Gov. Reeves appoints DeSoto County Judge Celeste Wilson to state Supreme Court

Gov. Tate Reeves on Monday appointed Celeste Embrey Wilson, a circuit court judge in DeSoto County, to fill a vacant seat on the Mississippi Supreme Court. 

“Judge Wilson has dedicated her career to serving the people of Mississippi with integrity, fairness and a steadfast commitment to the rule of law,” Reeves said in a news release. 

Wilson has served as a circuit court judge in northwestern Mississippi since February 2017. Before that she served as a county court judge in DeSoto County from January 2009 through February 2017. 

Before her time on the bench, Wilson was an assistant district attorney for the state’s 17th Circuit Court District for seven years.

Reeves has a history of appointing people with prosecutorial experience to vacant judicial seats. 

“I am deeply honored and humbled by this appointment and grateful for the confidence Governor Reeves has placed in me,” Wilson said. “I look forward to serving the people of Mississippi with integrity and an unwavering commitment to our Constitution and the rule of law.” 

Wilson received an undergraduate degree from Delta State University and attended law school at the University of Memphis School of Law.

Wilson replaces Robert Chamberlin, also from DeSoto County, who left his seat on the state Supreme Court after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate as a federal judge in northern Mississippi. 

Her appointment means a second woman will join the court to serve alongside current Justice Jenifer Branning. Wilson will serve on the state high court starting Aug. 1, until a special election is held.

Wilson’s appointment now places an eighth person on the nine-member court. Reeves has not appointed someone to the seat vacated by James Maxwell, who also became a federal judge in northern Mississippi.