Chancery Judge Edward E. Patten Jr. of Hazlehurst and Circuit Judges David H. Strong of McComb and Michael M. Taylor of Brookhaven were recognized by their peers and elected to conference offices.

Conference officers serve two-year terms and advocate for their particular branch of the judiciary in a variety of functions. Judicial conferences meet in April and October for continuing education training, and periodically during other times of the year to discuss legal and judicial issues that arise in their courts. They also make recommendations on issues of legislation affecting their courts.

Patten was elected chairman of the Conference of Chancery Judges.

"I look forward to serving as the chair. It'll be a fun couple of years," he said. "I have a couple of projects I want to undertake."

The primary project is to meet with the committee of chancery court judges to review court rules, which have not been modified for many years, Patten said.

"I think they're due for an update and modernization in some respects," he said.

The judge said he did not have any specific rules in mind that needed to be modified, but he believes the rules should be reviewed occasionally to keep them current.

Patten has served as chancellor of the 15th Chancery District of Copiah and Lincoln counties since 1999. He is also the chair of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules and previously served as a presiding judge of the Bar Complaints Tribunal.

Strong was elected chairman of the Conference of Circuit Judges.

"I'm honored to be recognized by my peers, especially this early in my career on the bench," he said. "I'll do the best job I can."

Strong was appointed in August 2006 and elected in November 2006 to the 14th Circuit Court, which includes Lincoln, Pike and Walthall counties. He previously served as vice-chairman and secretary-treasurer of the Conference of Circuit Judges and presides over a Drug Court. He is a former Pike County public defender.

The judge said his role is to represent trial judges in discussions with legislators about pending or existing legislation or rules that may affect the court.

"There are dozens every year, but it's not an exceptionally time-consuming position," Strong said.

Taylor was elected to the Board of Governors of the Mississippi Judicial College. The Mississippi Judicial College is responsible for education and training of court-related personnel, including judges, court administrators, court clerks, court reporters, special attorneys and juvenile justice professionals.

"It's a great opportunity to be involved in judicial education and training in all of our courts," he said.

Taylor said he has been attending the college's conferences for nearly 15 years and looks forward to being able to contribute and influence the training. However, he said securing funding for the college will be the most time-consuming task.

"Our biggest challenge is always funding to see that the judicial education programs are adequately funded," he said. "We are the source for all judicial training programs in the state."

Taylor was appointed in February 2005 and elected in November 2006 to the 14th Circuit Court. He previously served by appointment for 10 years as Youth Court referee for Lincoln County. He presides over a Drug Court and is a member of the State Drug Courts Advisory Committee.