Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-19 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 13-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-19
Status: in_force

(1) Court reporters for circuit and chancery courts may be paid an annual salary payable by the Administrative Office of Courts not to exceed Forty-nine Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($49,500.00) for court reporters with five (5) years' experience or less; not to exceed Fifty-eight Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($58,500.00) for court reporters who have more than five (5) years' experience but less than ten (10) years; and not to exceed Sixty-four Thousand Dollars ($64,000,00) for court reporters who have ten (10) years or more experience. No amount of the increase in the maximum salary authorized by this section shall be paid from the State General Fund. The board of supervisors of any county is authorized to pay its court reporters the applicable amount of the maximum salary authorized by this section. In addition, any court reporter performing the duties of a court administrator in the same judicial district in which the person is employed as a court reporter may be paid additional compensation for performing the court administrator duties. The annual amount of the additional compensation shall be set by vote of the judges and chancellors for whom the court administrator duties are performed, with consideration given to the number of hours per month devoted by the court reporter to performing the duties of a court administrator. The additional compensation shall be submitted to the Administrative Office of Courts for approval.

(2) The several counties in each respective court district shall transfer from the general funds of those county treasuries to the Administrative Office of Courts a proportionate amount to be paid toward the annual compensation of the court reporter, including any additional compensation paid for the performance of court administrator duties. The amount to be paid by each county shall be determined by the number of weeks in which court is held in each county in proportion to the total number of weeks court is held in the district. For purposes of this section, the term “ compensation ” means the gross salary plus all amounts paid for benefits, or otherwise, as a result of employment or as required by employment, but does not include transcript fees otherwise authorized to be paid by or through the counties. However, only salary earned for services rendered shall be reported and credited for retirement purposes. Amounts paid for transcript fees, benefits or otherwise, including reimbursement for travel expenses, shall not be reported or credited for retirement purposes.

For example, if there are thirty-eight (38) scheduled court weeks in a particular district, a county in which court is scheduled five (5) weeks out of the year would have to pay five-thirty-eighths ( 5 / 38 ) of the total annual compensation.

(3) The salary and any additional compensation for the performance of court administrator duties shall be paid in twelve (12) installments on the last working day of each month after it has been duly authorized by the appointing judge or chancellor and an order duly placed on the minutes of the court. Each county shall transfer to the Administrative Office of Courts one-twelfth ( 1 / 12 ) of the amount required to be paid pursuant to subsection (2) of this section by the twentieth day of each month for the salary that is to be paid on the last working day of the month. The Administrative Office of Courts shall pay to the court reporter the total amount of salary due for that month. Any county may pay, in the discretion of the board of supervisors, by the twentieth day of January of any year, the amount due for a full twelve (12) months.

(4) From and after October 1, 1996, all circuit and chancery court reporters will be employees of the Administrative Office of Courts.

(5) No circuit or chancery court reporter shall be entitled to any compensation for any special or extended term of court after passage of this section.

(6) No chancery or circuit court reporter shall practice law in the court within which he or she is the court reporter.

(7) For all travel required in the performance of official duties, the circuit or chancery court reporter shall be paid mileage by the county in which the duties were performed at the same rate as provided for state employees in Section 25-3-41 . The court reporter shall file in the office of the clerk of the court which he serves a certificate of mileage expense incurred during that term and payment of such expense to the court reporter shall be paid on allowance by the judge of such court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-29 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-29
Status: in_force

(1) The Ninth Circuit Court District is composed of the following counties:

(a) Issaquena County;

(b) Sharkey County; and

(c) Warren County.

(2) The Ninth Circuit Court District shall be divided into two (2) subdistricts as follows:

(a) Subdistrict 9-1 shall consist of Issaquena County, Sharkey County and the following precincts in Warren County: 3-61 Store*, American Legion Hall, Auditorium, Brunswick, Cedar Grove*, Kings*, Number 7 Fire Station*, St. Aloysius and Vicksburg Junior High School*.

(b) Subdistrict 9-2 shall consist of the following precincts in Warren County: 3-61 Store*, Beechwood, Bovina, Cedar Grove*, Culkin, Elks Lodge, Goodrum, Jett, Kings*, Moose Lodge, Number 7 Fire Station*, Oak Ridge, Plumbers Hall, Redwood, Tingleville, Vicksburg Junior High School*, YMCA and Yokena.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-79 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 21-79
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-79
Status: in_force

(1) An interpreter is needed and a court interpreter shall be appointed when the judge determines, after an examination of a party or witness, that: (a) the party cannot understand and speak English well enough to participate fully in the proceedings and to assist counsel; or (b) the witness cannot speak English so as to be understood directly by counsel, court and jury.

(2) The court should examine a party or witness on the record to determine whether an interpreter is needed if:

(a) A party or counsel requests such an examination;

(b) It appears to the court that the party or witness may not understand and speak English well enough to participate fully in the proceedings; or

(c) The party or witness requests an interpreter. The fact that a person for whom English is a second language knows some English does not prohibit that individual from being allowed to have an interpreter.

(3) After the examination, the court should state its conclusion on the record, and the file in the case shall be clearly marked and data entered electronically when appropriate by court personnel to ensure that an interpreter will be present when needed in any subsequent instance arising out of the litigation.

(4) Upon a request by the Limited English Proficient (LEP) individual, by counsel, or by any other officer of the court, the court shall determine whether the interpreter provided is able to communicate accurately with and translate information to and from the Limited English Proficient (LEP) individual. If it is determined that the interpreter cannot perform these functions, the court shall provide the Limited English Proficient (LEP) individual with another interpreter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-3-13 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 3-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-3-13
Status: in_force

The clerk of the Supreme Court, before he enters on the discharge of the duties of his office, shall take the oath prescribed in the constitution, and enter into bond with at least two sufficient sureties, to be approved by the court, or in vacation by two of the judges, payable to the state in the penalty of five thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of the duties of his office. The bond shall be recorded in the minutes of the court, and, immediately thereafter deposited and filed in the office of the secretary of state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-27 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-27
Status: in_force

(1) The Eighth Circuit Court District is composed of the following counties:

(a) Leake County;

(b) Neshoba County;

(c) Newton County; and

(d) Scott County.

(2) There shall be two (2) judges for the Eighth Circuit Court District.

(3) The two (2) judgeships shall be separate and distinct and denominated for purposes of appointment and election only as “Place One” and “Place Two.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-9 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 7-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-9
Status: in_force

The Second Circuit Court District is composed of the following counties:

(a) Hancock County;

(b) Harrison County; and

(c) Stone County.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-29 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 11-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-29
Status: in_force

(1) Within ninety (90) days after appointment, every person appointed as clerk of the justice court under the provisions of Section 9-11-27 , or a deputy clerk designated to receive training under Section 9-11-27 , shall file annually in the office of the circuit clerk a certificate of completion of a course of training and education conducted by the Mississippi Judicial College of the University of Mississippi Law Center. The training course shall be known as the “Justice Court Clerks Training Course” and shall consist of at least twelve (12) hours of instruction. The contents of the courses and when and where the courses are to be conducted shall be determined by the judicial college. The judicial college shall issue a certificate of completion to the clerks and deputy clerks who complete a course.

(2) Every person appointed as clerk and deputy clerk of the justice court shall, before entering into the duties of the position, give bond, with sufficient surety, to be payable, conditioned and approved as provided by law and in the same manner as other county officers, in a penalty equal to Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00); and any party interested may proceed on such bond in a summary way, by motion in any court having jurisdiction of the same, against the principal and sureties, upon giving five (5) days' previous notice. The cost of the bond shall be paid by the county.

