He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Millsaps College in 2005 and a Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2009.
In 2011, Colom, then aged 28, was appointed the youngest and first black justice court judge in Lowndes County history.
Howard spent 23 years on death row, after his conviction was based on debunked bite mark evidence.
President Biden nominated Colom to the seat vacated by Judge Michael P. Mills, who assumed senior status on November 1, 2021.
[23] Congressman Bennie Thompson initially recommended Colom for the role in a November 2021 letter to the White House.
[25][26][27] Hyde-Smith cited Colom's support for letting transgender students participate in girls' and women's sports and money he received from a PAC funded by George Soros as reasons for her opposition.
[32] As of December 2023, his nomination was still stalled despite bipartisan support from Congressman Thompson, Senator Wicker and former governors Phil Bryant and Haley Barbour.