William (Bill) L. Waller Jr
Mississippi Supreme Court
Chief Justice William L. (Bill) Waller, Jr., is a native and current resident of Jackson. After graduating from Murrah High School, he received his bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University in 1974 and his law degree from the University of Mississippi in 1977. He practiced law with the firm of Waller and Waller in Jackson for more than twenty years. He served as a Municipal Judge for the City of Jackson from 1995 to 1996.
Waller was elected to the Mississippi Supreme Court in November 1996, and was re-elected in November 2004 and in November 2012. He served as a Presiding Justice from January 2004 until December 2008. He became Chief Justice in January 2009.
Waller has worked to bring various reforms to the legal system. He supported the adoption of mediation rules for civil litigation; served as Chairman of the Mississippi Public Defender Task Force from 2000 to 2005; and chaired the Supreme Court Rules Committee from 2001 to 2008. Waller was also the principal architect behind legislation that created the Office of Capital Post Conviction Counsel, the Office of Indigent Appeals, and the Comprehensive Electronic Court Systems Fund. In 2012, he led efforts that resulted in the passage of judicial compensation reform legislation. Waller has also promoted statewide expansion of Drug Courts, which focus on rehabilitation and save millions of tax dollars. He has written articles for the Mississippi College Law Review, the Mississippi College School of Law’s Amicus publication, and The Mississippi Lawyer magazine. He speaks regularly at civic clubs, public events, and continuing education seminars.
Waller has been recognized for his service and leadership. He received the Judicial Innovation Award for 2003-2004 from the Hinds County Bar Association and the Jackson Young Lawyers Association.
- Mississippi
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- Adjunct faculty member
- Mississippi College School of Law and the University of Mississippi School of Law
- Current
- Various
- Mississippi Army National Guard and the United States Army Reserve
- Current
- More than 30 years commissioned service in the Mississippi Army National Guard and the United States Army Reserve and presently assigned to the Retired Reserve. A graduate of the U.S. Army War College and a recipient of the Legion of Merit. Attained the rank of Brigadier General while serving as the Commander of the 66th Troop Command, Mississippi Army National Guard.
- Justice
- Mississippi Supreme Court
- - Current
- Served as a Presiding Justice from January 2004 until December 2008. Became Chief Justice in January 2009.
- Municipal Judge
- City of Jackson
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- Attorney
- Waller and Waller
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- University of Mississippi
- J.D. (1977) | Law
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- Mississippi State University
- B.A. (1974)
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- Judicial Excellence Award
- Mississippi Bar Association
- Distinguished Jurist award
- Mississippi State University Pre-Law Society
- Judicial Innovation Award for 2003-2004
- Hinds County Bar Association and the Jackson Young Lawyers Association
- Judicial Excellence Award for 2011-2012
- Capital Area Bar Association and the Jackson Young Lawyers Association
- Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree
- Mississippi College
- Mississippi State Bar
- Member
- Current
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- Mississippi Bar Foundation
- Fellow
- Current
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- Supreme Court Rules Committee
- Chair
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- Mississippi Public Defender Task Force
- Chairman
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