(3) Upon the failure of any person appointed as clerk of the justice court to file the certificates of completion as provided in subsection (1) of this section, that person shall not be allowed to carry out any of the duties of the office of clerk of the justice court, and shall not be entitled to compensation for the period of time during which the required certificates remain unfiled.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-151 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 5-151
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-151
Status: in_force

The minutes so kept of proceedings in vacation or in term time shall constitute a record of the office and shall be carefully preserved as such, free from erasure or alteration; and, at the first term thereafter of the court, in the case of minutes in vacation, or in the case of minutes in term time before the clerk at that term or the first term thereafter, shall be examined by the court and if approved, shall thereby become the minutes of the court, as if entered at a term thereof; and all the orders and decrees entered in said minutes in vacation, shall, by such approval of the court, become final and be as valid and effectual as if done by the court when they were done by the clerk.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-15 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 27-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-15
Status: in_force

(1) All monies received from any source by a mental health treatment court shall be accumulated in a local fund to be used only for mental health treatment court purposes. Any funds remaining in a local fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into any general fund, but shall be retained in the mental health treatment court fund for the funding of further activities by the mental health treatment court.

(2) A mental health treatment court may apply for and receive the following:

(a) Gifts, bequests and donations from private sources;

(b) Grant and contract monies from governmental sources; or

(c) Other forms of financial assistance approved by the court to supplement the budget of the mental health treatment court.

(3) The costs of participation required by the mental health treatment court may be paid by the participant or out of user fees or such other state, federal or private funds that may, from time to time, be made available.

(4) The mental health treatment court may assess reasonable and appropriate fees to be paid to the local mental health treatment court fund for participation in a mental health treatment court; however, all fees may be waived by the court if the defendant is determined by the court to be indigent.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-131 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-131
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-131
Status: in_force

The clerk of the circuit court shall keep a book to be called the “jury book,” in which he shall enter the time of issuing all certificates to jurors, the amount thereof, and to whom issued. Such book may be kept by means of electronic filing or storage or both as provided in Sections 9-1-51 through 9-1-57 , or otherwise, as the clerk may elect. Within ten (10) days after each term of the court, he shall file in the office of the clerk of the board of supervisors of his county a certified copy of such entries, for the information of the board. For any failure in this respect, the clerk of the circuit court may be fined and imprisoned by the court as for a contempt.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-25 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 13 / Section 19-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-25
Status: in_force

The commission is authorized and empowered to receive and expend funds appropriated or granted for the purposes of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-50 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 5-50
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-50
Status: in_force

(1) There shall be three (3) chancellors for the Sixteenth Chancery Court District.

(2) The three (3) chancellorships shall be separate and distinct and denominated for purposes of appointment and election only as “Place One,” “Place Two” and “Place Three.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-9 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 9-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-9
Status: in_force

The county judge shall not practice law in any of the courts of the county wherein he holds court, but this prohibition shall not prohibit the judges of the county courts from practicing in any of the courts so far as to enable them to bring to a conclusion cases actually pending when they were appointed or elected, in which such county judges were then employed as provided in Section 9-1-25, Mississippi Code of 1972 , for judges of the circuit court and chancellors.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-37 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 7-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-37
Status: in_force

(1) The Thirteenth Circuit Court District is composed of the following counties:

(a) Covington County;

(b) Jasper County;

(c) Simpson County; and

(d) Smith County.

(2) There shall be two (2) judges for the Thirteenth Circuit Court District. The two (2) judgeships shall be separate and distinct and denominated for purposes of appointment and election only as “Place One” and “Place Two.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-26 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 7-26
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-26
Status: repealed

(1) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall appoint four (4) temporary special circuit judges for the Seventh Circuit Court District. No limitation whatsoever shall be placed upon the powers and duties of the judges other than those provided by the Constitution and laws of this state. The term of the temporary special circuit judges shall expire on December 31, 2026.

(2) The judges shall be appointed no later than fifteen (15) days after July 1, 2023, according to applicable state laws. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may elect to reappoint circuit judges that are serving on a temporary basis as of July 1, 2023, in the Seventh Circuit Court District.

(3)(a) Each temporary special circuit judge shall receive an office operating allowance to be used for the purposes described and in amounts equal to those authorized in Section 9-1-36 .

(b) The Administrative Office of Courts shall establish personnel policies to compensate the support staff for each temporary special circuit judge.

(4) This section shall stand repealed on December 31, 2026.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-13 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 19-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-13
Status: in_force

Except as otherwise provided in Section 25-3-36(7) , on recommendation of the commission on judicial performance, the Supreme Court may disqualify a judge from exercising any judicial function, without loss of salary, during pendency of proceedings before the commission or in the supreme court. If so disqualified, a special judge shall be appointed to perform his duties, as provided by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-1-45 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 1-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-1-45
Status: in_force

(1) Each chancery and circuit clerk shall file, not later than April 15 of each year, with the State Auditor of Public Accounts a true and accurate annual report on a form to be designed and supplied to each clerk by the State Auditor of Public Accounts immediately after January 1 of each year. The form shall include the following information: (a) revenues subject to the salary cap, including fees; (b) revenues not subject to the salary cap; and (c) expenses of office, including any salary paid to a clerk's spouse or children. Each chancery and circuit clerk shall provide any additional information requested by the Public Employees' Retirement System for the purpose of retirement calculations.

(2) In any county having two (2) judicial districts, a separate report may be filed by the chancery clerk and circuit clerk for each judicial district. Whenever the chancery clerk serves as deputy to the circuit clerk in one (1) judicial district and the circuit clerk serves as deputy to the chancery clerk in the other judicial district, each clerk may file, for the judicial district in which he serves, one (1) report for the revenues and expenses of his office in his capacity as chancery or circuit clerk and a separate report for reporting the revenues collected and expenses incurred in his capacity as deputy circuit or deputy chancery clerk.

(3) If the chancery or circuit clerk fails to provide the reports required in this section, then the State Auditor shall give by United States certified mail, return receipt requested, written notification to the chancery or circuit clerk of noncompliance. If within thirty (30) days after receipt of the notice, the chancery or circuit clerk, in the opinion of the State Auditor, remains in noncompliance, the State Auditor may institute civil proceedings in a court of the county in which the clerk serves. The court, upon a hearing, shall decide the issue and if it determines that the clerk is not in substantial compliance, shall order the clerk to immediately and thereafter comply. Violations of any order of the court shall be punishable as for contempt. In addition, the court in its discretion may impose a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) upon the clerk, for which he shall be liable in his individual capacity, for any such noncompliance that the court determines as intentional or willful.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-9 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 11-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-9
Status: in_force

Justice court judges shall have jurisdiction of all actions for the recovery of debts or damages or personal property, where the principal of the debt, the amount of the demand, or the value of the property sought to be recovered shall not exceed Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($3,500.00).

The justice court judges shall have no pecuniary interest in the outcome of any action once suit has been filed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-85 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-85
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-85
Status: in_force

If a suit shall be brought in the circuit court for a sum of less than the court can take cognizance of, or if a greater sum than is due shall be demanded, on purpose to confer jurisdiction, the complaint shall be involuntarily dismissed pursuant to the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure; and if the plaintiff, in any case, shall not recover more than the minimal jurisdictional amount, he shall not recover any costs of the defendant unless the judge shall be of the opinion, and so enter on the record, that the plaintiff had reasonable ground to expect to recover more than the minimal jurisdictional amount, or unless the court shall have jurisdiction of the cause, without respect to the amount in controversy.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-141 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-141
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-141
Status: in_force

(1) In Harrison County, a county having two (2) judicial districts, it shall be the duty of the clerk of the circuit court to keep in his office at Biloxi, all records, record books, electronic equipment, records and documents and other documents of every character which he is now required by law to keep in his office at Gulfport, and said records, record books and documents of whatever character or duly certified copies thereof shall have the same force and effect in law as they would have if said books, records and documents had been kept or preserved by him in his office at Gulfport. And likewise, it shall be the duty of the clerk of the circuit court of Harrison County, as clerk of county court to keep in his office at Biloxi, all of the records, record books and documents of every character which he is now required by law to keep in his office at Gulfport, and said records, books and documents, or duly certified copies thereof, shall likewise have the same force and effect in law as they would have if said books, records and documents had been kept or preserved by him in his office at Gulfport.

