[1] He received an Associate of Arts from Itawamba Community College in 1976, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Mississippi in 1978, a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1980, and a Master of Laws from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2001.
[1] In addition to his work as a lawyer and judge, Mills published a collection of short stories titled Twice Told Tombigbee Tales.
[2] On September 4, 2001, Mills was nominated by President George W. Bush to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi vacated by Judge Neal Brooks Biggers Jr..[3] Mills was confirmed by the United States Senate in a 98–0 vote on October 11, 2001,[4] and received his commission on October 16, 2001.
He became chief judge in 2007, and served in that capacity until 2014, when he was succeeded by Sharion Aycock.
[5] Mills suffered a heart attack in January 2018, but recovered and was able to continue serving.