--- title: "Leslie D. King | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/leslie-d-king-presiding-justice-mississippi-supreme-court-central-district-1-place-2-ms" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # Leslie D. King Mississippi Supreme Court · Presiding Justice ## Profile - Court: Mississippi Supreme Court - State: Mississippi - Role: Presiding Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-08-22 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Law practice, municipal court judge, public defender, prosecutor, state legislator (1980–1994), Court of Appeals judge (1994–2011), Mississippi Supreme Court justice (2011–present) - In December 2023, the National Judicial College honored him as one of its “60 Courageous Judges” for upholding the rule of law and providing justice for all - The Presiding Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court, appointed in 2011 and elected in 2012 and 2020, with a career spanning over 29 years in appellate judicial service - On February 23, 2011, Governor Haley Barbour appointed him to the Mississippi Supreme Court, where he became Presiding Justice in 2019 - In 1994, he was elected to the Mississippi Court of Appeals, becoming its first African American Chief Judge in 2004 and serving in that role until 2011 - Began practicing law in 1973 and has served in multiple roles, including municipal court judge, public defender, youth court prosecutor, and public prosecutor - Notable: First African American Chief Judge of the Mississippi Court of Appeals; longest-serving appellate judge in Mississippi ### Education - Texas Southern University School of Law in — J.D. (1973) - University of Mississippi — B.A. ### Additional information - From 1980 to 1994, King served in the Mississippi House of Representatives, holding leadership roles such as vice-chairman of the Ways and Means Committee (1988–1991) and vice-chairman of the Conservation and Water Resources Committee (since 1992). - Practitioner, 2010-2010 - He was also chairman of the Mississippi Black Legislative Caucus in 1988 - Date of birth: 1949-01-17 - Thurgood Marshall School of Law ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### electronic media coverage Scope: statewide Mississippi allows electronic media coverage of public judicial proceedings in appellate and trial courts of record, subject to the rules and presiding judge control. Evidence excerpt: Electronic media coverage of public judicial proceedings shall be allowed in the appellate and trial courts of record in this state subject to the conditions below. [Mississippi Rules for Electronic and Photographic Coverage of Judicial Proceedings](https://courts.ms.gov/research/rules/msrulesofcourt/rules_electronicphotographic_coverage.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### presiding judge discretion Scope: statewide The presiding Mississippi justice or judge may limit or terminate electronic coverage when necessary to protect rights, witnesses, dignity of the court, or orderly proceedings. Evidence excerpt: The presiding justice or judge has the discretion to limit or terminate electronic coverage at any time during the proceedings [Mississippi Rules for Electronic and Photographic Coverage of Judicial Proceedings](https://courts.ms.gov/research/rules/msrulesofcourt/rules_electronicphotographic_coverage.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### advance notice for media Scope: statewide Mississippi media representatives must provide advance notice for electronic or photographic coverage under the court rules. Evidence excerpt: Rule 5 ... requires that media representatives give at least 48 hours [Mississippi Rules for Electronic and Photographic Coverage of Judicial Proceedings](https://courts.ms.gov/research/rules/msrulesofcourt/rules_electronicphotographic_coverage.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.sos.ms.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Entire%202026%20Judiciary%20Directory%20and%20Court%20Calendar.pdf) - [Official roster](https://www.sos.ms.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Entire%202026%20Judiciary%20Directory%20and%20Court%20Calendar.pdf) - [Mississippi Secretary of State official judicial roster](https://www.sos.ms.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Entire%202026%20Judiciary%20Directory%20and%20Court%20Calendar.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4881/leslie-d-king/) - [Mississippi Rules for Electronic and Photographic Coverage of Judicial Proceedings](https://courts.ms.gov/research/rules/msrulesofcourt/rules_electronicphotographic_coverage.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4881/leslie-d-king/) - [Official biography source for Leslie D. King](https://www.sos.ms.gov/content/documents/ed_pubs/pubs/2026JD/JD%20and%20Court%20Calendar%202026.pdf) - [Wikidata: Leslie D. King](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6530749) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/leslie-d-king-presiding-justice-mississippi-supreme-court-central-district-1-place-2-ms", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/leslie-d-king-presiding-justice-mississippi-supreme-court-central-district-1-place-2-ms", "name": "Leslie D. King | KnowJudges", "description": "Leslie D. King, Mississippi Supreme Court. 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