(2) The Secretary of State shall furnish to the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Harrison County, for the use of said court at Biloxi, a full set of the reports of the Supreme Court or court of last resort of this state, and all other books and laws which he shall at any time be required to deliver to the sheriff or the clerk of said county, in the several counties of this state; and also all other laws, maps and public documents required by law to be furnished, or usually furnished, to the sheriff or clerk of the circuit and chancery courts of this state under laws now or heretofore in force or that may hereafter be enacted.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-13 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 27-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-13
Status: in_force

(1) With regard to any mental health treatment court, the Administrative Office of Courts shall do the following:

(a) Certify and re-certify mental health treatment court applications that meet with standards established by the Administrative Office of Courts in accordance with this chapter.

(b) Ensure that the structure of the mental health treatment court complies with rules adopted under this section and applicable federal regulations.

(c) Revoke certification of a mental health treatment court upon a determination that the program does not comply with rules adopted under this section and applicable federal regulations.

(d) Make agreements and contracts to effectuate the purposes of this chapter with:

(i) Another department, authority or agency of the state;

(ii) Another state;

(iii) The federal government;

(iv) A state-supported or private institute of higher learning; or

(v) A public or private agency, foundation, corporation or individual.

(e) Directly, or by contract, approve and certify any mental health treatment court component established under this chapter.

(f) Require, as a condition of operation, that each mental health treatment court created or funded under this chapter be certified by the Administrative Office of Courts.

(g) Collect monthly data from each certified mental health treatment court and compile an annual report summarizing the data collected and the outcomes achieved.

(h) Every three (3) years, if funding is available, contract with an external evaluator to conduct an evaluation of the compliance with the Bureau of Justice Assistance key components, as adapted for mental health treatment courts, and effectiveness of:

(i) Statewide mental health treatment court program; and

(ii) Individual mental health treatment courts.

(i) Adopt rules to implement this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-165 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 5-165
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-165
Status: in_force

The clerk shall not suffer any paper filed to be withdrawn but by leave of the chancellor, and then only by retaining a copy to be made at the cost of the party obtaining the leave. Provided, however, that any duly licensed and practicing attorney in good standing in the court may remove court files and related legal papers other than youth court and adoption court files and related papers from the clerk's office by signing therefor himself, or by a designated representative of his law office, on a record to be provided for that purpose. Such files or documents so removed shall be attested to by the clerk or his deputy at the time of removal, and said attorney shall be personally responsible for their safekeeping and return within ten (10) days, or before the first day of the next term of chancery court, whichever comes first and such files or documents shall not be removed from the county where the same are filed except that said files or documents may be taken by said attorney for use in a vacation hearing to such county where the hearing may be held. Failure to return any such court files or related legal papers as provided herein shall constitute contempt of court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-5 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 19 / Section 23-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-5
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) “ Chemical ” tests means the analysis of an individual's: (i) blood, (ii) breath, (iii) hair, (iv) sweat, (v) saliva, (vi) urine, or (vii) other bodily substance to determine the presence of alcohol or a controlled substance.

(b) “ Crime of violence ” means an offense listed in Section 97-3-2 .

(c) “ Intervention court ” means a drug court, mental health court, veterans court or problem-solving court that utilizes an immediate and highly structured intervention process for eligible defendants or juveniles that brings together mental health professionals, substance abuse professionals, local social programs and intensive judicial monitoring.

(d) “ Evidence-based practices ” means supervision policies, procedures and practices that scientific research demonstrates reduce recidivism.

(e) “ Risk and needs assessment ” means the use of an actuarial assessment tool validated on a Mississippi corrections population to determine a person's risk to reoffend and the characteristics that, if addressed, reduce the risk to reoffend.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-3-12 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 3-12
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-3-12
Status: in_force

(1) Any judge of the Mississippi Supreme Court who has reached the age of sixty-eight (68) years, and who resigns as hereafter provided, may retire from active service as Chief, Presiding, or Associate Justice of the Supreme Court by forwarding a written resignation to the Governor, with a copy to the Supreme Court. Any vacancy on the Supreme Court shall be filled as provided by law. Such judge shall perform for the judges of the Supreme Court such service as the court may designate from time to time. There shall be no more than three (3) such judges serving at any one (1) time and each judge shall serve for a term equal to the balance of the term for which he was last elected by popular vote as a Supreme Court judge; provided, however, no such judge shall serve for a longer period than four (4) years. Such judge shall receive a salary equivalent to two-thirds ( 2 / 3 ) of the salary of an associate justice.

(2) During his tenure, such judge shall continue to be deemed an official elected by popular vote for the remainder of the term to which he was elected by popular vote as a judge of the Supreme Court within the meaning of subsection (f) of Section 25-11-111 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 , but such judge shall not be entitled to vote as to the decision of any case heard by the Supreme Court.

(3) The provisions of this section shall not in any manner be construed to require any judge to resign, or to alter, limit or modify the privileges of a Supreme Court judge to resign from active service and to retire in the manner provided by law, or the privilege of a Supreme Court judge who so retires to receive full retirement benefits in the manner provided by law. However, no such judge who resigns under the provisions of this section shall receive retirement benefits while serving under the provisions of this section.

(4) The Supreme Court may, by order spread upon its minutes, give a name or title to the judicial positions created by the provisions of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-11 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 19 / Section 19-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-11
Status: in_force

The commission on judicial performance may privately admonish a justice or judge found to have been engaged in improper action or a dereliction of duty affecting the administration of justice; subject to review in the supreme court; provided, however, that all appeals from private admonishments shall remain confidential.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-21 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 11-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-21
Status: in_force

The clerk of the justice court is required in all cases to give to any person paying him any fees, costs or other money a uniform receipt, the form of which is to be prepared by the attorney general. Such receipt shall contain the particulars of such fees, costs or other money, the amount of such fees, costs or other money and such other information as the attorney general shall deem necessary. The county shall have printed such receipts at county expense and distribute them to the clerk of the justice court of the county. Provided, however, that where the party filing the complaint is an entity of government, the clerk shall not be required to receive a prepayment of costs nor issue a receipt, but the clerk shall enter a notation on the docket wherein said complaint is recorded indicating that the party is exempt from payment of costs.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-5 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-5
Status: in_force

The First Circuit Court District is composed of the following counties:

(a) Alcorn County;

(b) Itawamba County;

(c) Lee County;

(d) Monroe County;

(e) Pontotoc County;

(f) Prentiss County; and

(g) Tishomingo County.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-128 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-128
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-128
Status: in_force

(1) Where there is no requirement for a permanent record to be made, the clerk, upon order of the court, may dispose of and destroy all case files of the circuit or county court which have been in existence for ten (10) years or which have been reduced to judgment and that judgment satisfied and cancelled. The clerk may also dispose of and destroy any loose records not required by law to be kept as permanent records after a period of ten (10) years. No records, however, may be destroyed without the approval of the Director of the Department of Archives and History.

(2) The files, records and other documents described herein may, upon order of the court in accordance with the provisions of this section, be electronically stored for convenience and efficiency in storage. The electronic storage of documents, for purposes of this section, shall have the same meaning as set forth in Section 9-1-51 . In those counties electing to store files, records and documents by means of electronic storage, the following described case files shall be electronically stored after the time periods described below have elapsed:

(a) Cases in county criminal or civil court which have been dismissed or in which a judgment has been entered at least three (3) years prior to the date upon which they are electronically stored; and

(b) Cases in circuit, criminal or civil court which have been dismissed or in which a judgment has been entered at least five (5) years prior to the date upon which they are electronically stored.

(3) Nothing in this section shall serve as authority to destroy any docket book, minute book, issue docket, subpoena docket, witness docket book, execution docket book, voter registration book, marriage record book, trial order, abstract of judgment, judgment roll, criminal file where an indictment was returned and the defendant convicted if the file is not at least twenty (20) years old, habeas corpus docket, preliminary hearing docket or Court of Appeals or Supreme Court appeals docket.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-17-1 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 17-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-17-1
Status: in_force

(1) If a circuit or chancery district contains more than one (1) judge or chancellor, the judges or chancellors may establish jointly the office of court administrator for that judicial district with an order entered on the minutes of each court in that judicial district.

The establishment of the office of court administrator shall be accomplished by vote of a majority of the participating judges or chancellors in the district, and such court administrator shall be appointed by vote of a majority of the judges or chancellors and may be removed by a majority vote of the judges or chancellors. In case of a tie vote, the senior judge or senior chancellor shall cast two (2) votes.

