DeSoto County, Mississippi

Circuit Court Judge, 21st Circuit Court District, Place One

2 candidates are tracked for Circuit Court Judge, 21st Circuit Court District, Place One on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Gordon Shaw Jr. and Joseph "Jody" Neyman. Candidate information follows official DeSoto County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Nonpartisan judicial race on DeSoto County's official November 3, 2026 candidate listing; two candidates qualified.

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels.

Mississippi › DeSoto County › Circuit Court Judge, 21st Circuit Court District, Place One

Gordon Shaw Jr.

Nonpartisan

Biography

Shaw is an Assistant District Attorney for DeSoto County who has prosecuted felony cases since 2024, per DeSoto County News (Jan. 6, 2026). He previously spent eight years as Municipal Prosecutor for Horn Lake and has practiced law since 2008 after earning his degree from Mississippi College School of Law, per the same report. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Gordon Shaw Jr.

Joseph "Jody" Neyman

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Emphasizes preparation, impartiality and respect for the Constitution in his approach to the bench
States that parties who disagree with a ruling should still leave the courtroom knowing they were heard and received a fair trial

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Neyman is a University of Mississippi and Ole Miss law school graduate with more than three decades of legal experience and more than two decades of judicial service, including as Municipal Judge for Southaven and Pro Tempore Municipal Judge for Hernando, per his campaign site. He currently serves on Mississippi's Board of Bar Admissions, per the same source.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotCircuit Court Judge, 21st Circuit Court District, Place Two

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Circuit Court Judge, 21st Circuit Court District, Place One in 2026?

When is the Circuit Court Judge, 21st Circuit Court District, Place One election in Mississippi?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Mississippi are on the Mississippi election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact DeSoto County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official DeSoto County and state election office filings, last verified October 1, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Mississippi election office, or see the full DeSoto County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your DeSoto County ballot

10 tracked races in DeSoto County, Mississippi. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Circuit Court Judge, 21st Circuit Court District, Place Three (Subdistrict 21-1)Circuit Court Judge, 21st Circuit Court District, Place Four (Subdistrict 21-1)Mississippi Court of Appeals, District 1, Position 1 (special election)See all 10 DeSoto County races

Candidate profiles

Gordon Shaw Jr., full profile Joseph "Jody" Neyman, full profile Official Mississippi election office