Bradley Partner Michael J. Bentley Appointed Chair of Lawyers Advisory Committee for U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Bradley partner Michael J. Bentley has been appointed by the Hon. Jennifer W. Elrod, chief judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, to serve as chair of the court’s newly formed Lawyers Advisory Committee.

The Lawyers Advisory Committee was established in November 2025 to review, study, and make recommendations regarding the Fifth Circuit local rules and internal operating procedures. The committee is comprised of two lawyer members from each state within the circuit who are appointed for two-year terms to serve as liaisons for the public to the court for procedural matters and suggestions for change, comments, or recommendations regarding the court’s practices or procedures.

Mr. Bentley is a partner in the firm’s Jackson office and was selected due to his experience and perspective on how the Fifth Circuit Court conducts its business. He concentrates his practice on appeals and litigation, with an emphasis on constitutional law, zoning and land-use litigation, and complex commercial litigation. He regularly serves as lead appellate counsel in high-stakes litigation, from trial through appeal. He has argued numerous high-profile appeals in the Mississippi Supreme Court and in federal court.

An active member of the Mississippi legal community, Mr. Bentley is a founding member and past chair of the Mississippi Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Section. He is the immediate past president and serves on the board of governors for the Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit. Mr. Bentley was inducted as a Fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation in 2025 for his dedication and service to the public and profession. He earned his J.D., summa cum laude, from Mississippi College School of Law and received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Millsaps College.