(2) As an alternative to subsection (1), in a circuit or chancery district containing more than one (1) judge or chancellor, a judge or chancellor independently may establish the office of court administrator for that judge's or chancellor's office with an order entered on the minutes of each court in that judicial district appointing the court administrator to serve at the will and pleasure of the hiring judge or chancellor.

(3) In a county court where there is more than one (1) county judge, the county judges may establish jointly the office of court administrator for that county court with an order entered on the minutes of that court.

The establishment of the office of court administrator shall be accomplished by vote of a majority of the county judges in the county, and the court administrator shall be appointed by a vote of a majority of the county judges and may be removed by a majority vote of the county judges. In the case of a tie vote, the senior county judge shall cast two (2) votes.

(4) In a county court with one (1) county judge, the office of court administrator shall be established with an order entered on the minutes of that court. The appointment of the court administrator shall be accomplished with an order entered on the minutes of the court stating that the court administrator serves at the will and pleasure of the county judge.

(5) Before a court administrator appointed under this section may be hired, the Administrative Office of Courts will evaluate the chosen applicant to determine if the applicant meets the minimum requirements of the position of court administrator.

(6) The court administrators shall be provided office space in the same manner as such is afforded the circuit judges, chancellors and county judges.

(7) The annual salary of the court administrator appointed pursuant to subsection (1) shall be set by vote of the circuit judges or chancellors of the district and shall be submitted to the Administrative Office of Courts for approval pursuant to Section 9-1-36 . The salary shall be paid in twelve (12) installments on the last working day of the month by the Administrative Office of Courts after it has been authorized by the participating judges and chancellors and an order has been duly placed on the minutes of each participating court.

Any county within a judicial district having a court administrator shall transfer to the Administrative Office of Courts one-twelfth ( 1 / 12 ) of its pro rata cost of authorized compensation, as defined in Section 9-1-36 , for the court administrator by the twentieth day of each month for the compensation that is to be paid on the last day of that month. The board of supervisors may transfer the pro rata cost of the county from the funds of that county pursuant to Section 9-17-5(2)(b) .

(8) The annual salary of each court administrator appointed pursuant to subsection (2) shall be set by the appointing circuit judge or chancellor and shall be submitted to the Administrative Office of Courts for approval pursuant to Section 9-1-36 . The salary shall be paid in twelve (12) installments on the last working day of the month by the Administrative Office of Courts after it has been authorized by the appointing judge or chancellor and an order has been duly placed on the minutes of the participating court. Any county within a judicial district that has a court administrator shall transfer to the Administrative Office of Courts one-twelfth ( 1 / 12 ) of its pro rata cost of authorized compensation, as defined in Section 9-1-36 , for the court administrator by the twentieth day of each month for the compensation that is to be paid on the last day of that month. The board of supervisors may transfer the pro rata cost of the county from the funds of that county pursuant to Section 9-17-5(2)(b) .

(9) The annual salary of the court administrator appointed pursuant to subsection (3) shall be set by a vote of the county judges of the county and shall be paid by the county's board of supervisors.

(10) The annual salary of the court administrator appointed pursuant to subsection (4) shall be set by the county judge of the county and shall be paid by that county's board of supervisors.

(11) For all travel required in the performance of official duties, the court administrator shall be paid mileage by the county in which the duties were performed at the same rate as provided for state employees in Section 25-3-41, Mississippi Code of 1972 . The court administrator shall file a certificate of mileage expense incurred during that term with the board of supervisors of each participating county and payment of such expense shall be paid proportionately out of the court administration fund established pursuant to Section 9-17-5 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-1 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 21 / Section 23-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-1
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Alyce Griffin Clarke Intervention Court Act.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-15 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 21-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-15
Status: in_force

The Administrative Director of Courts is authorized and empowered to employ consultants and consultant firms and to contract with the same for their services for reasonable compensation and as necessary to improve the administration of justice and the courts of the state. The contracts with such consultants or consultant firms shall be considered as contracts for professional services.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-21 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 13-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-21
Status: in_force

In each suit, cause or matter where (1) a plea or answer is filed, and (2) in probate or any other cause or matter wherein the court reporter actually serves, a court reporter's tax fee of ten dollars ($10.00) shall be collected as costs, and paid into the treasury of the county in which the case is tried, as the jury tax is collected by law and paid in the circuit court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-18 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9 / Section 9-18
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-18
Status: in_force

(1) In order to relieve the crowded condition of the docket in the county court and in the youth court of Rankin County and particularly to facilitate and make possible the trial and disposition of the large number of causes on the docket and in the youth court, there shall be two (2) county judges for Rankin County, provided for and elected as herein set out.

(2) For the purposes of nomination and election, the two (2) judgeships shall be separate and distinct, the presently existing judgeship and its succession to be denominated for purposes of appointment, nomination and election only as “Place One” and the judgeship hereby created and its succession for said selfsame purposes and none other to be designated as “Place Two.” There shall be no distinction whatsoever in the powers, duties and emoluments of the two (2) offices of county judge, except that the county judge of Rankin County who has been for the longest time continuously a county judge of the county shall have the right to assign causes, terms and dockets. Should neither judge of the county court have served longer in office than the other, then that judge of this county court who has been for the longest time a member of The Mississippi Bar shall have the right to assign causes, terms and dockets.

(3) While there shall be no limitation whatsoever upon the powers and duties of the county judges other than as cast upon them by the Constitution and laws of this state, the county court of Rankin County may, in the discretion of the county judge who has been for the longest time continuously a judge of the court, be divided into civil, equity, criminal and youth court divisions as a matter of convenience by the entry of an order upon the minutes of the court.

(4) The initial holder of the additional judgeship created by this section, or “Place Two,” shall be elected in the regular election of November 2002; candidates therefor shall qualify to run not later than forty-five (45) days before that election. The person elected shall begin the term of office in January of 2003 at the same time as county judges generally, and there shall be no vacancy of the office before that time. The two (2) judges shall otherwise be elected, and any vacancy in office filled, as provided for county judges generally.

(5) The Board of Supervisors of Rankin County may, in its discretion, set aside, appropriate and expend monies from the general fund to be used in the payment of salaries of judges, clerks, reporters, officers and employees of the youth court division of the county court, including the related facilities of the youth court division of the county court, and such funds shall be expended for no other purposes. The county shall not be reimbursed for the amount of any such levy provided for by this section under the terms of the Homestead Exemption Law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-127 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 7-127
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-127
Status: in_force

Within three (3) months after the final determination of any suit, or if an appeal shall have been taken, then within three (3) months after receiving a certificate of the affirmance of the judgment, the clerk shall enter in a well-bound book, to be kept for the purpose, a full and complete record of all the proceedings in the suit, if the title to the real estate be involved or affected, and if not, only on the order of the court. On failure to make a final record required by law or the order of the court, the clerk may be fined, as for a contempt, Twenty Dollars ($20.00) for each failure; and he shall also be liable in damages to any party injured. A final record shall not be made of any suit without a judgment on the merits. Such record may be kept on computer as provided in Section 9-7-171 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-13 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-13
Status: in_force

The governing body of any municipality with a population in excess of one hundred thousand (100,000) persons, upon determination that municipal security or efficiency is involved in the judicial process in the handling of appeals from municipal court and of related matters, may contract to supplement the salary of county judicial officers in the county in which such municipality is located in exchange for the surrender by such judicial officers of the right to engage in the practice of law. The salary of such judicial officer so supplemented shall not exceed the salary of circuit or chancery judges in such county or of municipal councilmen, whichever is less.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-3 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 27 / Section 27-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-3
Status: in_force

(1) The Legislature recognizes the critical need for judicial intervention to establish court processes and procedures that are more responsive to the needs of defendants with mental illnesses, while maintaining public safety and the integrity of the court process.

