The Hon. Christopher L. Schmidt is a judge for the 2nd Circuit Court District of Mississippi. He was elected to the bench in 2014, filling a vacancy created by the elevation of the Hon. John C. Gargiulo (deceased) to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.
The 2nd Circuit District encompasses Hancock County, Harrison County, and Stone County.
Prior to his election, Schmidt was an attorney at Fowler Rodriguez, a law firm he joined in 2011. Before that, he spent time with the District Attorney’s Office for the 2nd Circuit, serving as an assistant district attorney (1999 to 2006) and a supervising assistant district attorney (2006 to 2011).
Schmidt earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1992. He then completed a J.D. at the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1995.
His memberships have included the St. Paul Carnival Association and the Hancock County Bar Association. He has also been involved with the St. Paul Parish Council, the Parish Finance Council of the Apostle Catholic Church, and the Advisory Board of St. Vincent de Paul School.
A resident of Pass Christian, Mississippi, Schmidt and his wife, Jennifer, have three children. He previously served as a deputy sheriff for the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.