---
title: "Virginia C. Carlton | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/virginia-c-carlton-presiding-judge-mississippi-court-of-appeals-district-4-place-1-ms"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Virginia C. Carlton

Mississippi Court of Appeals · Presiding Judge

## Profile

- Court: Mississippi Court of Appeals
- State: Mississippi
- Role: Presiding Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-26

## Summary

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

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2007-present
- The Presiding Judge of District 4, Mississippi Court of Appeals, serving since 2007 and currently in her third term
- Law clerk for Justice Joel Blass, Mississippi Supreme Court

### Education

- University of Mississippi — B.A.

### Additional information

- 24 years in the U.S. Army JAG Corps, including active duty, U.S. Army Reserve, and Mississippi National Guard service Roles: prosecutor, defense counsel, deputy and staff judge advocate, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Army in Hawaii, U.S. Army Reserve trial judge, associate U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals judge Retired February 2015 with rank of Colonel; awarded Legion of Merit, multiple Medals of Merit, Army Commendation Medals, and other honors State of Mississippi Judiciary
- Official site: Mississippi Judiciary – Judge Virginia Carlton State of Mississippi Judiciary

## 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)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7669/virginia-c-carlton/)
- [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/7669/virginia-c-carlton/)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/virginia-c-carlton-presiding-judge-mississippi-court-of-appeals-district-4-place-1-ms",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/virginia-c-carlton-presiding-judge-mississippi-court-of-appeals-district-4-place-1-ms",
      "name": "Virginia C. Carlton | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Virginia C. Carlton, Mississippi Court of Appeals. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-10-07",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/virginia-c-carlton-presiding-judge-mississippi-court-of-appeals-district-4-place-1-ms#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/virginia-c-carlton-presiding-judge-mississippi-court-of-appeals-district-4-place-1-ms#judge",
      "name": "Virginia C. Carlton",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/virginia-c-carlton-presiding-judge-mississippi-court-of-appeals-district-4-place-1-ms",
      "jobTitle": "Presiding Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Mississippi Court of Appeals"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.sos.ms.gov/content/documents/ed_pubs/pubs/2026JD/JD%20and%20Court%20Calendar%202026.pdf",
        "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7669/virginia-c-carlton/"
      ],
      "alumniOf": [
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of Mississippi"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Mississippi",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/mississippi"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Virginia C. Carlton",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/virginia-c-carlton-presiding-judge-mississippi-court-of-appeals-district-4-place-1-ms"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```