--- title: "Michael K. Randolph | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-k-randolph-chief-justice-mississippi-supreme-court-southern-district-2-place-3-ms" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # Michael K. Randolph Mississippi Supreme Court ยท Chief Justice ## Profile - Court: Mississippi Supreme Court - State: Mississippi - Role: Chief Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-08-22 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi, a position he has held since February 1, 2019 - Judge, Mississippi Supreme Court, 2004-present - Became Presiding Justice in 2013 and Chief Justice in 2019 - Appointed to the Mississippi Supreme Court by Governor Haley Barbour on April 23, 2004 to complete the term of Chief Justice Edwin L. Pittman ### Education ### Additional information - Practitioner, 2003-2003 - Began practicing law in 1975 in Biloxi, Mississippi, later joining the firm Bryan, Nelson, Allen and Schroeder and eventually founding Bryan Nelson Randolph, P.A., which he led as president and CEO. - During law school, he also served in the U.S. Naval Reserve and graduated from the Naval Justice School He obtained a B.S. in Business Administration from Rollins College (1972) and a J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law (1974), where he was president of the law school student body - Date of birth: 1946-01-01 - His litigation experience spanned state and federal courts in 14 states, covering civil trials, maritime law, Jones Act claims, insurance fraud defense, and representation of corporate defendants, physicians, hospitals, and insurers - Randolph has served on the National Coal Council (appointed by President Ronald Reagan) and on boards including William Carey College, the Boys and Girls Club of Hattiesburg, and the Hattiesburg Salvation Army. - He is a past president of the South Central Mississippi Bar Association and former chairman of the Forrest County Republican Executive Committee ## 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/sites/default/files/publications/Entire%202026%20Judiciary%20Directory%20and%20Court%20Calendar.pdf) - [Official roster](https://www.sos.ms.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Entire%202026%20Judiciary%20Directory%20and%20Court%20Calendar.pdf) - [Mississippi Secretary of State official judicial roster](https://www.sos.ms.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Entire%202026%20Judiciary%20Directory%20and%20Court%20Calendar.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4898/michael-k-randolph/) - [Mississippi Rules for Electronic and Photographic Coverage of Judicial Proceedings](https://courts.ms.gov/research/rules/msrulesofcourt/rules_electronicphotographic_coverage.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4898/michael-k-randolph/) - [Official biography source for Michael K. Randolph](https://www.sos.ms.gov/content/documents/ed_pubs/pubs/2026JD/JD%20and%20Court%20Calendar%202026.pdf) - [Wikidata: Michael K. Randolph](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6831769) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-k-randolph-chief-justice-mississippi-supreme-court-southern-district-2-place-3-ms", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-k-randolph-chief-justice-mississippi-supreme-court-southern-district-2-place-3-ms", "name": "Michael K. Randolph | KnowJudges", "description": "Michael K. Randolph, Mississippi Supreme Court. 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