Mississippi State Government

Outlines levels of Mississippi's court system

Open to the public. Provides access to extensive collection of legal research tools including federal documents.

Includes court calendars, links to federal district and appellate courts.

Nine-member panel elected from three districts, serving 8 year terms. Court of last resort for appeals from state courts.

Hear felony criminal prosecutions and civil lawsuits and appeals from County, Justice and Municipal courts and from administrative boards and commissions such as the Workers’ Compensation Commission and the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. There are 22 Circuit Court districts and 53 Circuit Court judges, selected in non-partisan elections to serve four-year terms. Trials are heard with a 12-member jury.

Have jurisdiction over disputes in matters involving equity; domestic matters including adoptions, custody disputes and divorces; guardianships; sanity hearings; wills; and challenges to constitutionality of state laws. Land records are filed in Chancery Court. There are 20 Chancery Court districts and 49 Chancery Court judges, elected to four year terms. Trials are typically heard by a chancellor without a jury, though a jury trial may be requested.

Mississippi has 21 County Courts (in Adams, Bolivar, Coahoma, DeSoto, Forrest, Harrison, Hinds, Jackson, Jones, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lee, Leflore, Lowndes, Madison, Pearl River, Pike, Rankin, Warren, Washington and Yazoo Counties). In these counties, they have exclusive jurisdiction over eminent domain proceedings and juvenile matters and concurrent jurisdiction with Justice Courts in all matters, civil and criminal. County Courts may handle non-capital felony cases transferred from Circuit Court. County Court judges may issue search warrants, set bond and preside over preliminary hearings. County Court judges serve four-year terms.

Have jurisdiction over small claims civil cases involving amounts of $3,500 or less, misdemeanor criminal cases and any traffic offense that occurs outside a municipality. Justice Court judges may conduct bond hearings and preliminary hearings in felony criminal cases and may issue search warrants. There are 82 Justice Courts with 197 judges, serving four-year terms. Justice Court judges are the only Mississippi judges elected in partisan races.

A special court given the responsibility to handle cases involving drug-using offenders through comprehensive supervision, drug testing, treatment services and immediate sanctions and incentives. Certified and monitored by the Administrative Office of the Courts, drug courts are established within the jurisdiction of other courts. All circuit court districts have felony program drug courts.

The state's 226 municipal courts have jurisdiction over misdemeanor crimes, municipal ordinances and city traffic violations. Municipal judges may conduct initial appearances in which defendants are advised of the charges being filed, as well as bond hearings and preliminary hearings. Most municipal judges are appointed by governing bodies of municipalities. Terms of office vary.

Deal with matters involving abuse and neglect of juveniles, as well as offenses ("delinquent acts") committed by juveniles under the age of 18. County Court judges (in 21 counties) also serve as Youth Court judges. In other counties Chancery Judges may hear Youth Court matters, or the Chancery Judge may appoint a lawyer to act in a judicial capacity as Youth Court Referee.