Distinctions and recent public service of Carr Law Firm include the following:
Founder and President of the Criminal Defense Section of the Mississippi Bar - 2024-present
Appointed to the Access to Justice Commission by the Mississippi Supreme Court - 2024-present
Appointed to the Grants Committee of the Mississippi Bar - 2024-present
Appointed to the Access to Justice Committee of the Mississippi Bar - 2022-present
Adjunct Professor of Constitutional Law at Delta State University - 2019-2024
Adjunct Professor of Criminal Law at Delta State University - 2019-2024
Fellow of the Mississippi Bar Association - 2022-present
Elected to the Board of Commissioners of the Mississippi Bar Association - 2016-2019
Appointed to the Committee of Budget and Finance for the Mississippi Bar Association - 2019-Present
Attorney coach for statewide award-winning Cleveland High School Mock Trial Team
Awarded Outstanding Young Lawyer for 2014 by the Mississippi Bar Association
Recipient of Law Related Public Educational Award by the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Bar Association for 2013 by the Mississippi Bar Association
State and regional chair of the Mississippi High School Mock Trial Competition
Graduate of the Mississippi Bar's Leadership Forum
Graduate of Leadership Bolivar County
Recognized at multiple speaking engagements at the Mississippi Public Defenders Statewide Conference, University of Mississippi School of Law, Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College at the University of Mississippi, Delta State University, Coahoma Community College, Cleveland High School, East Side High School, Margaret Green Junior High School, and Bayou Academy as part of the Lawyers in Every Classroom Committee of the Mississippi Bar
Recognized as Community Health Champions by Delta State University for 2013-14 recognizing the firm’s contributions to Delta State University and the City of Cleveland with regard to health, fitness, and community service
Recognized by Delta State University for providing all fraternities and sororities with free one-hour classes regarding updated criminal laws and penalties
Commissioned special deputy for the Bolivar County Sheriff’s Department, 2012 to present
Taser certified by the Cleveland Police Department and Taser Corporation
Recognized as volunteer law professor at Delta Area Boy Scout Merit Badge College, 2010, 2023-24
“Running a Solo Practice: What They Don’t Teach You in Law School”, CLE to the Mississippi Bar Association, June 10, 2022
Professional Memberships and Community Involvement
Contract Attorney - Legal Shield (2022- Present)
Contract Attorney - JULIAN Legal (2022 - Present)
Contract Attorney - Mississippi Center for Violence Prevention (2022 - Present)
Executive Finance Committee for the Mississippi Bar Association (2020 - Present)
Board of Commissioners for the Mississippi Bar Association (2017-2020)
Alumni Board of Directors for the University of Mississippi School of Law (2019-Present)
Fellow to the Young Lawyers Division of the Mississippi Bar Association (2020-Present)
Co-Chair, Solo and Small Firms Committee (2016-2017)
CJA Panel Counsel - Northern District of Mississippi (2016-2020)
Bolivar County Bar Association (president, 2012-2016)
American Bar Association
Mississippi Bar Association
American Inns of Court
Panel Counsel - Southern States Police Benevolent Association (2011 to present)
Northern District Chair - Mississippi High School Mock Trial Competition - 2013
Statewide Chair - Mississippi High School Mock Trial Competition - 2014
Statewide Chair – Lawyer in Every Classroom – 2014
Executive Budget and Finance Committee – 2022-2024
Fellow, Mississippi Bar Association – 2021 - present
MS Access to Justice Commission – 2021 - present
Fellow, Young Lawyers Division – 2020 - present
University of Mississippi School of Law Alumni Board - 2019-present
Awards and Recognition
America's Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys (2017 - Present)
Best Attorney in Bolivar County-2017 People's Choice Awards, Bolivar Commercial
Super Lawyer Magazine-2012-2017
Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year Awared by the Mississippi Bar Association - 2014
Recipient - Mississippi Bar Foundation and Board of Trustees 2013 Law-Related Public Education Award in recognition for work with Lawyer in Every Classroom, Mississippi High School Mock Trial Association, and Wills for Heroes.
Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated Attorney, October 2012
Selected – Top 40 Under 40 – The Cleveland Current
Who’s Who in American Law, 2007.