(2) The goals of the mental health treatment courts under this chapter include the following:

(a) Reduce the number of future criminal justice contacts among offenders with mental illnesses;

(b) Reduce the inappropriate institutionalization of people with mental illnesses;

(c) Improve the mental and behavioral health and well-being of defendants who come in contact with the criminal justice system;

(d) Improve linkages between the criminal justice system and the mental health system;

(e) Expedite case processing;

(f) Protect public safety;

(g) Establish linkages with other state and local agencies and programs that target people with mental illnesses in order to maximize the delivery of services; and

(h) To use corrections resources more effectively by redirecting prison-bound offenders whose criminal conduct is driven in part by mental illnesses to intensive supervision and clinical treatment available in the mental health treatment court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-17 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 19 / Section 27-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-17
Status: in_force

The mental health treatment court coordinator and members of the professional and administrative staff of the mental health treatment court who perform duties in good faith under this chapter are immune from civil liability for:

(a) Acts or omissions in providing services under this chapter; and

(b) The reasonable exercise of discretion in determining eligibility to participate in the mental health court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-145 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 5-145
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-145
Status: in_force

In all applications and proceedings before the clerk in vacation or in term time, the same pleadings and evidence and forms shall be observed, and the same process and service and return shall be necessary, as though the proceedings were before the court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-18.3 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 9-18.3
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-18.3
Status: in_force

(1) In order to relieve the crowded condition of the docket in the county court and in the youth court of Lauderdale County and particularly to facilitate and make possible the trial and disposition of the large number of causes on the docket and in the youth court, there shall be two (2) county judges for Lauderdale County, provided for and elected as herein set out.

(2) For the purposes of nomination and election, the two (2) judgeships shall be separate and distinct, the presently existing judgeship and its succession to be denominated for purposes of appointment, nomination and election only as “Place One” and the judgeship hereby created and its succession for said selfsame purposes and none other to be designated as “Place Two.” There shall be no distinction whatsoever in the powers, duties and emoluments of the two (2) offices of county judge, except that the county judge of Lauderdale County who has been for the longest time continuously a county judge of the county shall have the right to assign causes, terms and dockets. Should neither judge of the county court have served longer in office than the other, then that judge of the county court who has been for the longest time a member of The Mississippi Bar shall have the right to assign causes, terms and dockets.

(3) While there shall be no limitation whatsoever upon the powers and duties of the said county judges other than as cast upon them by the Constitution and laws of this state, the county court of Lauderdale County may, in the discretion of the county judge who has been for the longest time continuously a judge of said court, be divided into civil, equity, criminal and youth court divisions as a matter of convenience by the entry of an order upon the minutes of the court.

(4) The initial holder of the additional judgeship created by this section, or “Place Two,” shall be elected in the regular election of November 2006; candidates therefor shall qualify to run not later than forty-five (45) days before that election. The person elected shall begin the term of office in January of 2007 at the same time as county judges generally, and there shall be no vacancy of the office before that time. Thereafter the two (2) judges shall otherwise be elected, and any vacancy in office filled, as provided for county judges generally.

(5) The Board of Supervisors of Lauderdale County may, in its discretion, set aside, appropriate and expend monies from the general fund to be used in the payment of salaries of judges, clerks, reporters, officers and employees of the youth court division of the county court, including the related facilities of the youth court division of the county court, and such funds shall be expended for no other purposes. The county shall not be reimbursed for the amount of any such levy provided for by this section under the terms of the Homestead Exemption Law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-35 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 5-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-35
Status: in_force

The Tenth Chancery Court District is composed of the following counties:

(a) Forrest County;

(b) Lamar County;

(c) Marion County;

(d) Pearl River County; and

(e) Perry County.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-17-1 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 12 / Section 17-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-17-1
Status: in_force

(1) If a circuit or chancery district contains more than one (1) judge or chancellor, the judges or chancellors may establish jointly the office of court administrator for that judicial district with an order entered on the minutes of each court in that judicial district.

The establishment of the office of court administrator shall be accomplished by vote of a majority of the participating judges or chancellors in the district, and such court administrator shall be appointed by vote of a majority of the judges or chancellors and may be removed by a majority vote of the judges or chancellors. In case of a tie vote, the senior judge or senior chancellor shall cast two (2) votes.

(2) As an alternative to subsection (1), in a circuit or chancery district containing more than one (1) judge or chancellor, a judge or chancellor independently may establish the office of court administrator for that judge's or chancellor's office with an order entered on the minutes of each court in that judicial district appointing the court administrator to serve at the will and pleasure of the hiring judge or chancellor.

(3) In a county court where there is more than one (1) county judge, the county judges may establish jointly the office of court administrator for that county court with an order entered on the minutes of that court.

The establishment of the office of court administrator shall be accomplished by vote of a majority of the county judges in the county, and the court administrator shall be appointed by a vote of a majority of the county judges and may be removed by a majority vote of the county judges. In the case of a tie vote, the senior county judge shall cast two (2) votes.

(4) In a county court with one (1) county judge, the office of court administrator shall be established with an order entered on the minutes of that court. The appointment of the court administrator shall be accomplished with an order entered on the minutes of the court stating that the court administrator serves at the will and pleasure of the county judge.

(5) Before a court administrator appointed under this section may be hired, the Administrative Office of Courts will evaluate the chosen applicant to determine if the applicant meets the minimum requirements of the position of court administrator.

(6) The court administrators shall be provided office space in the same manner as such is afforded the circuit judges, chancellors and county judges.

(7) The annual salary of the court administrator appointed pursuant to subsection (1) shall be set by vote of the circuit judges or chancellors of the district and shall be submitted to the Administrative Office of Courts for approval pursuant to Section 9-1-36 . The salary shall be paid in twelve (12) installments on the last working day of the month by the Administrative Office of Courts after it has been authorized by the participating judges and chancellors and an order has been duly placed on the minutes of each participating court.

Any county within a judicial district having a court administrator shall transfer to the Administrative Office of Courts one-twelfth ( 1 / 12 ) of its pro rata cost of authorized compensation, as defined in Section 9-1-36 , for the court administrator by the twentieth day of each month for the compensation that is to be paid on the last day of that month. The board of supervisors may transfer the pro rata cost of the county from the funds of that county pursuant to Section 9-17-5(2)(b) .

(8) The annual salary of each court administrator appointed pursuant to subsection (2) shall be set by the appointing circuit judge or chancellor and shall be submitted to the Administrative Office of Courts for approval pursuant to Section 9-1-36 . The salary shall be paid in twelve (12) installments on the last working day of the month by the Administrative Office of Courts after it has been authorized by the appointing judge or chancellor and an order has been duly placed on the minutes of the participating court. Any county within a judicial district that has a court administrator shall transfer to the Administrative Office of Courts one-twelfth ( 1 / 12 ) of its pro rata cost of authorized compensation, as defined in Section 9-1-36 , for the court administrator by the twentieth day of each month for the compensation that is to be paid on the last day of that month. The board of supervisors may transfer the pro rata cost of the county from the funds of that county pursuant to Section 9-17-5(2)(b) .

(9) The annual salary of the court administrator appointed pursuant to subsection (3) shall be set by a vote of the county judges of the county and shall be paid by the county's board of supervisors.

(10) The annual salary of the court administrator appointed pursuant to subsection (4) shall be set by the county judge of the county and shall be paid by that county's board of supervisors.

(11) For all travel required in the performance of official duties, the court administrator shall be paid mileage by the county in which the duties were performed at the same rate as provided for state employees in Section 25-3-41, Mississippi Code of 1972 . The court administrator shall file a certificate of mileage expense incurred during that term with the board of supervisors of each participating county and payment of such expense shall be paid proportionately out of the court administration fund established pursuant to Section 9-17-5 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-1-51 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 1-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-1-51
Status: in_force

For purposes of Sections 9-1-51 through 9-1-57 , the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context shall otherwise require:

(a) “Court” shall mean the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, circuit courts, chancery courts, county courts, youth courts, family courts, justice courts and the municipal courts of this state.

(b) “Clerk” shall mean the clerks of any court.

(c) “Judge” shall mean the senior judge of any court.

(d) “County office” shall mean the office of the circuit clerk, chancery clerk, tax assessor and tax collector of every county of this state.

(e) “Documents,” “court records,” or “court-related records” shall mean and include, but not be limited to, all contents in the file or record of any case or matter docketed by the court, administrative orders, court minutes, court dockets and ledgers, and other documents, instruments or papers required by law to be filed with the court.

