Seventh Circuit Court District ( Hinds County) - State of Mississippi

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    Judge Tomie Turner Green was educated in the Jackson Public Schools. After completing the 11th grade, she entered Tougaloo College where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree. She earned a Master of Science degree from Jackson State University, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Mississippi College School of Law. Judge Green's post-doctorate training includes the study of advanced trial advocacy skills and techniques through the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and the National College of Advocacy. In April 1999, Judge Green completed judicial certification at the National Judicial College, at the University of Nevada at Reno.

    On January 4, 1999, Judge Green took the oath of office to become the first woman elected to the Hinds County Circuit bench. After taking the bench, she spearheaded bi-monthly trips to the Hinds County Detention facility in Raymond, Mississippi to address the district's heavy criminal docket. Currently, circuit judges frequently travel to the detention center to conduct arraignments, motions and pleas.

    After several years of dedicated service, Judge Green became Senior Circuit Court Judge of the Seventh Circuit Court District (Hinds County) of Mississippi. She is the first African American and the first woman to hold the position. Undaunted by the demands of the chief judge position, Judge Green maintains active and productive civil and criminal dockets. She has remained unopposed at the ballot box for three(3) consecutive terms.

    With the funding and assistance of the MS Library Commission, the Hinds County Board of Supervisors and the Hinds County Bar Association (now Capital Area Bar Association), Judge Green updated her first courtroom to include Courtroom 21 computer-integrated technology. This technology has prove to be a saving for litigants, attorneys and taxpayers. During trials, jurors can view practically all evidence simultaneously with the attorneys, the witnesses and the court. This electronic courtroom system permits computer generated large screen and desktop screen displays of documents, as well as accommodates video and audio presentations of evidence during hearings and trials. As senior judge, Judge Green is working to equip all four(4) circuit courtrooms with the same technology. She also continues to work with the Mississippi Supreme Court to implement electronic filing in the Hinds County circuit court. She continue her efforts to increase accessibility, efficiency and public safety in the circuit court through the review of court rules, the increased monitoring of pretrial indictees, the expansion of the circuit drug court, increased judicial security on and off court premises, more timely disposition of civil matters through alternative dispute resolution, the establishment of digital conferencing, internet streaming and/or closed circuit television for selected civil and criminal proceedings.

    During her tenure, Judge Green has served two terms on the Supreme Court's Advisory Committee on Rules, and has served on the Supreme Court's Committee on Media and the Courts. On July 1, 2003, media coverage in Mississippi's courtrooms became a reality. The first locally televised case in Mississippi originated in Judge Green's courtroom. On November 10, 2003, Judge Green, along with COURT TV and local ABC, NBC and CBS affiliates televised a multi million-dollar negligence case tried before the court and a Hinds County jury. It was the first time that Court TV or local networks had broadcasted full coverage of an entire trial in the State of Mississippi. Full media coverage of a second controversial criminal case was broadcasted from Judge Green's court by local networks and Court TV in November of 2006.

    Judge Green practiced law for 15 years before taking the bench. She has served as an adjunct law professor at the Mississippi College School of Law, where she has taught law students the procedures for successful litigation and trial court practice. Formerly, Judge Green was a partner in the law firm of Walker, Walker & Green of Jackson, Mississippi. She has served as an assistant district attorney for Hinds and Yazoo counties, and as a judicial clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Henry T. Wingate. A seasoned litigator, Judge Green has tried numerous cases before juries across the State of Mississippi.

    From 1992-1999, Judge Green was a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives. There she was appointed as Vice Chair of the Ethics Committee, and as sub-chair of the JudiciaryA committee. She also appointed to serve on the Elections, Insurance, Managed Health Care, Local & Private Legislation, Constitution and Investigation of State Offices committees.

    In the Mississippi legislature Judge Green had a record of supporting efforts to bring honor and efficiency to the judiciary. As a subcommittee chair and member of the House Judiciary Committee, she participated in crafting laws that created the Administrative Offices of the Courts, the Mississippi Court of Appeals and the MS Torts Claim Board. Her efforts help to promote training, certification and increased benefits for court personnel. Her progressive efforts to assure diversity, fairness and justice in Mississippi's courts substantiate her dedication, commitment and legacy of service to the community.

    As the result of her academic excellence, professionalism, integrity, dedication and commitment to community service in her personal, political and professional life, Judge Green has received numerous honors and awards, to include:

• Professionalism Award from the Women Student Bar Association (1993)
  
  
• Professionalism Award from the Women Student Bar Association (1993)
  
  
• Woman of the Year Award MS Chapter of the Coalition of 100 Black Women (1993)
  
  
• Government Service Award of the Magnolia Bar Association (1994)
  
  
• Fannie Lou Hamer Leadership Award of the Mississippi Democratic Party (1995)
  
  
• Jack Young Legal Award of the NAACP (1996) Distinguished Service Award of Southeastern
  
  
• Outstanding Woman Lawyer of the Year Nominee -MS Women's Bar Assn. (1997)
  
  
• Center for Policy Alternatives' Arthur Flemming Fellowship Award Recipient (1997-98)
  
  
• 1998 Nominee for the Good Housekeeping Women in Government Award
  
  
• 1998 WLBT Special Legislative Recognition
  
  
• 2000 Outstanding Government Service Award - Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
  
  
• 2000 Freedom Fighter Award - Nation of Islam
  
  
• 2000 Government Service Award - Southern Echo
  
  
• 2000 Leadership & Community Service Award - MS Southern Church of God in Christ 2003
  
  
• Trio Achiever & Leadership Award
  
  
• 2005 U.S. Congressional Record Citation
  
  
• 2006 Phenomenal Woman Award - Smith Robertson Historical Museum
  
  
• 2006 R. Jess Brown Award - Magnolia Bar Association (highest award)
  
  
• 2007 Tougaloo College Meritorious Leadership Citation
  
  
• 2007 Brown, Young & Hall Award - Jackson Branch of the NAACP
  
  
• 2007 Baptist(Hospital), Comcast & Lifetime Nominee in Recognition of Strong Women
  
  
• 2010 Legal Service Award - MS NAACP
  
  
• 2011 Thurgood Marshall Award - MLKing Day Celebration Banquet- City of Jackson, MS
  
  
• 2011 Public Service Award - Pearl Street AME Church, Jackson MS
  
  

    Judge Green is or has been a member of the Magnolia Bar Association, Mississippi Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, the Hinds County Bar Association and the Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity. Other memberships include: Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, the NAACP, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), National Association of Black Legislators, MS League of Women Voters, American Association of University Women and Central Mississippi Coalition of 100 Black Women.

    Currently, Judge Green and her family are active members of the St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church of Jackson, Mississippi.

    Judge Green and her late husband Cornelius are parents of an adult son and daughter, and two grandsons.