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Sanford Richard Steckler

Sanford R. Steckler (Sandy) brings fifty-two years of legal experience to the firm. His experience includes thirty-five years as a counselor and trial attorney in private practice on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and seventeen years as a Chancellor of the Eighth Chancery Court District of Mississippi which includes Harrison, Hancock and Stone Counties.

Born and reared in Biloxi, Sandy attended Perkinston Junior College (now Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College) and continued on to the University of Mississippi where he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1962. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1966 and, in that year, was admitted to the Bar and the State and Federal Courts of Mississippi and began private practice.

Before retiring from the Eighth Chancery District Court on December 31, 2018, Sandy’s career included serving as attorney for the City of Biloxi, representing the Planning Commission, and subsequently representing the city’s Civil Service Board. He represented the Mississippi Marine Commission, now the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, and the Mississippi Coast Coliseum Commission. By gubernatorial appointments, Sandy has served on the Biloxi Port Commission, was a member and Chairman of the Mississippi Personnel Board, and was appointed Chancellor of the Eighth Chancery Court District of Mississippi. Following his appointment as Chancellor, Sandy later ran for the office and was elected and re-elected for four consecutive terms spanning a total 17 years.

Notably, Sandy was appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to hear cases in other districts and serve on a special task force to address the need for increased Child Protective Services in Coastal Counties. As a result of these efforts, Child Protective Services was greatly improved; a temporary shelter for neglected and abused children was established, along with a drug court, a parent representative and a County Court system for Hancock County. In 2018, he served on the Mississippi Commission on Guardianships and Conservatorships. Through this Commission, a new uniform code has been prepared for presentation to the Mississippi Legislature which, if adopted, will update and replace the existing applicable laws.

Sandy has been active in civic, religious and public service throughout his career. His public service includes two terms of office as a Mississippi State Senator. In addition to serving as president of numerous civic and service organizations, he has served as president of the Harrison Bar Association and the Russell-Blass-Walker Chapter of the American Inns of Court. He has written and presented numerous papers for attorneys’ continuing legal education.

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