# Taylor B. McNeel
Taylor Brantley McNeel (born 1983) is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi since 2020.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/9280216) He was appointed by President Donald Trump.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/9280216) He was confirmed in December 2020 after being nominated that July.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/9280216)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/9280216) |
| Appointed by | Donald J. Trump[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/9280216) |
| Confirmed | December 1, 2020, Senate vote 53 to 39[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/9280216) • [2](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1160669) |
| Born | 1983 in Louisville, Mississippi[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/9280216) |
| Education | B.B.A., University of Mississippi, 2005; J.D., University of Mississippi School of Law, 2008[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/9280216) |
## Early life and education
McNeel was born in 1983 in Louisville, Mississippi.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/9280216) He earned his [Bachelor of Business Administration](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-business-administration), cum laude, from the [University of Mississippi](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-mississippi) in 2005, and his [Juris Doctor](https://www.edgepedia.org/juris-doctor), cum laude, from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2008, where he served on the Mississippi Law Journal.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/9280216) • [3](https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-judicial-nominees-15/)
## Legal career
From 2008 to 2020, McNeel practiced law in private practice in [Biloxi, Mississippi](https://www.edgepedia.org/biloxi-mississippi).[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/9280216) He was a member of the firm Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC, where his practice focused on complex commercial litigation and he served as the Partner in Charge of the Mississippi Gulf Coast office.[3](https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-judicial-nominees-15/) He served as president of the Harrison County Bar Association, and in March 2019 he was appointed to the board of trustees for the Pascagoula-Gautier School District.[4](https://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2020/dec/02/attorney-confirmed-federal-judge-south-mississippi/)
In a questionnaire for the Senate Judiciary Committee, McNeel said he served on the Jackson County Republican Party executive committee in 2014 and 2015, and that he and his wife hosted a 2019 campaign event for [Tate Reeves](https://www.edgepedia.org/tate-reeves), who went on to win the governor's race; he said the event was not a fundraiser. He also said he was part of an informal committee that organized a fundraising event for [Michael Watson](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-watson), who won the 2019 race for [Mississippi](https://www.edgepedia.org/mississippi) secretary of state.[4](https://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2020/dec/02/attorney-confirmed-federal-judge-south-mississippi/)
## Federal judicial service
On July 2, 2020, President Donald J. Trump nominated McNeel to a judgeship on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/9280216) The White House announced his intent to nominate McNeel, of Mississippi, to serve as judge on that court.[3](https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-judicial-nominees-15/) He succeeded Judge Louis Guirola Jr., who retired from full-time judicial service in March 2018.[4](https://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2020/dec/02/attorney-confirmed-federal-judge-south-mississippi/)
The Senate confirmed McNeel on December 1, 2020, by a vote of 53 to 39.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/9280216) • [2](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1160669) He received his commission on December 14, 2020.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/9280216) He was the 228th federal judge confirmed to a lifetime position since Trump took office in 2017, and the second new federal district judge for southern Mississippi confirmed in recent weeks, following [Kristi Haskins Johnson](https://www.edgepedia.org/kristi-h-johnson), confirmed on November 17, 2020.[4](https://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2020/dec/02/attorney-confirmed-federal-judge-south-mississippi/)
## References
1. [Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: Taylor Brantley McNeel](https://www.fjc.gov/node/9280216)
2. [Senate Roll Call Vote, December 1, 2020](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1160669)
3. [President Donald J. Trump Announces Judicial Nominees](https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-judicial-nominees-15/)
4. [Attorney Confirmed as Federal Judge in South Mississippi](https://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2020/dec/02/attorney-confirmed-federal-judge-south-mississippi/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States district court judges › Surnames Mc to My*
*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license