(f) “Electronic filing of documents” shall mean the transmission of data to a clerk of any court or state agency by the communication of information which is originally displayed in written form and thereafter converted to digital electronic signals, transformed by computer and stored by the clerk or state agency either on microfilm, magnetic tape, optical discs or any other medium.

(g) “Electronic storage of documents” shall mean the storage, retention and reproduction of documents using microfilm, microfiche, data processing, computers or other electronic process which correctly and legibly stores and reproduces or which forms a medium for storage, copying or reproducing documents.

(h) “Filing system” or “storage system” shall mean the system used by a court or county office for the electronic filing or storage of documents.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-19 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 19 / Section 19-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-19
Status: in_force

All commission members, staff, witnesses or any other person privy to any hearing before the commission shall take an oath of secrecy concerning all proceedings before the commission, violation of which shall be punishable as contempt.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-71 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9 / Section 21-71
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-71
Status: in_force

The following words and phrases have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) “ Limited English Proficient (LEP) individual ” means any party or witness who cannot readily understand or communicate in spoken English or who does not speak English as his or her primary language and who consequently has a limited ability to read, speak, write or understand English and cannot equally participate in or benefit from the proceedings unless an interpreter is available to assist the individual. The fact that a person for whom English is a second language knows some English does not prohibit that individual from being allowed to have an interpreter.

(b) “ Court interpreter ” means any person authorized by a court who is competent to translate or interpret oral or written communication in a foreign language during court proceedings. A court interpreter may be one (1) of the following:

(i) “ Certified court interpreter ,” which means an interpreter who successfully has met all requirements promulgated by the Administrative Office of Courts to be designated a registered court interpreter and has scored at least seventy percent (70%) on each of the three (3) sections of an approved criterion-referenced oral performance examination.

(ii) “ Registered court interpreter ,” which means an interpreter who has:

1. Attended an approved two-day, fourteen-hour ethics and skill building workshop;

2. Passed an approved criterion-referenced written examination with a minimum overall score of eighty percent (80%);

3. Submitted to a criminal background check;

4. Provided verification of legal right to work in the United States;

5. Executed the Interpreter Oath; and

6. Satisfied any additional requirements that the Administrative Office of Courts may establish in order to be listed as a registered court interpreter on the roster.

(iii) “ Non-credentialed interpreter ,” which means an interpreter who has not met the requirements promulgated by the Administrative Office of Courts to be classified as a registered or certified court interpreter.

(c) “ Court proceedings ” means a proceeding before any court of this state or a grand jury hearing, including all civil and criminal hearings and trials.

(d) “ Interpretation ” means the accurate and complete unrehearsed transmission of an oral message from one (1) language to an oral message in another language. Interpretation may be one (1) of the following:

(i) “ Consecutive interpretation ,” which means providing the target-language message after the speaker has finished speaking.

(ii) “ Sight translation ,” which means oral translation of a written document.

(iii) “ Simultaneous interpretation ,” which means providing the target-language message at approximately the same time the source-language message is being produced.

(e) “ Source language ” means the input language requiring interpretation.

(f) “ Target language ” means the output language into which the utterance is being interpreted.

(g) “ Translation ” means the process of translating text from one (1) language to another to maintain the original message and communication.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-71 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 21-71
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-71
Status: in_force

The following words and phrases have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) “ Limited English Proficient (LEP) individual ” means any party or witness who cannot readily understand or communicate in spoken English or who does not speak English as his or her primary language and who consequently has a limited ability to read, speak, write or understand English and cannot equally participate in or benefit from the proceedings unless an interpreter is available to assist the individual. The fact that a person for whom English is a second language knows some English does not prohibit that individual from being allowed to have an interpreter.

(b) “ Court interpreter ” means any person authorized by a court who is competent to translate or interpret oral or written communication in a foreign language during court proceedings. A court interpreter may be one (1) of the following:

(i) “ Certified court interpreter ,” which means an interpreter who successfully has met all requirements promulgated by the Administrative Office of Courts to be designated a registered court interpreter and has scored at least seventy percent (70%) on each of the three (3) sections of an approved criterion-referenced oral performance examination.

(ii) “ Registered court interpreter ,” which means an interpreter who has:

1. Attended an approved two-day, fourteen-hour ethics and skill building workshop;

2. Passed an approved criterion-referenced written examination with a minimum overall score of eighty percent (80%);

3. Submitted to a criminal background check;

4. Provided verification of legal right to work in the United States;

5. Executed the Interpreter Oath; and

6. Satisfied any additional requirements that the Administrative Office of Courts may establish in order to be listed as a registered court interpreter on the roster.

(iii) “ Non-credentialed interpreter ,” which means an interpreter who has not met the requirements promulgated by the Administrative Office of Courts to be classified as a registered or certified court interpreter.

(c) “ Court proceedings ” means a proceeding before any court of this state or a grand jury hearing, including all civil and criminal hearings and trials.

(d) “ Interpretation ” means the accurate and complete unrehearsed transmission of an oral message from one (1) language to an oral message in another language. Interpretation may be one (1) of the following:

(i) “ Consecutive interpretation ,” which means providing the target-language message after the speaker has finished speaking.

(ii) “ Sight translation ,” which means oral translation of a written document.

(iii) “ Simultaneous interpretation ,” which means providing the target-language message at approximately the same time the source-language message is being produced.

(e) “ Source language ” means the input language requiring interpretation.

(f) “ Target language ” means the output language into which the utterance is being interpreted.

(g) “ Translation ” means the process of translating text from one (1) language to another to maintain the original message and communication.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-5 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 21-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-5
Status: in_force

The Administrative Director shall be appointed by and shall serve at the pleasure of the Supreme Court of Mississippi as the Director of the Administrative Office of Courts. The Administrative Director shall devote full time to the duties of the office to the exclusion of engagement in any other business or profession for profit.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-44 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-44
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-44
Status: in_force

(1) There shall be three (3) judges for the Sixteenth Circuit Court District.

(2) The three (3) judgeships shall be separate and distinct and denominated for purposes of appointment and election only as “Place One,” “Place Two” and “Place Three.” The judge to fill Place One must be a resident of Lowndes County. The judge to fill Place Two must be a resident of Oktibbeha County. The judge to fill Place Three must be a resident of either Clay or Noxubee County. Election of the three (3) offices of judge shall be by election to be held in every county within the Sixteenth Circuit Court District.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-39 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 5-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-39
Status: in_force

The Twelfth Chancery Court District is composed of the following counties:

(a) Clarke County; and

(b) Lauderdale County.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-81 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 5-81
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-81
Status: in_force

The chancery court in addition to the full jurisdiction in all the matters and cases expressly conferred upon it by the constitution shall have jurisdiction of all cases transferred to it by the circuit court or remanded to it by the supreme court; and such further jurisdiction, as is, in this chapter or elsewhere, provided by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-75 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 21-75
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-75
Status: in_force

The court may appoint either an interpreter who is paid or a volunteer interpreter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-3-14 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 3-14
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-3-14
Status: in_force

The clerk of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by majority vote of the Supreme Court and shall serve at the pleasure of the court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-15 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-15
Status: in_force

(1) The Fourth Circuit Court District shall be composed of the following counties:

(a) Leflore County;

(b) Sunflower County; and

(c) Washington County.

(2) The Fourth Circuit Court District shall be divided into four (4) subdistricts as follows:

(a) Subdistrict 4-1 shall consist of the following precincts in the following counties:

(i) Leflore County: Minter City, North Greenwood, Money, Northeast Greenwood, Schlater, West Greenwood, Mississippi Valley State University and Southeast Greenwood Precincts; and

(ii) Sunflower County: Ruleville, Rome, Sunflower Plantation, Drew, Doddsville, Boyer-Linn, Fairview-Hale and Ruleville North Precincts.

