Judge Trent Favre honored with Mississippi Bar Award
Hancock County native Trent Favre is passionate about his family, the legal profession and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
A successful Hancock County Youth Court Judge, Favre is committed to serving people in the vibrant Coastal region he cherishes. For his many achievements, the Mississippi Bar recently selected the Kiln resident to receive its Judicial Excellence Award.
Rather than resting on any accolades, the 46-year-old just plunges ahead with his work in the courtroom.
“I love my job immensely. Being a county and youth court judge is unique because I am able to work with families and children involved with the child welfare system,’’ Favre told a “Seaside Social News’’ reporter.
“Our goal is to restore families. Our theme is hope. I believe all parents should be given a fair chance to reunify with their children.’’
S. Trent Favre, Hancock County Youth Court Judge
It’s quite a delicate balancing act. The judge seeks to ensure the judicial system is supportive of parents “while guarding the best interests of the children we serve. It is my greatest joy to invest in the lives of these families.’’
In 2020, Judge Trent Favre and the rest of the world has been tested by the COVID-19 pandemic. As of late November, the coronavirus claimed more than 250,000 American lives, with over 1.3 million deaths worldwide. To combat the deadly virus, mask wearing, social distancing, sanitizer stations and other health protocols are the norm. The development of a vaccine in the weeks and months ahead offers hope.
“We’ve introduced technology in the courtroom, conducting hearings via Zoom. We have seen an increase in participation by various stakeholders. Also, during the pandemic, we have seen a decrease in delinquency (juvenile crime),’’ Favre said. “We are still very concerned about the repercussions of the pandemic, so we are working harder than ever to ensure that families have the resources they need to succeed.’’
Certainly, Judge Favre has worked hard since entering the legal profession. Born and raised in Hancock County, he’s the son of the late Sam Favre, a reputable Bay St. Louis lawyer, who passed away in 1991. His mom, Pat, is a Bay St. Louis resident. Trent and his wife, Shannon, an attorney, and their two children, Katie, 15, and Sam, 13, live in the historical Favre family home. The residence was built in 1859, back during the turbulent Civil War era.
“It has been the home of six Sam Favres (my first name is Samuel – my son, Sam, is the 6th Sam to live in this house.’’
Away from the courtroom, Trent’s hobbies include weight training, running, singing and family time. But, on a daily basis, he’s deeply committed to serving the people of Hancock County as a youth court judge.
Amanda Tollison, the Mississippi Bar’s immediate past president, is impressed with Trent Favre’s contributions to the profession.
“Judge Favre’s work fostering relationships, streamlining processes and promoting collaborative efforts among various agencies has clearly advanced the quality and efficiency of justice in Hancock County, says Tollison, an Oxford attorney.
Under his watch, there’s been a 73 percent reduction in the number of Hancock County children in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Protection Services.
“His distinguished service as the inaugural Hancock County Judge, albeit short, has already made a tremendous difference in the lives of children and families,’’ Tollison said. As a result, Trent Favre became “a most deserving recipient of the Mississippi Bar’s Judicial Excellence Award.’’
This year’s Mississippi Bar convention and the awards business session on July 17 was conducted virtually due to the pandemic.
The Judicial Excellence Award recognizes an exceptional judge, a leader in advancing the quality and efficiency of justice. The award also recognizes a person of high ideals, character and integrity. Past recipients included Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Lenore Prather, Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller and Chancery Court Judge Denise Owens.
Judge Favre was the first jurist to sit on the bench for the County Court in Hancock County. His appointment became effective January 1, 2018. When he took the bench, there were 389 Hancock County children in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Protection Services. As of January 1, 2020, the number dropped to 105.
It takes a village of partnerships to help make it happen. Child Protection Services teamed with CASA, the multi-disciplinary group with representatives from every agency dealing with children. Faith-based organizations, law enforcement, healthcare providers, Gulf Coast Mental Health, schools, the Hancock Resource Center and others in the community all made vital contributions, the judge noted.
Favre served as city attorney for Bay St. Louis, and as an assistant prosecutor for Bay St. Louis and the Hancock County Justice Court. He represented the Hancock Medical Center’s Board of Trustees and the Hancock County E-911 Commission.
Judge Favre graduated cum laude from Millsaps College in Jackson in 1996. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1999.
Honors have come his way before.
In 2018-19, Trent Favre was named the Mississippi Bar’s Judicial Reunification Hero by its Child Welfare and Child Advocacy Committee. That was for his efforts to safely reunite children with their families.
Trent Favre’s email signature included this quote from television’s Mr. Rogers: “Anyone who does anything to help a child is a hero to me.’’
In 2019, Judge Favre was also selected a Champion for Children by the Commission on Children’s Justice. He launched a “Halls of Hope’’ art collection in Youth Court. His list of notable achievements goes on as 2021 nears.
Mississippi College’s university news coordinator, Andy Kanengiser, spent three decades as a newspaper reporter. For much of his career, the New Jersey native worked at “The Clarion-Ledger.” Andy also serves as the advisor to the “Mississippi Collegian,” MC’s student newspaper. Pearl residents, he and his wife, Sunuia, stay busy with their five adult children and 10 grandkids! An avid table tennis player, Andy captured gold and silver medals at the Mississippi Senior Olympics, (and State Games). He’s in his 13th season sponsoring the MC team, national collegiate champs in 2015 and No. 2 in 2019.
