STARKVILLE – A ballroom in The Mill at Mississippi State University Conference Center will become a courtroom in November.
On Nov. 12, a three-judge panel from the Mississippi Court of Appeals will come to MSU as part of its Court on the Road series to hear oral arguments for and against an appeal by Brandon Landfair, a Holmes County man.
“Court on the Road offers a unique learning experience for students with an interest in law, government, journalism and a variety of other fields,” Beverly Pettigrew Kraft, public information officer for the court, wrote in a press release.
Court on the Road started in 2005 and hears three cases every fall and spring, making stops at MSU and University of Mississippi nearly every year, Kraft told the Dispatch. In both 2019 and 2024, the series stopped at Mississippi University for Women, and this year it will hear a case at Rust College.
Students and the public are invited to attend the oral arguments at 11 a.m. in the Cleveland Gallery and Pines Conference Room at The Mill. Those wishing to attend are asked to arrive at least 15 minutes in advance.
Landfair is appealing his conspiracy to commit murder and manslaughter conviction for the shooting of Deverius White in 2018. Landfair argues his trial was unfair due to a series of errors he believes were made, including allowing hearsay, prejudicial comments and an improper closing argument made by the prosecutor. Landfair was sentenced to 40 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections in September 2024.
MSU is the court’s last of three stops for Court on the Road. The court will be at Ole Miss on Thursday and at Rust College on Oct. 22.
During its Rust College visit, the court will hear oral arguments for the appeal of an Oktibbeha County man, Marco Brown, who was given a life sentence after being convicted in April 2025 of murdering his girlfriend, Imia Williams.
Brown believes errors made in his original trial, including the admission of prejudicial photos and statements should allow for a new trial.
Kraft told The Dispatch there is no specific reason Brown’s case is not being heard at MSU. She said the case was selected for the Rust College stop prior to scheduling the MSU stop.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 33 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
