Lawson announces candidacy for Chancery Judge

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Judge Penny Lawson has officially announced her candidacy for Chancery Judge serving Warren, Sharkey, and Issaquena Counties, pledging to bring integrity, impartiality, experience, and compassion to the bench.

“With decades of legal experience working with families throughout Vicksburg and the surrounding communities, I understand the importance of fairness, patience, and respect in the courtroom,” Lawson said. “The people of this district deserve a Chancery Judge who will apply the law fairly while treating every person who enters the courtroom with dignity.”

Judge Lawson currently serves as Municipal Court Judge Pro Tem for the City of Vicksburg, a position she has held since 2017, and has served as Municipal Court Judge in Port Gibson since January 2025. In late 2025, she founded Lawson and Associates, PLLC, where her practice focuses primarily on family law, estates, and general litigation. She also previously served as a Certified Parent Representative in Warren County Youth Court, advocating for children and families during some of the most difficult moments in their lives.

Born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, Lawson earned her bachelor’s degree from Wichita State University, where she met her husband of 30 years, Steve Lawson. After moving to Mississippi in 1996, she attended Mississippi College School of Law and earned her Juris Doctor in 2009. She was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 2010 and joined the respected Vicksburg law firm of Varner, Parker, and Sessums.

Throughout her legal career, Lawson has earned recognition from her peers across Mississippi for her professionalism and leadership. She served as President of the Warren County Bar Association in 2014 and was elected as the 9th District Bar Commissioner in 2015, serving a three-year term. She later served as President of the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association in 2022 and was honored as the organization’s Defense Lawyer of the Year in 2018. Lawson currently serves as a State Representative for the organization and is also a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

“Chancery Court decisions affect families, children, estates, and some of the most personal matters people will ever face,” Lawson said. “These cases require a judge who is knowledgeable, open-minded, and committed to doing what is right under the law.”

Lawson is also active in the community as a member of the Kiwanis Club and St. Paul Catholic Church. She and her husband Steve are proud parents of their son, Spencer Lawson, a 2025 graduate of Mississippi State University. Steve Lawson is a Desert Storm veteran and has worked at the VA Hospital in Jackson for the past 15 years.

Supporters from Warren, Sharkey, and Issaquena Counties say Lawson’s broad legal experience, judicial service, and reputation for fairness make her exceptionally qualified to serve as the district’s next Chancery Judge.

The election for Chancery Judge will be held on November 3, 2026.  For more information on Penny Lawson’s campaign, please visit www.PennyLawson.com