McNeel earned his Bachelor of Business Administration, cum laude, from the University of Mississippi, and his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Mississippi School of Law, where he served on the Mississippi Law Journal.[2] At the University of Mississippi, he served as Senior Class President (2004 – 2005) and was on the Varsity Football Team (2001 – 2003).[1] As quarterback of his high school football team, he helped lead the team to its four straight state titles.[1] McNeel was also elected Governor of Mississippi American Legion Boys State (2000) and was an Eagle Scout (1999).[1]
Career
From 2008 to 2020, he was a member at Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC, in Biloxi, Mississippi, where his practice focused on complex commercial litigation. He was the Partner in Charge of the Mississippi Gulf Coast office.[2] While in private practice, he was involved in pro bono work, including trying a both a jury trial and a bench trial pro bono.
McNeel was also AV rated by Martindale Hubbard and featured in publications such as Benchmark Litigation and Super Lawyers.[1] He served on the Pascagoula-Gautier School District Board of Trustees from 2019-2020.[1]
McNeel was involved in numerous professional and bar association committees and organizations.[1] He was also involved with his local Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, and other civil and charitable organizations.[1] He is also a member of the Federalist Society.[1]
Notable Decisions
On April 30, 2021, McNeel dismissed most claims in a case filed by a man who was acquitted of manslaughter in the death of his former girlfriend. The plaintiff alleged police lacked probable cause to detain him for 86 hours following the shooting and to charge him in connection with her death several weeks later. Plaintiff also claimed that the defendants leaked information to the press about the investigation, and conducted a flawed investigation that caused him to be wrongfully charged and indicted.[9]
On June 28, 2021, McNeel denied a motion for summary judgment in a case filed by a young man falsely accused of murder and jailed for approximately eight months.[10]
In April 2022, McNeel sentenced a man who posed as a neurologist for 2+1⁄2 years to prison for health care fraud for submitting false statements to Medicare for reimbursement. Restitution in excess of $1.53 million was ordered.[11]
On May 19, 2023, McNeel denied a motion for a temporary restraining order in a case filed by a trans girl against her school district for instituting a policy requiring her to wear "boys" socks, shoes, pants, button-down-shirt, and tie at her high school graduation.[12][13] The student did not appeal.
In February 2024, McNeel dismissed a lawsuit filed by commercial fishers in an attempt to block a quota reduction on amberjack limits.[14] The question involved whether members of a regulatory council were constitutionally appointed pursuant to the Appointments Clause.
