Monday, November 27, 2023

Governor Appoints Larita Stokes Replacement on Bench

 First Consul Tate Reeves issued the following statement. 

Governor Tate Reeves today announced the appointment of Pieter Teeuwissen as County Court Judge for Hinds County, Subdistrict 2. The appointment fills a vacancy due to the untimely death of the Honorable LaRita Cooper-Stokes.
 
“Pieter has big shoes to fill, but I know he will do a great job,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “He has an impressive resume and a lengthy track record of admirably serving Hinds County residents. I wish him all the best in this new role and look forward to seeing his positive impact.”
 
Teeuwissen served as a Board Attorney for Hinds County for over six years, City Attorney for the City of Jackson for over nine years, and Special Circuit Judge for the Seventh Judicial District in Hinds County. He started his career as a staff attorney for the Department of Human Services before spending years in private practice.
 
Teeuwissen is a Life Member of the Magnolia Bar Association and was awarded the R. Jess Brown Award, the highest honor from the Magnolia Bar Association. Additionally, he is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association and was appointed a Bar Fellow in 2018.  
 
Teeuwissen earned a J.D. from the University of Minnesota and a B.A. from Tougaloo College. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. Teeuwissen and his family are members of Tougaloo College United Church of Christ.
 
Teeuwissen’s term will begin on December 4, 2023. Governor Reeves will call a special election to be held on November 5, 2024. The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of the four-year term.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow! Pieter is a good dude. Congrats to him!

Anonymous said...

Pieter will be a fantastic judge. One of the smartest attorneys in Mississippi with diverse experience. He will be the type of judge where the attorneys for both sides know they were treated fairly. Great appointment by Governor Reeves.

Anonymous said...

great guy and lawyer. well done

Anonymous said...

I've always enjoyed litigating against Pieter. Consummate attorney. Great choice.

Anonymous said...

Great pick, but just like the Sclafani appointment, the electorate will not choose him even though he’s going to be much more qualified than anyone else that runs.

Anonymous said...

You recall Judge Scafidi was doing great until his electors realized he was the wrong color. Sad
that potentially great judges are simply judged by their skin.

Anonymous said...

Super dude

Anonymous said...

5:59, maybe you can let it go for 24 hours. This is a great appointment.

Anonymous said...

He basically kept Hinds County out of the ditch during his short time there. You see what happened when the board turned over and they replaced him. How I miss 2015-2019, it was like the eye of a hurricane. Great dude. Congrats Pieter.

Anonymous said...

He is also a member of the Sigma Wi-Fi fraternity.

QUEENBEE said...

Thank goodness! The Governor got this one right! As a Jackson resident, I can appreciate this appointment.

Anonymous said...

Great choice. I work with him in the past and he did a great job.

Anonymous said...

Not an opinion or even commentary on him at all, but isn't he still in the midst of suit against Hinds County and one or more of the supervisors over his contract as the Board's attorney? It does not say anything about him that one or more elected officials, individually, officially, or collectively, in Hinds or any other county in MS did one or more things that warranted a lawsuit against that (in)action, but he would have to recuse from litigation in which those Defendants were involved.

Anonymous said...

Congrats to the Q Dog!

Anonymous said...

Wendy White should have gotten the go ahead. She could win re-election. Peter can't win..

anonymous said...

Congratulations, Pieter. I know you’ll be a fine jurist.
RMQ

Anonymous said...

Excellent appointment!

Anonymous said...

Great appointment Governor. Excellent legal mind .

Jess Imagine said...

Should have named the other Stokes to replace her.

Imagine. With apologies to John Lennon

Anonymous said...

Governor Reeves appointed one of the best legal mind to the bench period .

Anonymous said...

Two questions: (1) why has it taken 6 months to appoint a replacement; (2) why did he not early on set a special election for this November?

Anonymous said...



Out to punch that PERS ticket-

Anonymous said...

9:18 Are you sayin you can sue Hinds county and then go to work for them at the same time? That’s a new one for me.
-Richards Disposal-

Anonymous said...

Attn 6:34 What is a “Great legal mind”?

Anonymous said...

"What is a 'Great legal mind?'"

I'd suggest it is a phrase not commonly paired with, at least in quite a few years, "Hinds County Judge". But turning points are often small things and change has to start somewhere.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure power ladder climber Justis Gibbs will run for the seat despite never having been to court.

Anonymous said...

He could have appointed a door knobs and gotten a better judge than Ms. Stokes.

Anonymous said...

1:50 - What's odd about running for a judgeship office while never having been in a courtroom?

Think Mississippi Attorney General who is about to start her fifth year in such a position.

Anonymous said...

@2:00 Apparently you never practiced law before Judge Stokes. She was always fair, knowledgeable, and professional. Also, you never had to wait for a decision because she ruled immediately from the bench.


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