Daniel J. Griffith, Civil Rights Attorney in Cleveland, Mississippi

Danny is a native of Cleveland, graduating from both Cleveland High School and Delta State University. Danny is the youngest of three brothers (Lonnie, Ben, and Danny), each graduating from Ole Miss Law School. In fall of 1988, Danny returned to Cleveland to clerk for Circuit Court Judge John Pearson in what would have been his third year of law school. This real-world clerkship opportunity allowed Danny to graduate early and be sworn in as a member of the Bar by Chancellor Harvey T. Ross by early 1989. Danny then remained in Cleveland to work with his brother Ben, continuing a practice started by their father, the late Ellis Griffith. Like his sons, Ellis was also a graduate of Ole Miss Law School. Following another family tradition, Danny gained valuable trial experience serving as part-time indigent defense counsel in the early years of his practice pursuant to appointments from Circuit Judges Elzy Smith, Jack Hatcher, and Kenneth Thomas. During this time, Danny served on the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Public Defender Association. As a partner in the local firm of Griffith and Griffith, Danny also gained valuable experience working with Bolivar County, Mississippi and other local entities in the area. A significant portion of Danny’s practice involves the day to day legal issues which face governmental entities, including service as School Board Attorney, Public Land Manager, and City Attorney.

Danny has now practiced law in Cleveland for 30 years and currently serves as the City Attorney for the City of Cleveland. Danny holds the highest peer review rating available for an attorney. Danny has served as President of the Bolivar County Bar, Chair of the Government Law Section of the Mississippi Bar, and belongs to numerous professional organizations including the Mississippi Defense Lawyer Association (MDLA) and Defense Research Association (DRI). He is a member of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Federal, Mississippi, and Bolivar County Bar Associations, and the William C. Keady Chapter of American Inns of Court.

Danny’s litigation practice focuses on state and federal civil litigation for both public and private sector clients. He serves as defense panel counsel with multiple defense carriers, public entity pools, and the Southern States Police Benevolent Association. His federal practice has included appearance as lead counsel in over 250 federal civil cases in the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, primarily defending police officers, school teachers, and local governmental entities. Danny has now appeared in litigation for over half of Mississippi’s 82 counties and for Mississippi municipalities from the Delta to the Coast. Danny has argued as lead counsel before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in both New Orleans and Houston.

As the road miles and assignments increased, the time came for Danny to expand his law practice. Family friend, Gerald H. Jacks, provided that opportunity. Since joining Jacks Griffith Luciano as a partner in 2016, Danny made the most of this all too brief opportunity of being monitored by Gerald, a legal strategist and positive example of professionalism with very few peers in the legal profession. Gerald made working at Jacks Griffith Luciano feel like home and delivered on providing a firm with depth, resources, and an atmosphere that made law practice a fun and rewarding experience.

A combination of coming from a family of attorneys with similar areas of practice, years of active litigation experience, and working with memorable practitioners along the way has afforded Danny with the opportunity to address bar and insurance groups on continuing education topics in the areas of civil rights and public entity defense. Danny’s public entity practice also includes consulting and risk management for public entities ranging from law enforcement to city and county officials on a daily basis.

Danny is a husband (to an avid Mississippi State fan), a father, and a grandfather. He lives with his family in downtown Cleveland (and sometimes Ocean Springs).