Litigation from Filing the Complaint to Verdict: Observations from the Bench

Ed Hannan, Judge | Madison County Court Judge

Madison County Court Judge Ed Hannan earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Mississippi. Judge Hannan is also a graduate of the General Jurisdiction Course and the Drug Court Judicial Training program at the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada. He is admitted to practice in Mississippi and Louisiana. He practiced law for 25 years, representing clients in federal and state courts in Mississippi and other states.

Judge Hannan is the Senior County Court Judge in Madison County, Mississippi (Place Two). He is currently serving his fifth term. He was first elected in 2006 and took office on January 1, 2007. As County Court Judge, he presides over civil and criminal cases, Youth Court, and the Special Court of Eminent Domain. In 2011, he was appointed Special Circuit Judge by the Mississippi Supreme Court to preside over the then newly created Twentieth Circuit District Drug Court for Madison and Rankin Counties. He was reappointed to this position in 2014. He has also served, by appointment, as a Special Circuit Judge and Acting Circuit Judge in criminal and civil cases in Madison County.

Judge Hannan began his career on the bench in 1997 when he was appointed Municipal Judge for the City of Madison. He served in this capacity for over 9 years. He is a member of the Mississippi Bar, Louisiana State Bar Association, Madison County Bar Association, Conference of County Court Judges (Chair, 2015,2024; Curriculum Char, 2007-2015), and the Mississippi Council of Youth Court Judges (former member, Rules Committee). He currently alternates member of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance. He previously served as a member of the Judicial Advisory Study Committee. Judge Hannan frequently serves as a speaker on legal topics.

I. Pretrial | 1:00pm – 2:00pm

• Complaint
• Service of process
• Answer
• Discovery/Litigation plan
• Motion practice, including summary judgement
• Settlement considerations

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

II. Trial Preparation and Trial | 2:10pm – 3:10pm

• Witnesses and exhibits
• Pretrial order
• Rules of evidence
• Daubert in limine
• Opening statements
• Order of proof
• Direct and cross-examination
• Experts
• Closing arguments