Judge Betty W. Sanders

CLEO 1969

Judge Betty W. Sanders is the first African-American to be elected Circuit Court Judge, post 3 in Mississippi’s Fourth Judicial District. She was the first African-American attorney to represent the Greenwood Public School District and the first Circuit Court Magistrate Judge in Mississippi. In 2001, she began her service as Senior Circuit Judge. As Senior Judge, she presides over civil and criminal matters as well as the Leflore County Drug Court.

In the legal profession, Judge Sanders is a Mississippi Bar Foundation Fellow which is the foundation’s highest honor. Judge Sanders was recently honored by the Magnolia Bar Association with its Legacy of Leadership Award. She has been a member of the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project Board of Directors, Model Jury Instructions Committee, State Drug Court Advisory Committee, former Chair and past treasurer of the Conference of Circuit Judges, Commission for Judicial Performance, Legislative Committee of the Conference of Circuit Judges, Supreme Court Complaint Tribunal, Ethics Commission of the Mississippi Bar Association, and secretary of the Magnolia Bar Association. She is a member of the National, American, Magnolia and Mississippi Bar associations. Judge Sanders is also a member of the National Association of Women Judges.

Judge Sanders is married to Attorney Alix H. Sanders, Sr., and they have three adult children: Neysha L. Sanders, Esquire, Neeka L. Sanders, MD., and Alix H. Sanders, Jr., D.D.S., and three grandchildren.