Hinds County’s most productive circuit court judge could soon get a promotion.
Jeff Weill has announced plans to run for the Mississippi Court of Appeals.
Weill, who has served eight years on the bench, will be running for the court’s fourth district, second position, which includes Marion County.
The seat is currently held by Chief Judge L. Joseph Lee, who is also seeking re-election. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 6.
“Right now, there are no circuit court judges on the court of appeals. We need someone who has smelled the smoke of the battle of lower courts,” Weill said.
Since taking office, the Tylertown native and former prosecutor has gained a reputation for being tough on crime, as well as for being one of the county’s hardest-working jurists.
Criminals have given him the name “Killer Whale” (a mis-pronunciation of his last name, which is pronounced “wheel”). At the same time, he has earned a reputation for fairness, giving lighter sentences to first-time offenders.
Oftentimes, Weill requires first-time offenders to get some “sweat equity,” sending them to Stewpot Community Services to volunteer.
Those criminals often are surprised to see the judge show up around noon to eat lunch with them, not so much to check up, but to find out more about them.
“I will sit down with them and visit with them, and talk with them about their families,” he told the Northside Sun in a previous interview. “Most people just want someone to know that they care about them.”
Weill also has presided over a number of high-profile matters, including the 2012 case involving Deryl Dedmon. Weill sentenced the then Rankin County teenager to life in prison after he pleaded guilty for killing a Jackson man simply for being African-American.
Weill drew attention from national media outlets for his strong stance against Dedmon’s actions.
“You have admitted killing a man simply because of his race. Your prejudice has brought shame upon you and placed a great stain on the state of Mississippi ... a stain which will take years to fade,” Weill said at the time.
The highest compliment, though, was likely in the form of a card from former Mississippi Gov. William Winter, who commended him for his stance.
Weill is a graduate of Michigan State University and the University of Mississippi School of Law. After college, he served as a prosecutor under the late U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton.
Afterward, Weill entered into private practice in Jackson, and later ran for and won a seat on the Jackson City Council representing Ward One. He and his wife, Tracy, have been married 30 years and have three sons, Joshua, Alan and Elliot, who are all Eagle Scouts.
The Court of Appeals Fourth District includes 13 full counties, mostly in Southwest Mississippi, as well as half of Hinds County and half of Jones County. Judges serve eight-year terms and hear cases from across the state.
