Judge Kenneth L. Thomas
Judge Kenneth L. Thomas was born in Bolivar County, Mississippi. Upon completion of elementary and high school in this county, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served honorably for four years. Afterwards he earned an Associate of Arts Degree in Business Administration at Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale, MS; a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology and a Master of Science Degree in Guidance and Counseling at Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN; a Juris Doctorate Degree in Law at Howard University in Washington, D.C.; and a certificate of completion for the General Jurisdiction Course at the National Judicial College, University on Nevada in Reno.
Prior to attending law school, Judge Thomas was a University Guidance Counselor at Tennessee State University from 1968 to 1969 and the Director of Student Financial Aid at Meharry Medical College from 1970 to 1973. After law school Judge Thomas was a legal intern at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, OH from 1976 to 1977. He served as a Staff Attorney for the North Mississippi Rural Legal Services offices in Cleveland and Greenville, MS from 1977 to 1981, and as the Managing Attorney of the office in Greenville, MS from 1981 to 1984. Judge Thomas worked in private practice initially as a solo practitioner and later as a partner in the Thomas and Thomas Law Firm during the years 1984 through 1990. In addition to representing other corporate entities, he was legal counsel for the City of Rosedale and West Bolivar School District from 1983 to 1990.
Judge Thomas has taken the stairway in the judiciary. He was the Municipal Judge of Gunnison, Pace and Shaw, MS from 1985 to 1990; Bolivar County and Youth Court Judge from 1991 through 1994; and Circuit Judge in the 11th Judicial District from 1995 to the present time. Moreover, he became the Senior Judge in this District in 2001 and he has served as Presiding Judge of the Complaint Tribunal for the Central District of Mississippi since the year 2000.
Judge Thomas’ current legal affiliations include: Mississippi Bar Association, Bolivar County Bar Association, Conference of Mississippi Trial and Appellate Court Judges, Magnolia Bar Association, and William C. Keady Chapter of American Inns of Court.
This Judge is a member, trustee and steward of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Rosedale, MS, a member of the Board of Directors of the Cleveland Exchange Club, Silver Life Member of NAACP, Life Member of National Council of Negro Women (and Men), Life member of Bolivar County Recon League, and Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
