Erve-Earnest running for judge

Tinesha Erve-Earnest, current deputy Chancery/Circuit clerk for Carroll County, has qualified to run for the Carroll County Justice Court Judge, Southern District.

“I’ve been working in public service half my adult life,” Erve-Earnest said.  “I love helping people.  At this point in my life, I want to do more.”

Erve-Earnest said the sentiment reflected in a quote by Mahatma Gandhi has inspired her throughout her life. Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

“Gandhi message has been a driving-force in me getting involved in the community, and it fed my desire to run for justice court judge. So I made a choice to take a chance to be the change in our local judicial system,” Erve-Earnest said.  “If elected as Judge, I want to give a new perspective and a new vision while applying the same laws and holding everyone accountable for their actions.”

A native of Carroll County, Erve-Earnest is married to Curtis Earnest, Jr., and the couple has one child, Christyn Earnest.  She is the daughter of B.T. and China Erve and the granddaughter of Louise Brown.

She graduated as salutatorian from J.Z. George High School in 2002.  She received her bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies in 2006 from the University of Southern Mississippi and her master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Belhaven College.  For the past seven years, she has been employed by Carroll County as deputy Chancery/Circuit clerk.

Erve-Earnest prides herself on being an active member of the community.  Currently, she is the president of the Marshall Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization, a member of Vaiden’s Mayor’s Health Council, the co-founder of Saving our Youth Outreach Ministry, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

“I was recently called to ministry at Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Gregory McGee, Sr. where I am also a choir member and teacher of Children’s Church,” Erve-Earnest said.

If elected justice court judge, Erve-Earnest said she will “render impartial judgment in all cases with compassion, firmness, and by creating a platform of honesty, integrity, and justice for all.”

Erve-Earnest said she feels she possesses certain characteristics that are crucial to hold the office of justice court judge -- humility, integrity, and confidence.

“I feel a judge needs to be humble enough to know they were put on the bench for the people and by the people,” Erve-Earnest said.  “We should never allow our position to overshadow our purpose.” In that humility, it is important to recognize that a position of leadership such as Judge is also one of service. Servicing the people that comes before the court is a critical area and I think that as Judge it will give me a platform to continue to service people while making an impact on their lives for the better. She said a judge should also set a standard of integrity, “doing what is right at all times, on the bench or behind the scenes.” 

She feels a judge must also be confident, but not self-centered, and they should be even-tempered but firm.

“I feel a judge must be open-minded, but still be able to reach a decision by precisely interpreting the law with complete understanding,” Erve-Earnest said.   The three things that I plan to do as Judge is to precisely interpret the law with complete understanding, apply the laws to the facts of each case without prejudice, and render judgment impartially for all cases with compassion and firmness. Erve-Earnest said she looks forward to speaking with the citizens of Carroll County during her campaign, and she encourages calls and email from and email from anyone with questions and concerns. She can be reached by telephone at 601.270.3201 or by emailing terveearnest4judge@yahoo.com.