Jay P. Carmean

A resident of Oxford, Mississippi for the past 30 years, Jay has vigorously fought for individuals facing both misdemeanor and felony charges in the State of Mississippi. Since graduating from The University of Mississippi School of Law in 1999, Jay has concentrated his practice on defending citizens charged with crimes with an emphasis on DUI’s, Public Drunkenness, Minor in Possession of Alcohol and Possession of a False ID.

After graduating from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1999, Jay served as a law clerk for Presiding Justice C.R. “Chuck” McRae of the Mississippi Supreme Court. Jay then worked for Tollison Law Firm, P.A. in Oxford for four years, returning to the firm he had clerked for while in law school. While there, Jay was made a partner in the firm, In January of 2004, Jay joined Rhea Tannehill, Jr. to form Tannehill Carmean, PLLC.

In 2015, Jay was awarded an AV Peer Review Rating which signifies that a lawyer’s peers (other lawyers and judges) rank them at the highest level of professional excellence, based on legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.

In 2025, Jay was selected as a Fellow by the Mississippi Bar Association. The Fellow designation is the Foundation’s highest honor as only 10% of the lawyers in Mississippi are eligible for membership. Selection is recognition by peers that the attorney has achieved the highest level of professionalism, competence and leadership. Fellows are selected for membership based not only on their excellence as a lawyer but also by their dedication and service to the public and the legal profession.

Jay is the Past President of the Lafayette County Bar Association and served on the Mississippi Association for Justice’s Leader’s Forum. He served eight years on the MAJ Board of Governors, an elected position and in 2006 was was elected in a state-wide election to serve on the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Bar Young Lawyers Division. Jay was the youngest member of the Mississippi Bar ever appointed to serve on the Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions. As a member for two terms, Jay drafted the criminal law, constitutional law and torts portions of the Mississippi Bar Exam. In 2010, Jay was appointed by the Mississippi Bar Association to serve a two year term on the North Mississippi Rural Legal Services Board of Directors, with involvement with the Union Bargaining Committee. The NMRLS provides pro bono legal assistance to those that cannot afford it.

Locally, Jay served for six years on Oxford Planning Commission with the last four coming as Chairman, has served on the United Way Distribution Committee, is Past President of the Lafayette County Oxford Ole Miss Alumni Association and is a graduate of the Leadership Lafayette program.

Jay, originally from Caruthersville, Missouri, is married to the former Wendy Chambers of Oxford, Mississippi. Wendy is also an Ole Miss graduate and is the owner of Wend & Willow, a plantscaping business in Oxford. They are the proud parents of twin girls, Jane Reeves and Evelyn Rose, both students at Ole Miss.