Mississippi National Guard Celebrates New Judge

Photo By Sgt. Taylor Cleveland | Maj. Gen. Janson D. Boyles, adjutant general of Mississippi, administers the oath of office to Col. Lawrence Austin, Sr., Mississippi Military Judge, during Austin's promotion ceremony at Grenada County Court House, Grenada, Mississippi, September 10, 2022. Col. Austin is tasked with overseeing the Mississippi National Guard’s Military Justice program and presiding over Courts Martial and administrative proceedings. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Taylor Cleveland)  

GRENADA, MS, UNITED STATES

09.10.2022

Story by Staff Sgt. Connie Jones 

Joint Force Headquarters - Mississippi National Guard

Family and friends attended the promotion and investiture of Col. Lawrence Austin, Sr. at the Grenada County Courthouse, Sept. 10, 2022.
Austin was promoted to the rank of colonel, taking his oath of office for his promotion from Maj. Gen. Janson D. Boyles, the adjutant general of Mississippi, and Austin’s wife, Josephine Austin.
“I would just like to say that it’s a great honor, not only to be granted this rank, but more so to have general Boyles here and my wife and children, and all the people that are here supporting me,” Austin said.
He then took an oath of office from Judge Virginia Carlton, retired Army JAG officer and Presiding Judge of the Mississippi Court of Appeals, to become a Mississippi National Guard Military judge. His children, Spc. Lawrence Austin, Jr. and Amanda Goodwin, donned his robe.
“I’ve known Col. Austin since 2007, and I am thrilled to see him extend to the bench today,” Judge Carlton said. “He will do a fine job as a military judge and I have full confidence in his judgment, his discretion and his ability to maintain good order and discipline, and uphold military justice.”
“Lawrence made a commitment to come back here to Grenada and Camp McCain and worked hard to connect the National Guard back into this community,” Boyles said. “You have earned this new position and will do a great job in representing us as a military judge for the State of Mississippi and again, thank you for your service to our country and great nation.”
Austin has a vast educational background. On the civilian side, he has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Delta State University, a juris doctor from Mississippi College School of Law and a master’s degree of law in taxation from the University of Denver Graduate Tax Program. His military education includes the Command and General Staff College Advanced Operations Course and Intermediate Level Education (Top 10% of class); the Judge Advocate Officer Basic and Advanced courses, and a host of other courses.
“Col. Austin was selected because of his experience and his aptitude,” said Lt. Col. Robert Mayhue, Jr., joint staff judge advocate for the Mississippi National Guard. “He is very adept at collecting information and studying law and regulations. We felt Col. Austin would be a very natural fit based on his judge background. He’s also been in judge advocate positions before, including deploying in that role. It was really an easy pick.”

• Date Taken: 09.10.2022
• Date Posted: 04.05.2023 11:04
• Story ID: 441983
• Location: GRENADA, MS, US