Randy Pierce
From Judgepedia
Randy "Bubba" Pierce (b. 1964) is a Chancery Court judge in Mississippi. He is currenty running against incumbent Oliver Diaz and challenger Paul Newton for the District 2, Place 2 seat on the Mississippi Supreme Court.
Pierce grew up in the Unity Community of Greene County.[1]
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Legal Education and Experience
He attended Jones County Junior College in 1984-1985, transferred to USM in the fall of 1985 where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting in 1987. He then became a certified public accountant before receiving his Masters Degree in Business Administration from USM. Later he attended and graduated from Ole Miss Law School where he served as President of the Law School Student Body. He attained his JD from the University of Mississippi School of Law, and served in the Mississippi legislature from 1999-2005.
Pierce practiced law in Leakesville, Mississippi, and is a Certified Public Accountant and former State Representative for District 105 in the Mississippi Legislature, where he served as Chairman of the House Education Committee and Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Education. He also served on the Corrections, Forestry and Judiciary committees.[2]
He was later appointed to the Chancery court by Republican Governor Haley Barbour.
Awards and Associations
- Mississippi Bar
- Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.[3]
Political Affiliation and Campaign Contributions
In his House races, Pierce ran as a Democrat.
Judicial Philosophy
As he has often stressed in interviews, Judge Pierce does not believe it is within the purview of judges or justices to use their judicial power to legislate. “If I wanted to make law, I’d still be in the Legislature.”[4]
2008 Campaign
Diaz and Pierce address crowd
Chancery Judge Randy Pierce and sitting Supreme Court Justice Oliver Diaz took questions from members of the American Inns of Court at a September luncheon; both candidates stressed how their legal experiences would shape their presences on the court. Diaz cited his 14 years of appellate court experience, and Diaz stressed his common man background. "I love people. That's my talent. It's dealing with people."
Candidates differed on reforms to the Mississippi judiciary. Diaz said he worried about the public perception that the court favors big business and "Pierce served on the House committee that helped craft changes to Mississippi's judicial system designed to limit financial awards in personal injury lawsuits." He noted that changes made keep pharmacists from being sued in a county they never wrote prescriptions.[5]
State Supreme Court candidate promises fair, swift justice
Judge Pierce spoke with voters in Brookhaven, Mississippi to discuss what makes him the best candidate for this year's Supreme Court (District 2, Place 2) seat. If elected, Pierce promised to hand down simply interpret the law, and not attempt to legislate from within the court.
"Once a law becomes a law, judges should interpret it, not make it. Unfortunately, the judiciary has tried to step outside of the original intent of our founding fathers of being arbiters. A judge should not force his or her will on the people."[6]
Pierce also said he would focus on making sure the high court kept up with docket responsibilities. As a chancery judge, Pierce believes he would add a needed perspective. "As a chancery court judge, I see family issues in the courtroom; cases that affect children," he said. "The (state) Supreme Court currently has no chancery judges."[7]
See Also
External links
- Pierce for Supreme Court
- Vote Smart bio of Pierce
- Mississippi Supreme Court Election Information
- Campaign Finance Reports
- Chancery Court
- Pierce believes judges should interpret the law rather than write it
- Jackson Free Press reports Bubba's Honesty
- The Magnolia Report: 5 Questions with Judge Randy "Bubba" Pierce
- Judge Pierce's Election Page
- Candidate promises fair swift justice
- Should corporations seek across the board recusals from Diaz?
- Rivals outraise sitting justices
