A commencement ceremony for new Circuit Judge Alan D. “Devo” Lancaster will be held at 2 p.m. on Jan. 3, 2023, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Winona.
Senior Circuit Judge Joseph Loper will administer the oath of office with guest speaker Mandy Mitchell Davis, daughter of the late Circuit Judge George Mitchell, joining in on the ceremony. Judge Mitchell died in office on April 19. Judge H. Henry Ross served by gubernatorial appointment from June 6, through the end of the year.
Judge-elect Lancaster, 73, of Grenada, was elected Nov. 29 and will serve Attala, Carroll, Choctaw, Grenada, Montgomery, Webster and Winston counties.
“I am truly humbled by the overwhelming support I received during the campaign,” Lancaster said.
Lancaster has served as Winona Municipal Judge for the past 12 years and was Grenada Municipal Judge for eight years. For the past 36 years, he has been attorney for the Montgomery County Board for Supervisors, the Montgomery County Economic Development District and the North Central Planning and Development District. He also served as attorney for the Carroll-Montgomery Regional Correctional Facility for 17 years. He has practiced law for more than 44 years. He is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Mississippi and before the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
“I can promise three things,” Lancaster said. “I will follow the law. I will hand down rulings fairly and impartially and I will insist that all who come before me be treated with the utmost respect and dignity.”
Lancaster is married to Rosemary R. Lancaster. They have one daughter, Leslie. He is the Senior Warden and Chancellor at All Saints Episcopal Church in Grenada.
“I want to thank everyone for not only their votes, but the kind words, encouragement, and prayers,” Lancaster concluded. “I look forward to being your new Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit District.”
Across the state, 18 new trial judges will take their oaths of office in ceremonies scheduled during the next few days. New judges include eight new County Court judges, three new Chancery Court judges, and seven new Circuit Court judges. New judicial terms for County, Chancery and Circuit Court judges begin on Jan. 1, 2023.