Best’s Directories of Recommended Insurance Attorneys and Adjusters, 2007
Reported Cases
Marshall v. State, 22-KA-00541 (Miss. Ct. App March 5, 2024)
Rathmann v. King, Civil Action No. 3:20-CV-33-KHJ-LGI. (S.D. Miss. April 12, 2021)
Neal v. Hinds County, No. 3:18-CV-590-CWR-FKB (S.D. Miss. April 6, 2021)
James v. City of Greenville, No. 4:18-cv-00005-MPM-JMV (N.D. Miss. March 12, 2020)
Wittner v. Schwartz, No. 3:19-CV-3-DMB-JMV (N.D. Miss. February 20, 2020)
Shepard v. Cleveland School District, No. 4:17-CV-91-DMB-JMV (N.D. Miss Sept 30, 2019)
Shumpert v. City of Tupelo, No. 17-60774 (5th Cir. Sept 25, 2018)
Handy v. Madison County et al, No. 3:16-cv-00370-WHB-JCG (S.D. Miss Sept 11, 2019)
Walter Williams v. City of Belzoni., 2015-CA-01497-COA (Miss. Ct. App. 2017)
Fleming v. Hinds County et al, No. 3:16-cv-00554-TSL-RHW (S.D. Miss June 29, 2017)
Riggins v. City of Indianola, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96549 (N.D. Miss. July 25, 2016)
Starks v. Keys, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 40226 (N.D. Miss. March 28, 2016)
Campbell v. City of Indianola, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96834 (N.D. Miss. July 24, 2015)
Strickland v. City of Crenshaw, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96478 (N.D. Miss. July 20, 2015)
Moore v. Lipscomb Oil Co., 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 29026 (N.D. Miss. Mar. 10, 2015)
Cox v. Desoto County Jail of Hernando, 2015 U.S. Dist., LEXIS 15807 (N.D., Feb. 10, 2015)
Bell v. Itawamba County Sch. Bd., 774 F. 3d 280 (5th Cir. Miss. 2014)
Myrick v. City of Indianola, 2014 U.S. Dist., LEXIS 134600 (N.D. Miss., Sept. 25, 2014)
Wrenn v. DeSoto County, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 119439 (N.D. Miss. July 29, 2014)
Langston v. Rascoe, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 69016 (N.D. Miss. May 19, 2014)
Estate of Manus v. Webster County, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 43536 (N.D. Miss. Mar. 31, 2014)
Carthan v. Patterson, 134 So. 3d 374 (Miss. Ct. App. 2014)
B.A. v. Miss. High Sch. Activities Ass'n, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 150188 (N.D. Miss. Oct. 18, 2013)
Wilson v. Rascoe, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 136771 (N.D. Miss. Sept. 25, 2012)
Gunn v. City of Cleveland, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95795 (N.D. Miss. July 11, 2012)
Wade. Harris, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36330 (N.D. Miss. Mar. 19, 2012)
Brown v. Sudduth, 675 F.3d 472 (5th Cir. Miss. 2012)
Johnson v. Kemp, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36329 (N.D. Miss. Mar. 16, 2012)
Bell v. Itawamba County Sch. Bd., 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 34839 (N.D. Miss. Mar. 14, 2012)
Lenz v. Tate County, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1601 (N.D. Miss. Jan. 5, 2012)
Clein v. Rankin County Sch. Dist., 78 So. 3d 384 (Miss. Ct. App. 2012)
Fulilove v. State, 101 So. 3d 669 (Miss. Ct. App. 2012)
Townes v. Rasco, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 142789 (N.D. Miss. Dec. 12, 2011)
Stapleton v. Coahoma County, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 52915 (N.D. Miss. May 17, 2011)
Harrison v. Mayor, 73 So. 3d 1145 (Miss. 2011)
Shaw v. State, 74 So. 3d 379 (Miss. Ct. App 2011)
McBride v. State, 78 So. 3d 359 (Miss. Ct. App 2011)
Moore v. State, 64 So. 3d 542, (Miss. Ct. App 2011)
Jackson v. State, 70 So. 3d 1137, (Miss. Ct. App 2011)
Hampton v. State, 48 So. 3d 605, (Miss. Ct. App 2010)
Higginbotham v. Lehman-Roberts Co., 23 So. 3d 521 (Miss. Ct. App. 2009)
Lange v. City of Batesville, 972 So. 2d 11 (Miss. Ct. App. 2008)
Shumpert v. City of Tupelo, No. 17-60774 (5th Cir. Sept 25, 2018)
Publications and Presentations
“§1983 Civil Rights Litigation: Qualified Immunity and 4th Amendment”. Presentation to the University of Mississippi School of Law, Professor Yvette Butler, Oxford, MS. November 3, 2022.
