document.write("<div>When Oliver E. Diaz, Jr., was appointed to the Mississippi Supreme Court in March 2000, justice was entrusted to a fair, objective and highly experienced community leader. Justice Diaz\'s extensive credentials, including service as a representative of the Mississippi Legislature as well as experience practicing both private and public law, make him a well-rounded voice for Mississippi\'s highest court.<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Justice Diaz graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1977, after which he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Alabama. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1985. Since then, Justice Diaz has put his energies into ensuring that justice doesn\'t fall by the wayside- from both sides of the bench.<\/p>\n<p>Following graduation, Justice Diaz practiced law on the Gulf Coast until being elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives, District 116, where he represented the interests of the citizens of his District for seven years. During his service in the Legislature, Justice Diaz was a subcommittee Chairman for both the Insurance Committee and the Judiciary Committee. He also served on the Ways and Means Committee and was Secretary for the Constitution Committee. In addition, he was the City Attorney for D\'lberville for four years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>Justice Diaz was elected to the first Mississippi Court of Appeals in November 1994, where he worked diligently to fairly interpret Mississippi\'s laws. He served a prolific five-year tenure on the Court, acting on over 3,400 cases and personally writing over 400 opinions.<\/div>\n<div>Making sound decisions is not the only way Justice Diaz shows his concern for the community; he is also a volunteer for several organizations. He has been a student mentor for the Biloxi Public Schools, a foreign exchange student program host, and a volunteer with the Boys and Girls Club of Biloxi. Justice Diaz\'s dedication and love for his wife Jennifer, daughter Olivia, and son Oliver reinforce his strong belief in family values.<\/div>\n<div>Justice Diaz believes it is not the job of a jurist to make the law, but rather to interpret and enforce the law. By devoting his life to law, he has become a spokesman for the state of Mississippi.<\/div>");