The Honorable Judge
County and Youth Courts of Forrest County, Mississippi
The Honorable Michael W. McPhail is the judge of the County and Youth Courts of Forrest County, Mississippi. Previously, he worked as a city court judge and an assistant district attorney. He has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the 1997 Judicial Service Award presented by Mississippi Families for Kids, 1995 Lookin' to the Future Award presented by the Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth, and the State Youth Services Award. He was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of Hattiesburg, and recognized as Hattiesburg's Outstanding Young Man for 1984. Judge McPhail is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association, the Mississippi Conference of Trial and Appellate Judges, the Mississippi Council of Youth Court Judges and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. Judge McPhail currently serves on the boards of The Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Club PACE Headstart program, the board of governors for the Mississippi Judicial College, the Mississippi Families for Kids, the Right to Succeed, Inc., and the Human Rights Committee at the Ellisville State School for the Mentally Retarded. In addition, he has served on numerous boards and committees, including the Council of County Court Judges for the State of Mississippi, the Mississippi Commission on a Uniform Youth Court System, the Children's Justice Act Task Force for the State of Mississippi, and the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee for the State of Mississippi. Judge McPhail received a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and a juris doctor degree with distinction from the Mississippi College School of Law.