“So You Want to Be a Lawyer? : Criminal Justice Reform and Public Defense in Mississippi”. Presentation to Honors Students of Delta State University, Professor Andrew Wegman, Cleveland, MS. October 18, 2022.
“Trial is the Default: Courtroom Tips from Desoto to the Delta”. CLE presentation to the Mississippi Association for Justice, Greenwood, MS, October 4, 2022.
“Running a Solo Practice: What They Don’t Teach You in Law School”, CLE to the Mississippi Bar Association, June 10, 2022.
“Trial is the Default: Courtroom Tips from Desoto to the Delta”. Presentation to the Mississippi Public Defenders Association and Office of State Public Defender, Spring Conference, Philadelphia, MS, April 26-28, 2022.
Speaker – James O. Dukes Professionalism Conference – MC Law and University of Mississippi School of Law, 2017 to present.
Speaker – Bessie Young Council Annual Conference – University of Mississippi School of Law, 2017 to present.
“Criminal Justice Act: Independent Advocates for the Indigent and Federal Law Update”, presentation to MC School of Law for Continuing Legal Education credit, Jackson, MS September 20, 2018.
"Marching to the Beat of Your Own Drum: Opening and Running a Solo Practice", presentation to the Annual Meeting and Summer School of the MS Bar Association, Sandestin, FL, July 10, 2018
"Cultivating, Choosing, and Managing Clients", presentation to Professor Phillip Broadhead's Solo and Small Firm Practice Class, University of Mississippi School of Law, April 6, 2018
"Amicable Adversity", presentation to the Bridge that Gaps Seminar for Young Lawyers, Oxford, MS, November 30, 2017
"Legal Marketing and Management: The Business of Selling Advocacy", presentation to Graduate Level Marketing Class at Delta State University, Cleveland, MS, November 6, 2017
"Criminal Justice Act Update", presentation to the William Cady American Inns of Court, Oxford, MS, October 26, 2017
"Exploring the Ethics of Physical Therapy", presentation to the Statewide Conference of the Physical Therapy Association, Vicksburg, MS, September 23, 2017
“Candor to the Court: Ethical Issues Arising in Criminal Representation”, presentation to the Bridge the Gap seminar for young lawyers at the Oxford Convention Center, Oxford, MS, December 1, 2016.
“Legal Update for PT and OT Practitioners”, presentation to the statewide conference of the Mississippi Physical Therapy Association, Tupelo, MS October 25, 2016
“Ethical and Legal Issues in Adult Drug Court”, presentation to the Mississippi Association of Drug Court Professionals at its annual meeting in Tupelo, MS August 25, 2016.
“Public Speaking in the Age of the iPad: Raising Confidence and Self-Esteem Through the Spoken Word”. presentation at the statewide conference of the Mississippi Association for Gifted Children, Pearl, MS, August 9, 2016.
“Mississippi School Law for Beginning Teachers: Impact of the Mississippi Tort Claims Act in the Classroom”, presentation for Teach for America Summer Institute, Delta State University, Cleveland, MS, July 20, 2016.
“Legal Update for PT and OT Practitioners”, presentation to the Mississippi Physical Therapy Association & Mississippi Occupational Therapy Association, North Sunflower Medical Center, Ruleville, MS, April 21, 2016.
Arthur H. Calderon & Michael S. Carr, Fearing Fido: Recent Trends Involving First Responders, Man's Best Friend, and Damages, Blue Review, 22 (2015).
"Avoiding the Legal Blues: Copyright and Trademark Issues Surrounding the Modern Music Industry", presentation at the International Conference on the Blues, Delta State University, Cleveland, Mississippi, October 5, 2015.
"Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Freedom of Speech from a Cross-Cultural Perspective", presentation to law school faculty delegation from John Paul II Catholic University, Lublin, Poland at Delta State University, Cleveland, MS, October 2, 2015.
