WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., today hailed committee approval of the nomination of Mississippi Court of Appeals Judge Cory T. Wilson to be a U.S. Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The Senate Judiciary Committee approval clears Wilson’s nomination for consideration by the full Senate.

“Judge Wilson’s credentials, intellect, and respect for the rule of law are well-established,” Wicker said. “I appreciate my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee and Chairman Graham for their approval of this well-qualified nominee. Given his professional and academic achievements and his strong reputation in Mississippi as a fair and impartial judge and a good and decent man, I am confident that Judge Wilson will serve the Fifth Circuit and our nation well as a circuit judge. I hope the Senate confirms his nomination without delay.”

“Judge Wilson’s progress through the confirmation process is no surprise. He has shown the Judiciary Committee that he has the qualities we want from a circuit court judge—an intelligent public servant with knowledge of and respect for the rule of law. I look forward to casting my vote to confirm Judge Wilson, and hope to get that chance sooner rather than later,” Hyde-Smith said.

Wicker and Hyde-Smith introduced Wilson at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to consider his nomination for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. President Trump selected Wilson for the Fifth Circuit in March.

If confirmed, Wilson would assume the seat vacated by E. Grady Jolly, who took senior status in 2017.

Wilson, a native of Moss Point, recently received the highest rating of “well qualified” from the American Bar Association to serve on the Fifth Circuit.

Wilson earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi and law degree from Yale Law School, where he served on the Yale Law Journal. He served as a law clerk to Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Emmett Ripley Cox, in addition to being a White House Fellow in the U.S. Department of Defense.

Prior to his appointment to the Mississippi Court of Appeals, Wilson served in the Mississippi House of Representatives and held senior positions within the offices of the Mississippi State Treasurer and Mississippi Secretary of State. Wilson is also a former adjunct professor at Mississippi College School of Law.