At the 2025 Mississippi State Bar Convention, former State Supreme Court Justice Dawn Beam interviewed over 20 people in 3 days to bring you a special 7-part series of her Hope Mississippi podcast. This is part five of seven.
Hope isn’t a slogan here; it’s a practice you can feel in the room. We sit down with Judge David McCarty of the Mississippi Court of Appeals, Mississippi Gaming Commission Executive Director Jay McDaniel, and family-law veteran Richard Roberts to explore how justice, integrity, and everyday mentorship create real pathways forward—especially when the stakes are personal and the margin for error is thin.
Judge McCarty takes us behind the robe to the human pressure of getting cases right: the late nights, the worry, and the relief that the Court of Appeals exists to share the load and honor every appeal with careful review. He makes a compelling case for diversity on the bench, not as a buzzword, but as a practical safeguard against blind spots. When colleagues with different life experiences challenge each other, reason improves and public trust grows. He also shares a simple habit: a nightly gratitude journal, which helps him maintain perspective amid Mississippi’s beauty and its inequities.
Jay McDaniel connects legal training to real-world regulation, explaining how analytical thinking and ethics guide hard calls in gaming: enforcing rules, addressing gray areas, and balancing tourism, tax revenue, and problem gambling resources. His reflection on Katrina-era leadership demonstrates how adaptive law and clear priorities helped casinos and thousands of families rebuild stronger on the Coast. For students and mid‑career professionals, his message is energizing: your background is a springboard, not a barrier.
Richard C. Roberts III then opens the door to family law, where counsel often means cooling the room before you heat up the record. He explains why reputation and professionalism are non‑negotiable in a small legal community and how wise decisions in the most emotional moments can save years of pain. When clients can’t see past the storm, a steady lawyer helps them find the path, and sometimes, to their surprise, the light returns.
If you believe your word is your bond, if you care about fair courts, and if you’ve ever needed someone to open a door for you, this conversation will meet you where you are and nudge you a step forward. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a lift, and leave a review with one word that gives you hope today.
Hope Mississippi's Mission: The sobering reality remains: one in four Mississippi children lives in poverty, and one in five experiences food insecurity. These statistics aren't just numbers—they're our collective challenge. Through these conversations, we discover that Mississippi's transformation occurs through individual commitments to mentor, encourage, and be present for others. The small acts of hope accumulate into the broader "miracles" we celebrate.
Join us for new episodes on the 1st and 15th of each month as we continue sharing stories of transformation from across Mississippi. Each story
Join us for new episodes on the 1st and 15th of each month as we continue sharing stories of transformation from across Mississippi. Each story reminds us that when we contribute our unique gifts, Mississippi rises together.
Hope Mississippi's Mission: The sobering reality remains: one in four Mississippi children lives in poverty, and one in five experiences food insecurity. These statistics aren't just numbers—they're our collective challenge. Through these conversations, we discover that Mississippi's transformation occurs through individual commitments to mentor, encourage, and be present for others. The small acts of hope accumulate into the broader "miracles" we celebrate.