"Ethical and Legal Issues in Adult Drug Court", presentation to the Mississippi Association of Drug Court Professionals at its Annual conference, Biloxi, MS, August 21, 2015.
“Mississippi School Law for Beginning Teachers: Impact of the Mississippi Tort Claims Act in the Classroom”, presentation for Teach for America Summer Institute, Delta State University, Cleveland, MS, July 15, 2015.
“Legal Update for PT and OT Practitioners”, presentation to the Mississippi Physical Therapy Association & Mississippi Occupational Therapy Association, North Sunflower Medical Center, Ruleville, MS, April 7, 2015.
“Legal Implications of Being a Teacher/Coach: Duties, Rights, and Immunity from Suit” seminar presented to the Health and Physical Education/Recreation Department of Delta State University, Cleveland, MS February 2015.
"Jury Service: Voir Dire to Verdict" presentation to The Madison Center for the Study of Human Rights and the Constitution at Delta State University, Cleveland, MS September 2014
“RFK in the Delta” presented to American Government class at Coahoma Community College, Clarksdale, MS September 2014.
"Legal Ethics Update", presentation to the Mississippi Physical Therapy Association & Mississippi Occupational Therapy Association, Ruleville, MS, May 15, 2012.
"Ethics and Recent Cases Involving Breaches of Ethics", presentation to the Mississippi Physical Therapy Association & Mississippi Occupational Therapy Association, Ruleville, MS, May 7, 2009.
"The Role of National Governments in Providing Models for Continuity of Governmental Services and Sustainable Growth: Terrorism's Challenges to the Rule of Law,"World Jurist Association Jerusalem Conference 2008, Jerusalem, Israel, June 12-17, 2008.
"Remedies in Election Disputes: The International Context" Equality Center of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, Washington, DC, April 18, 2008.
"The Modern-Day Jaundice v. Jaundice: What is a Reasonable Amount of Time to Build a Public Road?" Zoning and Planning Law Report newsletter, April 15, 2008. Government Law Center of Albany Law School, NY.
International Election Principles. Chapter 12: "Effective, Timely, Appropriate, & Enforceable Remedies," edited by John Hardin Young, American Bar Association, 2008.
"Sweet Water and State Lines: A New Boundary Dispute East of the Mississippi River," presented to the Groundwater Management District Association Spring Conference, Tallahassee, Florida, Jan 5-8, 2008
Construction Defect Litigation: A Three-Part Legal Update for Swiss Reinsurance Company, Chicago, IL May 4, 2007 - May 25 , 2007 - June 8 , 2007.
"The Impact of Illegal Immigration on Local Governments in the Areas of Law Enforcement: Education and Incarceration of Criminals", World Jurist Association, Conference on World Wide Immigration and the Rule of Law Wilshire Grand Hotel, Los Angeles, April 22-26, 2007.
"Mandatory Death Penalty and a Just Rule of Law: Can These Ever Equate?" Scholarship Essay presented to the Public Law Section of the International Bar Association, April 12, 2007.
"Mississippi Tort Claims Act & §1983 Litigation: Update Covering January 2006 -April 2007 Rulings Relevant To Public Sector Claims And Practice," presented to Trident Insurance Company, April 12-13, 2007 San Antonio, TX.
"Impact of Illegal Immigration on Local Government Law Enforcement", presented at the March 2007 International Municipal Lawyers Association Mid-Year Seminar, Washington, D.C.
"Supreme Court Issues Dam Ruling: Discharge Triggers Permit Requirement Even in Absence of Pollution" presented at the Groundwater Management Districts Association 2006 Summer Conference, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, June, 2006.
“Running a Solo Practice: What They Don’t Teach You in Law School”, CLE to the Mississippi Bar Association, June 10, 2022
“Trial is the Default: Courtroom Tips from Desoto to the Delta”. Presentation to the Mississippi Public Defenders Association and Office of State Public Defender, Spring Conference, Philadelphia, MS, April 26-28, 2022.
Speaker – James O. Dukes Professionalism Conference – MC Law and University of Mississippi School of Law, 2017 to present
Speaker – Bessie Young Council Annual Conference – University of Mississippi School of Law, 2017 to present.
“Criminal Justice Act: Independent Advocates for the Indigent and Federal Law Update”, presentation to MC School of Law for Continuing Legal Education credit, Jackson, MS September 20, 2018.