This post is authored and sponsored by the Wendy White for Circuit Court Judge Campaign.
Wendy Wilson White is a new face in the election to be the next Hinds County Circuit Court Judge of the Seventh Circuit Court District, with a goal of sharing her story with every person she meets. The race is challenging, but the ability to relate to her community members makes the experience worthwhile.
Born and raised in Jackson, White resides in the Pinehaven community in Hinds County with her husband and two young daughters. She’s busy as an Assistant District Attorney for Hinds County, and is a past chief prosecutor for the city of Jackson. Prior to earning her Juris Doctor from Mississippi College School of Law, White earned a bachelor’s degree at Tougaloo College in economics accounting and a master’s degree in finance at Clark Atlanta University. White hopes to fill the soon-to-be vacant seat of Senior Circuit Court Judge Tomie Green, retiring at the end of 2022 after serving 24 years on the bench. Also serving the seventh circuit’s judicial
districts are judges Adrienne Wooten, Winston Kidd and Faye Peterson. White’s opponents are Debra Gibbs, Trent Walker and Bryant Guy.
On the campaign trail, White discusses how the role of mother and legal professional informs what she does on a daily basis because she identifies with the needs and concerns of her neighbors. White’s campaign platform “Redefining Justice” features what she calls “Three REs to Judicial Success.” She outlines re-focusing crime fighting efforts, re-evaluating mental health and re-educating the community as key tools in solving crimes and greater accountability through the justice system.
“Everything I do hinges upon or has a direct impact on other people’s families, and I know how people feel about their children, I know how people feel about their siblings, I know how people feel about their parents, neighbors and friends, all of that matters,” White said. “You have to have some compassion for people in general, especially the family structure.”
The winner of the election on November 8 will not have an easy time solving problems in the county’s justice system, such as backlogged cases, minimal resources and an overwhelmed and understaffed Jackson Police Department. A recent report by CBS News mentioned 4 in 10 murders remain unsolved in Jackson, and police investigators handle double the number of cases than usual, resulting in lengthy investigations and slow communication. If elected to the bench, White will set bonds according to the law with the public’s safety in mind, and render justice in a more timely manner.
In her legal experience, White handles all types of misdemeanor and felony offenses. As future Circuit Court judge of a district encompassing 10 cities, she will do what she can to re-define and improve the system, encouraging the public to be more involved in crime fighting efforts like serving on juries and sharing tips with police. Jackson experienced its deadliest year in 2021 with
over 150 homicides, and the city has recorded 76 homicides so far in 2022, according to a recent Associated Press report. A recent report by the Office of the State Auditor shows homicides in 2021 cost Mississippi taxpayers between $136.8 and $182.4 million.
“We need to slow down and think about the people behind these crimes,” said White, noting that juveniles are behind many violent crimes. “There are no victimless crimes, in my opinion. If we want to see a change, we have to give thought and consideration to the victims, because these crimes leave victims broken, and you have to question where these broken people go and respond (to their needs).”
In the years leading up to serving as chief prosecutor for the city, White worked as an advocate for residents of local mental health facilities and made sure their rights were protected. If elected, she envisions a mental health docket and mental health court involving mental health professionals on the front end. Mental health is just one underlying problem of Jackson’s crime
issues, chief among them being the justice system’s structure of lenient sentencing and bonds.
“There is a fine line between mental health and criminal activity. A lot of times, what you see behind the crime we witness is some type of mental health deficiency,” White said. “In order for us to alleviate this crime (and) properly address this crime (and) hold people accountable, we have to address the mental health issues plaguing this community.” When it comes to re-educating the people - especially youth - White likens the process to parenthood, which she calls her greatest job. She wants to offer incentives to people who seektheir GED and complete their high school education.
“Some of our children are of the mistaken belief that some of the things they do, they cannot be punished for,” she said. “If our children are finding themselves in the juvenile justice system, we missed a lot of opportunities. They have to be taught long before their introduction to the system what criminal behavior is and what it looks like, and what factors and circumstances they can be
held accountable for.”
In another life, White sees herself as an interior decorator because of how “refreshing and fun” it can be as another way to express herself. For now, the judicial candidate will keep on pushing citizens to become more active participants in helping the local justice system improve on holding criminals accountable. “I am at a point in my life where I know I can make a difference based on the experiences I’vehad and how invested I am in Jackson and Hinds County,” she said.
