Reeves Appoints Penny Lawson to Chancery Court
Governor Tate Reeves named Vicksburg attorney Penny B. Lawson to fill a vacancy left by the death of Judge Vicki R. Barnes.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in People
Governor Tate Reeves announced on November 13, 2026, the appointment of Penny B. Lawson as Chancellor for the 9th Chancery Court District, Place 2. The appointment fills the vacancy created by the death of the Honorable Vicki R. Barnes on September 27, 2026.
Why it matters
The appointment restores a full bench seat on the 9th Chancery Court District, Place 2 following Judge Barnes' death. Lawson will serve the remainder of the four-year term, with the seat then subject to election in January 2027.
The chancellor office carries a four-year term, and Lawson brings nearly two decades of legal experience to the bench. The source does not indicate the court's current caseload or how the vacancy affected pending matters.
The players
Tate Reeves
Tate Reeves is the Governor of Mississippi, who holds the authority to fill judicial vacancies by gubernatorial appointment.
Penny B. Lawson
Penny B. Lawson is a Vicksburg attorney and municipal judge with nearly two decades of legal experience who was appointed to the chancery court bench.
The details
Lawson, of Vicksburg, has served as municipal court judge pro tempore for the City of Vicksburg since 2017 and as municipal court judge in Port Gibson since January 2025. She previously served as a Certified Parent Representative in Warren County Youth Court and holds a J.D. from the Mississippi College School of Law and a bachelor's degree from Wichita State University.
Timeline
September 27, 2026: Judge Vicki R. Barnes dies, creating the vacancy.
2017: Lawson begins serving as Vicksburg municipal court judge pro tempore.
January 2025: Lawson begins serving as Port Gibson municipal court judge.
November 13, 2026: Governor Tate Reeves announces the appointment.
November 16, 2026: Lawson's appointment takes effect.
Market Landscape
Mississippi's chancery courts are filled by gubernatorial appointment when a seat falls vacant mid-term, with the appointee then facing voters at the next scheduled election. Lawson's appointment follows that pattern, placing her on the 9th Chancery Court District bench ahead of the January 2027 election.
Residents of the 9th Chancery Court District will have a sitting chancellor from November 16, 2026, rather than an open seat. The appointment affects which judge hears their chancery matters until voters choose a successor in January 2027.
The takeaway
Gubernatorial appointments keep Mississippi's chancery benches staffed between elections, and Lawson's record of municipal and youth court service shows the experience voters will weigh in January 2027.
What happens next
Lawson's appointment takes effect November 16, 2026, and the seat will appear on the January 2027 election ballot.
Further reading
For more on Mississippi judicial appointments, see People coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Vicksburg Daily News.