(b) Subdistrict 4-2 shall consist of the following precincts in the following counties:

(i) Sunflower County: Indianola 1, Sunflower, Indianola 3 North, Indianola 3 South and Indianola 3 Northeast Precincts; and

(ii) Washington County: Extension Building, Faith Lutheran Church, American Legion, Metcalfe City Hall, Elks Club, Leland Health Department Clinic, Leland Light and Water Plant and Greenville Industrial College Precincts.

(c) Subdistrict 4-3 shall consist of the following precincts in the following counties:

(i) Leflore County: East Greenwood Sub-A, East Greenwood Sub-B, Central Greenwood, North Itta Bena, South Itta Bena, Southwest Greenwood, Rising Sun, Sidon, Morgan City, Swiftown and South Greenwood Precincts;

(ii) Sunflower County: Moorhead, Inverness, Indianola 2 West and Indianola 2 East Precincts; and

(iii) Washington County: Arcola City Hall, Hollandale City Hall, Darlove Baptist Church and Mangelardi Bourbon Store Precincts.

(d) Subdistrict 4-4 shall consist of the following precincts in Washington County: St. James Episcopal Church, Swiftwater Baptist Church, Glen Allan Health Clinic, Italian Club, Ward's Recreation Center, Buster Brown Community Center, Avon Health Center, Kapco Company, Brent Center, William Percy Library and Grace Methodist Church Precincts.

(3) The local contributions required for the maintenance of the Fourth Circuit Court District shall be paid on a pro rata basis each by Leflore, Sunflower and Washington Counties.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-175 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 7-175
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-175
Status: in_force

The clerk shall make out for each term a separate docket of cases begun by indictment, presentment, information, or other proceedings of a criminal nature, in the name or on behalf of the state or any municipal corporation. Such docket may be kept on computer as provided in Section 9-7-171 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-20 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 11-20
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-20
Status: in_force

In any civil case in the justice court in which any process or writ is to be served outside of the county where issued, the clerk of the justice court is hereby authorized and directed to forward, by United States mail, to the clerk of the justice court of the county where such writ or process is to be served, that portion of any fees required by law to be collected for the service of such process or writ along with the process or writ to be served. The clerk of the justice court of the county where the process or writ is to be served shall, upon receipt thereof, deliver such process or writ to a constable of the county for the service thereof and shall report and pay over such fees to the chancery clerk of the county at the time and in the manner provided in subsection (1) of Section 9-11-19 for the report and payment of fees, costs, fines and penalties charged and collected in the justice court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-1 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 23 / Section 23-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-1
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Alyce Griffin Clarke Intervention Court Act.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-1-37 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 1-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-1-37
Status: in_force

The circuit, chancery and county courts shall make allowance to the clerks thereof of all needful sums for supplying the offices and courtrooms with necessary stationery, furniture, books, presses, seals, and other things necessary for the same, and for the safe-keeping of the books, records, and papers belonging thereto; and such allowance shall be certified to the board of supervisors. Provided, however, that in no event shall said circuit, chancery or county courts be allowed to purchase furniture in excess of five hundred dollars for any one year without first securing the approval of the board of supervisors of the county.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-21 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 23-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-21
Status: in_force

The director and members of the professional and administrative staff of the intervention court who perform duties in good faith under this chapter are immune from civil liability for:

(a) Acts or omissions in providing services under this chapter; and

(b) The reasonable exercise of discretion in determining eligibility to participate in the intervention court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-51 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 23-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-51
Status: in_force

There is created in the State Treasury a special interest-bearing fund to be known as the Drug Court Fund. The purpose of the fund shall be to provide supplemental funding to all drug courts in the state. Monies from the funds derived from assessments under Section 99-19-73 shall be distributed by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by the Administrative Office of Courts, pursuant to procedures set by the State Drug Courts Advisory Committee to assist both juvenile drug courts and adult drug courts. Funds from other sources shall be distributed to the drug courts in the state based on a formula set by the State Drug Courts Advisory Committee. The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal-year limitations, and shall consist of: (a) monies appropriated by the Legislature for the purposes of funding drug courts; (b) the interest accruing to the fund; (c) monies received under the provisions of Section 99-19-73 ; (d) monies received from the federal government; and (e) monies received from such other sources as may be provided by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-29 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 9-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-29
Status: in_force

The county court shall be a court of record and the clerk of the circuit court shall be the clerk of the county court, and he or his deputy shall attend all the sessions of the county court, and have present at all sessions, all books, records, files, and papers pertaining to the term then in session. The dockets, minutes, and records of the county court shall be kept, so far as is practicable, in the same manner as are those of the circuit court as provided by statute and the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure. The sheriff shall be the executive officer of the county court; he shall by himself, or deputy, attend all its sessions, and he shall serve all process and execute all writs issued therefrom in the manner as such process and writs would be served and executed when issued by the justice courts, or by the circuit or chancery courts according as appertains to the value of the cause or matter in hand. The clerk and sheriff shall receive the same fees for attendance, and for other services as are allowed by law to the clerk and to the sheriffs for like duties in the circuit and chancery courts; provided however, that in all cases where the justice courts have concurrent jurisdiction with the county court, the clerk shall be allowed to receive only such fees as are allowed to justice courts, and the sheriff shall be allowed only such fees as the constable in said justice court would be entitled to under the law for similar services.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-7 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 12 / Section 21-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-7
Status: in_force

The Administrative Director, with the approval of the Supreme Court, is authorized to employ and set the compensation of such assistants and other employees as are necessary to enable him to perform his duties, subject to approval of the State Personnel Board.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-15 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 19-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-15
Status: in_force

A justice or judge retired by the supreme court or the seven-member tribunal shall be considered to have retired voluntarily. The supreme court's finding of disability shall satisfy any certification of disability required by applicable retirement and disability law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-35 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 9-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-35
Status: in_force

In any county in cases where an overcrowded docket justifies the same, any circuit judge may assign to a county judge in said county only, for hearing and final disposition, any case, cause, hearing or motion, or any proceedings involved in the trial and final disposition thereof.

All orders in said cause, trial or hearing may be signed as follows: “․․․․․․․․․․․․ County Judge and Acting Circuit Judge by assignment.” No special order evidencing said assignment shall be entered on the minutes, except in cases where a county judge is assigned the duty of opening and organizing a court where a grand jury is to be impaneled, in which case an order so assigning the said county judge to act shall be signed and entered on the minutes of the court on the opening day thereof.

No compensation for said services shall be allowed said county judge, neither shall said county judge be compelled to accept any assignment except at his will.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-3 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 21-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-3
Status: in_force

(1) The Administrative Office of Courts shall be specifically charged with the duty of assisting the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi with his duties as the chief administrative officer of all courts of this state, including without limitation the task of insuring that the business of the courts of the state is attended with proper dispatch, that the dockets of such courts are not permitted to become congested and that trials and appeals of cases, civil and criminal, are not delayed unreasonably.

(2) The office shall also perform the following duties:

(a) To work with the clerks of all youth courts and civil and criminal trial courts in the state to collect, obtain, compile, digest and publish information and statistics concerning the administration of justice in the state.

(b) To serve as an agency to apply for and receive any grants or other assistance and to coordinate and conduct studies and projects to improve the administration of justice by the courts of the state, and it may conduct such studies with or without the assistance of consultants.

(c) To supply such support to the Judicial Advisory Study Committee necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter, including without limitation, research and clerical assistance.

(d) To promulgate standards, rules and regulations for computer and/or electronic filing and storage of all court records and court-related records maintained throughout the state in courts and in offices of circuit and chancery clerks.

(e) It shall perform such other duties relating to the improvement of the administration of justice as may be assigned by the Supreme Court of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-1 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 12 / Section 21-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-1
Status: in_force

The Administrative Office of Courts is hereby created. The purpose of the Administrative Office of Courts shall be to assist in the efficient administration of the nonjudicial business of the courts of the state and in improving the administration of justice in Mississippi by performing the duties and exercising the powers as provided in this chapter.

As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term “court” means any tribunal recognized as a part of the judicial branch of government, but not including county boards of supervisors.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-25 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-25
Status: in_force

(1) There shall be four (4) circuit judges for the Seventh Circuit Court District. One (1) judge shall be elected from each subdistrict.

