Judge Harris has been Chancellor in the 16th Judicial Chancery District in Mississippi since 2006.
Neil has been involved in the Boy Scouts of America for more than 30 years.
D. Neil Harris, Sr.
Senior Chancellor
16th Judicial Chancery District
Mississippi
Judge Harris is a Chancery Court Judge for the 16th Judicial Chancery District (Jackson, George, and Greene Counties) of the State of Mississippi. He has been on the bench since 2006. Judge Harris is a 1969 graduate of W.P. Davidson High School, and a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi. He holds a Master’s Degree from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, a Juris Doctor Degree in law from the University of Mississippi Law School, a Master Degree in Judicial Studies from the University of Nevada Reno. When time permits, Judge Harris continues studies toward a PHD at the University of Nevada Reno and the National Judicial College, Reno Nevada. Judge Harris serves a faculty member of the National Judicial College and the Mississippi Judicial College. He has taught “Rural Court,” “Case Management,” “Court Security and Emergency Preparedness,” “Ethics and Social Media, Metadata, and ESI.”
Judge Harris is a frequent speaker, presenter, and facilitator at the National Judicial College, the Conference of Mississippi Judges, Southern Trial Lawyers, the Mississippi Bar, Boy Scouts and various service clubs.
He is the author of “Probate Practice in Mississippi” and has been a frequent presenter at the Elmo Lang Continuing Education Program at the University of Southern Mississippi. He has taught “Issues of Contempt” to the Association of Mississippi Department of Human Services Attorneys. From time to time, he teaches a Chancery Court Update to local attorneys.
He practiced law for 25 years prior to taking the bench. He is choir director emeritus of First Presbyterian Church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, a member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 777, a trombonist, Aids to Navigation verifier for the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security, and a past Coxswain in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. As a professional trombone player, he plays in the Mobile Pops Band, the Baldwin County Alabama Pops Band, and when his schedule permits travels with Global Missions Project to Israel, Romania and other countries.
He is a founder and active mentor for Boy Scout Troop 271, in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. During the past 40 years the troop has seen over 200 scouts achieve the Eagle rank. In 2011, he received the Silver Beaver Award from Boy Scouts of America. In 2023, he received the Good Scout Award from the Pine Burr Area Council of Boy Scouts of America
Judge Harris and Michele have been married for 54 years and enjoy hiking. They have climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in East Africa, and hiked the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim. Neil has hiked about half of the 2190 mile Appalachian Trail. He and Michele have four adult children and eight grandchildren.
Michele is a Family Nurse Practitioner. She taught nursing at the Jackson County Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and the University of Southern, Mississippi until her retirement. In retirement, she volunteers as an FNP at Bethesda Free Clinic in Ocean Springs and enjoys working abroad as a medical provider.
Judge Harris and his family have lived in Ocean Springs for over 44 years.
Judge Harris served as a Coxswain in the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
