Vampire Defense

James D. Bell is a retired County, Circuit and Chancery Judge who practices law in Mississippi.  He was the youngest trial judge in state history and received the highest bar association approval ratings ever given to a Mississippi Circuit or County Judge. He is listed in Preeminent Lawyers, Outstanding Lawyers of America, and other lists of leading lawyers. 

Judge Bell authored the Circuit Judges Bench Book, published by the Mississippi Judicial College, a book that is used by all Circuit Judges in Mississippi, a Law Journal article on Habeas Corpus, published by the University of Mississippi School of Law, as well as a number of guest editorials in the Clarion Ledger, the Jackson newspaper.  He also helped write rules of procedure and evidence used in the courts of Mississippi. 

Judge Bell is a speaker at legal seminars on evidence and trial tactics and at various churches and civic groups on the evidence that Jesus Christ is the Messiah.

Judge Bell has been involved in some of the most significant cases in Mississippi, and drew on actual experiences when he wrote the Vampire Defense.  He is the son of an American Indian mother and a prominent local businessman.  He is devoted to his wife, Joanne.  They live in Ridgeland, Mississippi and have four children.