William L. Waller, Jr.

The Hon. William L. Waller, Jr. (born February 9, 1952) was sworn in as Chief Justice on the Supreme Court of Mississippi in January 2009. He represents the Central Judicial District of Mississippi.

Early years
Waller, a native and current resident of Jackson, Mississippi, is the son of William "Bill" Waller., Sr., former Governor of Mississippi. The junior Waller graduated from Murrah High School and Mississippi State University in 1974, where he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. He received his law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1977.

Career
Waller practiced law with the firm of Waller and Waller in Jackson for over 20 years and served as a Municipal Judge for the City of Jackson. Waller was elected to the Mississippi Supreme Court in November 1996, and re-elected in November 2004. He served as a Presiding Justice from January 2004 until December 2008, and assumed the position of Chief Justice in January 2009

Justice Waller has sought to bring reforms in the administration of justice. He supported adoption by the Supreme Court of mediation rules for civil litigation and served as Chairman of the Mississippi Public Defender Task Force from 2000 - 2005. Justice Waller was principal architect of what became legislation which created the Office of Capital Post Conviction Counsel, the Office of Indigent Appeals and the Comprehensive Electronic Court Systems Fund. Waller served as chairman of the Supreme Court Rules Committee from 2001 to 2008. In 2012, he led efforts that resulted in the passage of judicial compensation reform legislation.

Justice Waller was the recipient of the Judicial Innovation Award for 2003-2004 by the Hinds County Bar Association and the Jackson Young Lawyers Association. He received the Chief Justice Award in 2005 for his work as chairman of a special study committee to develop a statewide e-filing and docket management system. He received the Mississippi State University Pre-Law Society’s Distinguished Jurist award in 2009. He received the Judicial Excellence Award for 2011-2012 from the Capital Area Bar Association and the Jackson Young Lawyers Association. Mississippi College School of Law presented him with an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in 2012.

Justice Waller is currently a member of the Stennis Institute Advisory Board at Mississippi State University. He is a former Eagle Scout and serves on the Advisory Board of the Andrew Jackson Council, Boy Scouts of America. Justice Waller also serves on the adjunct faculty of the Mississippi College School of Law.

Military career
Presently assigned to the Retired Reserve, Justice Waller attained the rank of Brigadier General while serving as Commander of the 66th Troop Command, Mississippi Army National Guard, Jackson, Mississippi.

Personal life
Waller and his wife, Charlotte, have three children and are members of First Baptist Church Jackson where he has served as Chairman of the Deacons.