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# Joseph H. Loper, Jr

Mississippi FIFTH Circuit District Court · Circuit Judge

## Profile

- Court: Mississippi FIFTH Circuit District Court
- State: Mississippi
- Role: Circuit Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-26

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### electronic media coverage

Scope: 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.

Evidence excerpt: 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](https://courts.ms.gov/research/rules/msrulesofcourt/rules_electronicphotographic_coverage.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### presiding judge discretion

Scope: 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.

Evidence excerpt: The presiding justice or judge has the discretion to limit or terminate electronic coverage at any time during the proceedings

[Mississippi Rules for Electronic and Photographic Coverage of Judicial Proceedings](https://courts.ms.gov/research/rules/msrulesofcourt/rules_electronicphotographic_coverage.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### advance notice for media

Scope: statewide

Mississippi media representatives must provide advance notice for electronic or photographic coverage under the court rules.

Evidence excerpt: Rule 5 ... requires that media representatives give at least 48 hours

[Mississippi Rules for Electronic and Photographic Coverage of Judicial Proceedings](https://courts.ms.gov/research/rules/msrulesofcourt/rules_electronicphotographic_coverage.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.sos.ms.gov/content/documents/ed_pubs/pubs/2026JD/JD%20and%20Court%20Calendar%202026.pdf)
- [Official roster](https://www.sos.ms.gov/content/documents/ed_pubs/pubs/2026JD/JD%20and%20Court%20Calendar%202026.pdf)
- [Mississippi Secretary of State Judicial Directory official judicial roster](https://www.sos.ms.gov/content/documents/ed_pubs/pubs/2026JD/JD%20and%20Court%20Calendar%202026.pdf)
- [Mississippi Rules for Electronic and Photographic Coverage of Judicial Proceedings](https://courts.ms.gov/research/rules/msrulesofcourt/rules_electronicphotographic_coverage.pdf)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Joseph H. Loper, Jr. is a judge of the Mississippi 5th Circuit Court District, which covers Attala, Carroll, Choctaw, Grenada, Montgomery, Webster, and Winston counties

### Education


### Additional information

- Judge Loper has presided over high‐profile cases, including the Curtis Flowers murder trial in Montgomery County.
- In that case, he denied motions for recusal and ruled on evidentiary issues such as the admissibility of gunshot residue testimony, stating he was “satisfied” with the scientific validity of the evidence