Cynthia I. Mitchell

Cynthia (Cindy) Mitchell is a member with the law firm of Merkel & Cocke, P.A. Ms. Mitchell received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University in 1981, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She received her J.D. from Harvard University Law School in 1981, graduating cum laude.

Ms. Mitchell's practice includes general litigation, personal injury, commercial litigation, and medical malpractice. She has handled numerous and varied appellate cases. She was a member of the litigation team representing Bob Wilson and Alwyn Luckey against Richard Scruggs of the Fall of the House of Zeus fame.

Ms. Mitchell is admitted to practice before all state courts in Mississippi, the United States Supreme Court, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, the Western District of Tennessee, and the Fifth and Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ms. Mitchell is a member of the Mississippi State Bar Association, Mississippi Association for Justice (Secretary, 2012-13; Parliamentarian 2011-12), American Association of Justice, Magnolia Bar Association, and the Coahoma County Bar Association (President, 1990-91). She currently serves on the Civil Rules Advisory Committee to the Mississippi Supreme Court and as a Trustee of the Mississippi Bar Foundation. She served on the Professionalism Committee of the Mississippi Bar Association from 2006-2011 and served as chair of the Mentoring Subcommittee from 2009-2011. She also served on the Women in Profession Committee of the Mississippi Bar Association from 2007-2011.

Ms. Mitchell serves as the representative to the Board of Bar Commissioners for the Eleventh Circuit Court District. She is immediate past president of the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project and has served on its Board since 2009. She also served as chair of the Amicus Committee of the Mississippi Association for Justice from 2006-2010 and has written and assisted on numerous appellate briefs on issues of importance in the civil justice system, including the issue of the constitutionality of caps for noneconomic damages under Mississippi law.

Ms. Mitchell is also active in the community and received the Mississippi State Bar's Lawyer Citizenship Award in 2012. She serves on the Board of Trustees of Coahoma Community College and the Board of Directors of Jonestown Family Center for Education and Wellness. She is an avid runner, having run eleven marathons and ultra marathons and is race director for several local 5k and 8k races.