Two area incumbent judges have qualified for this year’sjudicial elections while a third is mulling his options.

Fourteenth District Circuit Court Judge Mike Taylor hasqualified with the Secretary of State as a candidate for Place 1 inthe district serving Lincoln, Pike and Walthall counties. Also,incumbent 15th District Chancery Court Judge Edward E. Patten Jr.has qualified for the Nov. 7 election for re-election in thedistrict that serves Lincoln and Copiah counties.

Fellow 14th District Circuit Court Judge Mike Smith has notannounced his intentions regarding re-election.

“I have until May to qualify,” Smith said when contacted.

Judges have until May 5 to qualify in the non-partisancontests.

This year’s circuit court judge race will feature a new twist inthe selection process. The election will offer voters anopportunity to select one candidate for each position, or place,instead of all candidates running in a group, or “herd,” as in pastcontests.

Taylor has served as circuit judge since his appointment by Gov.Haley Barbour in February 2005 to fill the vacancy created by JudgeKeith Starrett’s confirmation as a United States District CourtJudge.

In addition to his other duties, Taylor oversees the 14thDistrict Drug Court, the first felony-level drug court inMississippi. The drug court has 180 participants and meets weeklyin all three counties.

Taylor is a graduate of the University Of Mississippi School OfLaw and received his Bachelor’s degree from the University ofMississippi. After his graduation from law school Taylor clerkedfor the late Justice Michael Sullivan on the Mississippi SupremeCourt.

Taylor practiced several years in south Mississippi beforemoving to Brookhaven in 1990 where he practiced law until hisappointment to the bench last year.

While in private practice, Taylor served as Lincoln County YouthCourt referee for former Chancellor Donald Patterson and Patten,handling hundreds of cases a year.

Taylor is a member of the state and local bar associations andhas been involved in many community activities. He is married andhas three children, ages 20, 16 and 12.