Attorney, Former Sen. Tollison Sworn in as Circuit Court Judge

By Alyssa Schnugg
News editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

Oxford attorney Gray Tollison was sworn in as Third Circuit Judicial District Judge Wednesday by Circuit Court Clerk Jeff Busby, with his wife, Amanda holding the Bible.
Photo by Ashley Roberts

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves recently appointed Oxford attorney and former senator Gray Tollison to serve as a judge for the Third Circuit Judicial District Court, taking over for Judge Andrew Howorth who retired last month.

Tollison was sworn into office Wednesday afternoon at the Lafayette County Courthouse by Circuit Court Clerk Jeff Busby.

Tollison will serve out the unexpired portion of Howorth’s term which runs through December 2022. Howorth served on the bench for 18 years before his retirement.

The Third Circuit Judicial District covers Lafayette County as well as Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Lafayette, Marshall, Tippah and Union counties.

Tollison served as the District 9 senator from 1995 through the end of 2019. He did not seek re-election for a 22nd term in Jackson.

Tollison grew up in Oxford and is a 1982 graduate of Oxford High School. After completing his undergraduate studies at Rhodes College in 1986, he received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi. He has worked for his family law firm for the past 29 years. He and his wife, Amanda Jones Tollison, have two adult children—Grady and Laurel.

2026 Rebels Football

Sun, Sept. 6vs Louisville, Nashville6:30 PM, ABC
Sat, Sep 12vs Charlotte6:45 PM, ESPN2/SECN
Sat, Sep 19LSU6:30 PM, ABC
Sat, Sep 26@ FloridaTBD
Sat, Oct 10@ VanderbiltTBD
Sat, Oct 17MissouriTBD
Sat, Oct 24@ TexasTBD
Sat, Oct 31vs AuburnTBD
Sat, Nov 7vs GeorgiaTBD
Sat, Nov 14@ OklahomaTBD
Sat, Nov 21vs WoffordTBD
Sat, Nov 28vs Mississippi State11:00 AM, ABC