--- title: "Michael P. Mills, Jr | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-p-mills-jr-circuit-judge-mississippi-first-circuit-district-court-first-circuit-district-ms" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Michael P. Mills, Jr Mississippi FIRST Circuit District Court · Circuit Judge ## Profile - Court: Mississippi FIRST Circuit District Court - State: Mississippi - Role: Circuit Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, District Court, N.D. Mississippi, 2001-present - “Chip” Mills, Jr. is a Circuit Judge for Mississippi’s First Circuit Court District, appointed by Governor Tate Reeves on March 2, 2020, to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge James Roberts - Justice, Mississippi Supreme Court, 1995-2001 ### Education - University of Mississippi — B.A. (1978) ### Additional information - Practitioner, 2002-2002 - State representative, Mississippi, 1984-1995 - Private practice, Mississippi, 1980-1995 - Practitioner, 1994-1994 - legis, 1994-1994 - prof, 1994-1994 - Date of birth: 1956-08-25 - Municipal Prosecutor for multiple municipalities - Michael P. - He has prosecuted felony cases in all seven counties of the district - Judge Mills presides over the First Circuit Court District of Mississippi, which covers Alcorn, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc, Prentiss, and Tishomingo counties. - Responsible for handling a wide range of cases, including criminal, civil, and family matters, within this jurisdiction - Birth place: Charleston, SC ## 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/content/documents/ed_pubs/pubs/2026JD/JD%20and%20Court%20Calendar%202026.pdf) - [Official roster](https://www.sos.ms.gov/content/documents/ed_pubs/pubs/2026JD/JD%20and%20Court%20Calendar%202026.pdf) - [Mississippi Secretary of State Judicial Directory official judicial roster](https://www.sos.ms.gov/content/documents/ed_pubs/pubs/2026JD/JD%20and%20Court%20Calendar%202026.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2265/michael-p-mills/) - [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/2265/michael-p-mills/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-p-mills-jr-circuit-judge-mississippi-first-circuit-district-court-first-circuit-district-ms", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-p-mills-jr-circuit-judge-mississippi-first-circuit-district-court-first-circuit-district-ms", "name": "Michael P. Mills, Jr | KnowJudges", "description": "Michael P. Mills, Jr, Mississippi FIRST Circuit District Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-p-mills-jr-circuit-judge-mississippi-first-circuit-district-court-first-circuit-district-ms#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-p-mills-jr-circuit-judge-mississippi-first-circuit-district-court-first-circuit-district-ms#judge", "name": "Michael P. Mills, Jr", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-p-mills-jr-circuit-judge-mississippi-first-circuit-district-court-first-circuit-district-ms", "jobTitle": "Circuit Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Mississippi FIRST Circuit District Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.sos.ms.gov/content/documents/ed_pubs/pubs/2026JD/JD%20and%20Court%20Calendar%202026.pdf", "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2265/michael-p-mills/" ], "birthDate": "1956-08-25", "birthPlace": "Charleston, SC", "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of Mississippi" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Mississippi", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/mississippi" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michael P. Mills, Jr", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-p-mills-jr-circuit-judge-mississippi-first-circuit-district-court-first-circuit-district-ms" } ] } ] } ```