The man pulled from the Ross Barnett Reservoir, has been identified as retired Court of Appeals Judge James Brantley, 80, of Madison, according to the Madison County Coroner.Brantley died Wednesday in what was apparently a tragic accident, reservoir police Chief Perry Waggoner said.Brantley was pressure washing his home in the Roses Bluff subdivision around noon when he fell as a rail gave way, Waggoner said. It appeared he struck some rocks as he hit the water, Waggoner said. Waggoner said it has not been determined if Brantley drowned or succumbed to his injury after hitting his head on the rocks when he landed.Gov. Ronnie Musgrove appointed Brantley in August 2001 to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Mary Libby Payne, according to the Administrative Office of Courts. The appointment was through the end of 2002. Judge Brantley served on the Court of Appeals from August 2001 through December 2002. Judge T. Kenneth Griffith defeated Brantley in the November 2002 election and took office in January 2003, according to Public Information Officer Beverly Pettigrew Kraft.“We are very saddened. He was a colleague on the court. I have known him for many years. He will be sorely missed,” said Court of Appeals Chief Judge Joe Lee.

The man pulled from the Ross Barnett Reservoir, has been identified as retired Court of Appeals Judge James Brantley, 80, of Madison, according to the Madison County Coroner.


Brantley died Wednesday in what was apparently a tragic accident, reservoir police Chief Perry Waggoner said.

Brantley was pressure washing his home in the Roses Bluff subdivision around noon when he fell as a rail gave way, Waggoner said. It appeared he struck some rocks as he hit the water, Waggoner said.



Waggoner said it has not been determined if Brantley drowned or succumbed to his injury after hitting his head on the rocks when he landed.

Gov. Ronnie Musgrove appointed Brantley in August 2001 to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Mary Libby Payne, according to the Administrative Office of Courts. The appointment was through the end of 2002. Judge Brantley served on the Court of Appeals from August 2001 through December 2002. Judge T. Kenneth Griffith defeated Brantley in the November 2002 election and took office in January 2003, according to Public Information Officer Beverly Pettigrew Kraft.

“We are very saddened. He was a colleague on the court. I have known him for many years. He will be sorely missed,” said Court of Appeals Chief Judge Joe Lee.

