippi Secretary of State Judicial Directory official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Mississippi Secretary of State Judicial Directory official judicial roster ↗Mississippi Rules for Electronic and Photographic Coverage of Judicial Proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Mississippi Rules for Electronic and Photographic Coverage of Judicial Proceedings ↗