About the District Attorney’s Office

Chris Hennis, of Raleigh, Mississippi, joined the Office of the District Attorney for the 13th Circuit Court District, as an Assistant District Attorney in September 2014. Chris was appointed District Attorney on March 4, 2021, by Governor Tate Reeves and was unopposed in the Special Election.

Chris is a graduate of Raleigh High School, the University of Southern Mississippi, and Mississippi College School of Law.

In 1989, Chris enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of 17. He served for four years, including a tour of duty in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm with 2d Reconnaissance Battalion from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, Chris was invited to attend and graduated from the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol’s Cadet Class #50, was hired as a State Trooper, and was assigned to Troop H for seven years. While serving as a State Trooper, Chris was a member of the highway patrol’s SWAT team and a Field Training Officer.

Chris graduated from Mississippi College School of Law in 2004 and in addition to his private practice, Chris was the Prosecuting Attorney for Smith County for 9 years before becoming an Assistant District Attorney. Since becoming a prosecutor in 2005, Chris has prosecuted hundreds of cases ranging from drug possession to murder. 

Chris is married to Lisa Massey of Louin, Mississippi, who is the interventionist at Raleigh High School. They have four children, Jessica Herrington (Collins), Phillip Casey Collins, Matthew Hennis, and Olivia Grace Hennis. Chris and his family are members of Sylvarena Baptist Church in Smith County.