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A lifelong Mississippian, Judge Joe Lee was born in Poplarville in Pearl River County in 1945 and grew up in Lamar County where he graduated from Lumberton High School in 1963.
After graduating from high school, Judge Lee moved to Hattiesburg where he attended the University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey College, ultimately receiving his Bachelor of Science from William Carey College in December 1969. Through high school and college, Judge Lee supported himself and his family by working in the funeral home industry.
In 1970, Judge Lee enrolled in the Jackson School of Law (now Mississippi College School of Law). While attending law classes at night, Judge Lee worked as a high school teacher and principal. As a law student, Judge Lee was inducted into Sigma Delta Kappa, an honorary legal fraternity. Judge Lee graduated from the Jackson School of Law in 1973 and began practicing law in Jackson.
Throughout his career as an attorney, Judge Lee maintained a general law practice handling both criminal and civil cases, representing both plaintiffs and defendants, and appearing before all levels of courts in the state. In 1981 - 1982, Judge Lee was elected and served as President of the Mississippi Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. He also served four terms as District Governor for the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association.
In 1975, Judge Lee fulfilled one of his life�s goals and bought funeral homes in Jackson and Rankin County, which became known as Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home. For years, Judge Lee simultaneously maintained his law practice and ownership of the funeral homes.
From 1995 to 1999, Judge Lee served as an adjunct professor of business law at William Carey College.
In 1998, Judge Lee was elected to serve on the Mississippi Court of Appeals. Judge Lee was re-elected in 2002 without opposition. He is currently serving in his second elected term for the Court. Judge Lee has attended and completed the New York University Judicial College.
In 2004, Judge Lee was chosen from over 3000 of his peers as Mississippi College School of Law�s Lawyer of the Year. He was also recognized by the 2004 session of the Mississippi House of Representatives for his selection as Lawyer of the Year and for his contributions to the community and state.
Judge Lee has shared his experience and promoted the legal profession by mentoring students in both of Mississippi�s law schools and by serving as a judge to moot court teams. He also served as a judge in the First Annual Mississippi College-University of Mississippi Moot Court Competition in 2004.
Prior to his election to the bench, Judge Lee served in various posts in numerous professional and business organizations across the state, including, Governor of the Mississippi Funeral Directors Association and Committee Member of the Chamber of Commerce. Judge Lee has been recognized by the Jackson Firefighters Association for his contributions to the community. Judge Lee was also named Boss of the Year by American Businesswomen. Judge Lee is a generous supporter of the Mississippi Heart Association and Mississippi Public Broadcast Network and a member of the Rotary Club as well as a former Jaycee. He has been a member of the Antique Vehicle Club of Mississippi for over twenty-six years, having served two terms as President.
In 2007, Judge Lee was presented with the Juris Sodalitas Distinguished Public Servant Award by the University of Southern Mississippi, College of Arts and Letters.
Judge Lee is admitted to the Mississippi, Texas, and American Bar Associations.
Judge Lee is a frequent speaker for the Mississippi Bar as well as civic clubs.
Judge Lee worships at St. Paul�s Catholic Church, where he serves as an usher and greeter.
Judge Lee is married to the former Renee Simon. He has sons, Joey and daughter -in-law, Julie and Jud, a stepdaughter, Elaina, and two grandsons, Garrett and Steven. | 