MS Supreme Court Justice Shares History of U.S. Constitution with DAR

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

MS Supreme Court Justice Jimmy Maxwell talks about the creation of the U.S. Constitution at the Annual Guest Luncheon Thursday.
Photos by Alyssa Schnugg

Did you know that George Washington was known to be quite the dancer? Or that James Madison might have been called a “nerd” if he was alive today?

Associate Justice James Maxwell of the Mississippi Supreme Court spoke before members of the David Reese Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and their guests during the organization’s Annual Guest Luncheon Thursday providing a colorful look into how the U.S. Constitution was written.

Maxwell’s hour-long program, “Creating the Constitution: A Contentious Affair,” explained how delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies (Rhode Island did not attend the meeting and opposed a centralized government) met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1787 for the Constitutional Convention that lasted from May through September when the Constitution was finally signed.

At the convention, delegates devised a plan for a stronger federal government with three branches—executive, legislative and judicial—along with a system of checks and balances to ensure no single branch would have too much power.

The Lafayette County High School Air Force ROTC presents the colors.

The luncheon began with the presentation of the colors by the Lafayette High School Color Guard under the guidance of MSG Jeff Bell. DAR chaplain Monica Hern gave the blessing of the meal and MSSDAR State Constitution Chair Wilda Thomas introduced Maxwell as guest speaker.

It was the third annual luncheon held at St. Andrew’s Church for the DAR chapter, a nonprofit, nonpolitical volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history and securing America’s future through better education.

Any woman 18 years or older who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible for membership.

Maxwell, a civil law attorney, lives in Oxford with his wife, Mindy and their children. He was appointed to the Mississippi Supreme Court in 2016 by Gov. Phil Bryant after serving as assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi and as a judge on the Mississippi Court of Appeals.

For more information, call 662-801-3438.