JACKSON, Miss. – DeSoto County residents will head to the polls in November 2026 to help select a judge for the Mississippi Court of Appeals, following an election proclamation by Gov. Tate Reeves.
Reeves announced Tuesday that he has set a special election for the Court of Appeals Judge, District 1, Position 1 seat. The election is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.
The seat is currently held by Judge John Weddle, the former District Attorney for the First Circuit Court District. Weddle has served in the position since his appointment by the governor on Oct. 14, 2024. The special election will determine who serves the remainder of the term.
The district covers a broad swath of northern Mississippi. In addition to DeSoto County, the district includes Alcorn, Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Grenada, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Marshall, Monroe, Montgomery, Panola, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union, Webster and Yalobusha counties.
Candidates wishing to run for the seat face a qualifying deadline of Feb. 2, 2026.
Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.
