Gov. Tate Reeves announced his selection of district attorney John Weddle of Saltillo to fill a vacant judgeship on the Mississippi Court of Appeals in the northeast region of the state. Weddle will be taking over for former Judge Jim M. Greenlee, who retired at the end of June. With nearly 25 years of legal experience, Weddle has been serving as the district attorney for Alcorn, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc, Prentiss, and Tishomingo counties since 2015, after previously working as an assistant district attorney covering those areas. Additionally, he has also held positions as a public defender in Lee County and a municipal court judge in Tupelo.

Weddle will be leaving his current role to join the 10-member appellate court on October 14th. Gov. Reeves praised Weddle’s extensive background in the legal field and his dedication to public service as qualities that will make him a valuable asset to the Court of Appeals. Weddle’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University and a law degree from the University of Mississippi.

The appointment of Weddle creates a vacancy in the district attorney position he currently holds, prompting Gov. Reeves to announce a nonpartisan special election scheduled for November 3, 2026 to fill the remaining half of the Court of Appeals term that ends in 2030. As a candidate in that election, Weddle will have the option to seek a full term on the court.