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    Fred Banks photograph

    Fred L. Banks, Jr.

    Of Counsel

    Jackson
    601-360-9356
    fred.banks@phelps.com
    Areas Of Focus
    LitigationAppellate

    Fred Banks, a former Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court, trial judge and legislator, practices in the areas of appellate litigation, commercial litigation, and alternate dispute resolution in the state and federal courts of Mississippi. He has represented corporate clients in a variety of matters including consumer lending, trade secret infringement, property taxation, first amendment issues and contract disputes.

    After serving on the state supreme court for 11 years and before that, six years as a circuit court judge, Fred joined Phelps as a partner in November 2001. Prior to his judicial career, beginning in 1968, Fred was in private practice. He concentrated on civil rights litigation, criminal capital defense and representing a variety of non-profit agencies providing services to the poor.

    In 1975, he was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives where he served until he assumed the bench in 1984. In the Mississippi House, Fred served as chair of the House Ethics Committee, chair of a House Judiciary Committee and Chair of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus. He was also appointed by the governor to serve on the Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions and by numerous appointing authorities to serve on a variety of commissions at the state and federal level.

    In 1975, he was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives where he served until he assumed the bench in 1984. In the Mississippi House, Fred served as chair of the House Ethics Committee, chair of a House Judiciary Committee and Chair of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus. He was also appointed by the governor to serve on the Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions and by numerous appointing authorities to serve on a variety of commissions at the state and federal level.

    Insights

    • August 15, 2024

      185 Phelps Lawyers Chosen for Best Lawyers in America, 20 Named "Lawyer of the Year," 26 Added to “Ones to Watch” List…

    • February 21, 2024

      Phelps Honored with GJCP Excellence in Diversity Award…

    More +
    • August 17, 2023

      Best Lawyers in America Selects 208 Phelps Lawyers, Names 12 "Lawyer of the Year," Adds 47 to "Ones to Watch" List…

    • January 27, 2023

      Phelps Dunbar Has Been Mississippi’s Go-to Litigation Firm for Over 30 Years…

    • January 16, 2023

      Continuing the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Through a Lifetime of Activism…

    • November 29, 2022

      Super Lawyers Names 22 Phelps Lawyers to 2022 Mid-South Lists…

    • August 18, 2022

      Best Lawyers in America Selects 158 Phelps Lawyers, Names 10 "Lawyer of the Year," Adds 40 to "Ones to Watch" List…

    • April 18, 2022

      Mississippi College Law Review Tribute Edition Reception Honoring Justice Fred Banks…

    • November 30, 2021

      Super Lawyers Names 23 Phelps Attorneys to 2021 Mid-South Lists…

    • August 9, 2021

      Mississippi Bar Celebrates Fred Banks’ Public Service and Civil Rights Work With Lifetime Achievement Award…

    • May 3, 2021

      Access to Trailblazers: For More Than 50 Years, Fred Banks Has Kept His Foot on the Gas Pedal, Making the Push for Equality a Constant Priority…

    • November 30, 2020

      15 Phelps Lawyers Honored by 2020 Mid-South Super Lawyers and Rising Stars…

    • November 5, 2019

      16 Lawyers Named 2019 Mid-South Super Lawyers and Rising Stars…

    Recognition

    • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
    • Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business
    • Appellate Practice (2007-2025), Arbitration (2011-2025), "Lawyer of the Year" Arbitration (2020, 2023-2024), Commercial Litigation (2008-2025), Mediation (2011-2025), The Best Lawyers in America
    • Mid-South Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (2006-2022)
    • Professionalism Award, Capital Area Bar Association (2019)
    • American Inns of Court Professionalism Award, U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (2013)
    • Mississippi Business Journal - Lawyer of the Year (2010)
    • Lifetime Achievement Award, The Mississippi Bar (2021)
    • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
    • Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business
    • Appellate Practice (2007-2025), Arbitration (2011-2025), "Lawyer of the Year" Arbitration (2020, 2023-2024), Commercial Litigation (2008-2025), Mediation (2011-2025), The Best Lawyers in America
    • Mid-South Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (2006-2022)
    • Professionalism Award, Capital Area Bar Association (2019)
    • American Inns of Court Professionalism Award, U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (2013)
    • Mississippi Business Journal - Lawyer of the Year (2010)
    • Lifetime Achievement Award, The Mississippi Bar (2021)

    Education

    • Howard University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1968
    • Howard University, B.A., Accounting, 1965
    • Howard University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1968
    • Howard University, B.A., Accounting, 1965

    Credentials

    • Mississippi
    • District of Columbia
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Mississippi
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Mississippi
    • Mississippi
    • District of Columbia
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Mississippi
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Mississippi

    Memberships and Affiliations

    Professional

    • Mississippi Bar Association
    • Magnolia Bar Association
    • National Bar Association
    • District of Columbia Bar Association
    • Charles Clark Inn of the American Inns of Court
    • American Law Institute
    • Mississippi Bar Foundation, Fellow

    Civic

    • Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity
    • National Board of Directors of NAACP, Legal Committee - Chair
    • Capital City Convention Center Commission - Chair

    Professional

    • Mississippi Bar Association
    • Magnolia Bar Association
    • National Bar Association
    • District of Columbia Bar Association
    • Charles Clark Inn of the American Inns of Court
    • American Law Institute
    • Mississippi Bar Foundation, Fellow

    Civic

    • Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity
    • National Board of Directors of NAACP, Legal Committee - Chair
    • Capital City Convention Center Commission - Chair
    • Overview
    • Insights
    • Recognition
    • Education
    • Credentials
    • Memberships and Affiliations

    Related Services

    • Litigation
    • Appellate
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