Mississippi State Pre-Law Society will honor the chief justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court today. The Distinguished Jurist Award will be accepted by MSU alumni Judge William “Bill” Waller Jr. during a luncheon in the Colvard Student Union.
In a public presentation, Waller will deliver an annual report from the chief justice to the Mississippi State Bar at 2 p.m. in the John Grisham Room of Mitchell Memorial Library.
“The importance of that is that they know what is going on in the legal profession so they can have some idea about what the legal profession is accomplishing,” Waller said. “My presentation at the luncheon is a historical review of the office of chief justice.”
A Jackson native, Waller studied political science for two years but changed his major and acquired a general business degree from Mississippi State.
He said MSU prepared him for law school and life after law school.
“I got some excellent training, and I think the cross studies of political science and business was very helpful. I studied our government institutions and the political process and there are so many aspects of business that involve legal matters,” Waller said. “I just feel I was well prepared.”
Waller said he urges students to take advantage of the opportunities to learn and serve at MSU.
“Take advantage of the college experience and investigating opportunities for service and work. Use the education experience as time to prepare oneself for employment and service after education,” he said. “Use resources to help find out who you are and find out what you should be involved in.”
Waller received his law degree from the University of Mississippi in 1977. For over 20 years, he practiced law with Waller and Waller in Jackson. He also served as Municipal Judge for Jackson.
In November 1996, he was elected to the Mississippi Supreme Court and re-elected in November 2004. From January until 2008, Waller served as Presiding Justice, assuming position of Chief Justice in January 2009 representing District 1 Place 1.
Pre-law society adviser Whit Waide said he has great respect for Waller.
“His whole career has been that of public service,” he said. “I just think that’s a very honorable aspect of Chief Justice Waller’s life.”
Waller is currently a member of the Stennis Institute Advisory Board of MSU, a think-tank Waide said exposes students to various aspects of government.
“He takes his position very seriously. He comes to every meeting,” Waide said. “He’s very excited to participate, and his participation is vital.”
Waller served as Commander of the 66th Troop Command in the Mississippi Army National Guard in Jackson and attained the rank of Brigadier General. He presently serves in the Retired Reserve.
“My experience in the Army ROTC was very informative and taught me a lot of life lessons,” Waller said.
Waide said Waller’s service in the court and the military has gained him much respect.
“Not only does he serve the state in the Supreme Court, but also from a military aspect,” he said. “In the Mississippi law community, he’s one of the most well respected judges there is.”
The son of William Waller Sr., a former Mississippi governor and lawyer, Waller said his father’s job made a huge impact on his life.
“The calling to be a judge did come later, but I did know as a teenager that I wanted to participate in the legal system.” he said. “My father was an attorney and I had a part time job as a janitor in his office to make some spending money. I was just exposed to the legal system early on and saw how it impacted everyday life.”
In 1963 his father was a prosecutor for the trial of a murdered civil rights activist.
“That made a huge impact on me because that was the first challenge to white supremist,” he said. “It was a watershed event and it made a big impression on me. It cemented an interest in me in wanting to be a part of that process.”
Junior political science major Anna Rush works with the pre-law society’s events and fund-raising. She said as a pre-law student she learned from Waller hard work pays off in the end.
“He’s definitely a distinguished jurist, but he didn’t get there the easy way. He’s a hard worker,” she said. “He didn’t give up and kept working after he got his law degree.”
The award, which was first presented in 1977, has recognized sitting and retired jurists of distinction. Honored jurists and U.S. attorney generals such as Tom C. Clark, Edward Levi and former Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox have been honored with the award.
“We’re extremely grateful he accepted our invitation to come to Mississippi State,” Rush said. “We’re looking forward to hearing him speak because he has a lot of good input and insight about law in Mississippi and life in general.”