(2) While there shall be no limitation whatsoever upon the powers and duties of the said judges other than as cast upon them by the Constitution and laws of this state, the court in the First Judicial District of Hinds County, in the discretion of the senior circuit judge, may be divided into civil and criminal divisions as a matter of convenience, by the entry of an order upon the minutes of the court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-9 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9 / Section 11-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-9
Status: in_force

Justice court judges shall have jurisdiction of all actions for the recovery of debts or damages or personal property, where the principal of the debt, the amount of the demand, or the value of the property sought to be recovered shall not exceed Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($3,500.00).

The justice court judges shall have no pecuniary interest in the outcome of any action once suit has been filed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-5 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 23-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-5
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) “ Chemical ” tests means the analysis of an individual's: (i) blood, (ii) breath, (iii) hair, (iv) sweat, (v) saliva, (vi) urine, or (vii) other bodily substance to determine the presence of alcohol or a controlled substance.

(b) “ Crime of violence ” means an offense listed in Section 97-3-2 .

(c) “ Intervention court ” means a drug court, mental health court, veterans court or problem-solving court that utilizes an immediate and highly structured intervention process for eligible defendants or juveniles that brings together mental health professionals, substance abuse professionals, local social programs and intensive judicial monitoring.

(d) “ Evidence-based practices ” means supervision policies, procedures and practices that scientific research demonstrates reduce recidivism.

(e) “ Risk and needs assessment ” means the use of an actuarial assessment tool validated on a Mississippi corrections population to determine a person's risk to reoffend and the characteristics that, if addressed, reduce the risk to reoffend.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-7 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 19-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-7
Status: in_force

The commission may appoint and remove an executive director and such administrative staff as may be required. This staff shall report each charge filed to the commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-77 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 21-77
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-77
Status: in_force

(1) Prior to providing any service to a Limited English Proficient (LEP) individual, the interpreter shall subscribe to an oath that he or she shall interpret all communications in an accurate manner to the best of his or her skill and knowledge.

(2) The oath shall conform substantially to the following form:

INTERPRETER'S OATH

“Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will faithfully interpret from (state the language) into English and from English into (state the language) the proceedings before this court in an accurate manner to the best of your skill and knowledge?”

(3) Interpreters shall not voluntarily disclose any admission or communication that is declared to be confidential or privileged under state law. Out-of-court disclosures made by a Limited English Proficient (LEP) individual communicating through an interpreter shall be treated by the interpreter as confidential or privileged or both unless the court orders the interpreter to disclose such communications or the Limited English Proficient (LEP) individual waives such confidentiality or privilege.

(4) Interpreters shall not publicly discuss, report or offer an opinion concerning a matter in which they are engaged, even when that information is not privileged or required by law to be confidential.

(5) The presence of an interpreter shall not affect the privileged nature of any discussion.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-64 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-64
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-64
Status: in_force

(1) There shall be two (2) circuit judges for the Twenty-third Circuit Court District.

(2) For the purposes of appointment and election, the two (2) judgeships shall be separate and distinct and denominated as “Place One” and “Place Two.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-113 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 12 / Section 13-113
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-113
Status: in_force

After July 2, 1994, no judge of any court of this state shall appoint an official court reporter who is not a Certified Shorthand Reporter. In the event of a vacancy, a judge may appoint a temporary reporter; but such temporary reporter shall, within thirty (30) days of such appointment, make application for temporary certification and shall not serve for more than six (6) months without having obtained a permanent certification under Sections 9-13-101 through 9-13-121 , except as provided by Section 9-13-121(3) .
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-9 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 21-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-9
Status: in_force

(1) The Administrative Director of Courts shall have the following duties and authority with respect to all courts in addition to any other duties and responsibilities as may be properly assigned by the Supreme Court and/or by law:

(a) To require the filing of reports, the collection and compilation of statistical data and other information on the judicial and financial operation of the courts and on the operation of other offices directly related to and serving the courts;

(b) To determine the state of the dockets and evaluate the practices and procedures of the courts and make recommendations concerning the number of judges and other personnel required for the efficient administration of justice;

(c) To prescribe uniform administrative and business methods, systems, forms and records to be used in the offices of the clerks of courts;

(d) To devise, promulgate and require the use of a uniform youth court case tracking system, including a youth court case filing form for filing with each individual youth court matter, to be utilized by the Administrative Office of Courts and the youth courts in order that the number of youthful offenders, abused, neglected, truant and dependent children, as well as children in need of special care and children in need of supervision, may be tracked with specificity through the youth court and adult justice systems; in support of the uniform case docketing system, the director shall require that all youth courts utilize the Mississippi Youth Court Information Delivery System (MYCIDS);

(e) To develop, promulgate and require the use of a statewide docket numbering system to be utilized by the youth courts, which youth court docket numbers shall standardize and unify the numbering system by which youth court docket numbers are assigned, such that each docket number would, among other things, identify the county and year in which a particular youth court action was commenced;

(f) To develop, promulgate and require the use of uniform youth court orders and forms in all youth courts and youth court proceedings;

(g) To prepare and submit budget recommendations for state appropriations necessary for the maintenance and operation of the judicial system and to authorize expenditures from funds appropriated for these purposes as permitted or authorized by law;

(h) To develop and implement personnel policies for nonjudicial personnel employed by the courts;

(i) To investigate, make recommendations concerning and assist in the securing of adequate physical accommodations for the judicial system;

(j) To procure, distribute, exchange, transfer and assign such equipment, books, forms and supplies as are acquired with state funds or grant funds or otherwise for the judicial system;

(k) To make recommendations for the improvement of the operations of the judicial system;

(l) To prepare and submit an annual report on the work of the judicial system to the Supreme Court;

(m) To take necessary steps in the collection of unpaid court costs, fines and forfeitures;

(n) To perform such additional administrative duties relating to the improvement of the administration of justice as may be assigned by the Supreme Court; and

(o) To promulgate standards, rules and regulations for computer and/or electronic filing and storage of all court records and court-related records maintained throughout the state in courts and in offices of circuit and chancery clerks.

(p) To utilize the provisions of law that regulate public purchasing in Sections 31-7-1 et seq. , to contract with a provider to effectuate the requirements of paragraph (d) for the Mississippi Youth Court Information Delivery System (MYCIDS).

(2)(a) The Administrative Director of Courts shall conduct an audit of the Mississippi Youth Court Information Delivery System (MYCIDS), by August 1, 2024, to review: the services provided by the system, any contractors or employees used to administer the system, the process used to design or administer the system, guidelines used to create the system and the primary functions of the system and whether the system can be accessed by users of the Mississippi Electronic Court System or merged with the Mississippi Electronic Court System.

(b) The Administrative Director of Courts shall provide a report to the Judiciary A Committees of the Mississippi House of Representatives and the Senate by September 1, 2024, that includes:

(i) A copy of the audit;

(ii) Recommendations that resolve any deficiencies in the system or improve the system;

(iii) Recommendations that outline the creation of a new system which is to be in operation by July 1, 2026.

(iv) A list of the companies or agencies that have submitted bids to resolve deficiencies, make improvements or create a new system.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-3 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9 / Section 27-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-3
Status: in_force

(1) The Legislature recognizes the critical need for judicial intervention to establish court processes and procedures that are more responsive to the needs of defendants with mental illnesses, while maintaining public safety and the integrity of the court process.

(2) The goals of the mental health treatment courts under this chapter include the following:

(a) Reduce the number of future criminal justice contacts among offenders with mental illnesses;

(b) Reduce the inappropriate institutionalization of people with mental illnesses;

(c) Improve the mental and behavioral health and well-being of defendants who come in contact with the criminal justice system;

(d) Improve linkages between the criminal justice system and the mental health system;

(e) Expedite case processing;

(f) Protect public safety;

(g) Establish linkages with other state and local agencies and programs that target people with mental illnesses in order to maximize the delivery of services; and

(h) To use corrections resources more effectively by redirecting prison-bound offenders whose criminal conduct is driven in part by mental illnesses to intensive supervision and clinical treatment available in the mental health treatment court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-118 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 11 / Section 13-118
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-118
Status: in_force

(1) Any person who: (a) undertakes or attempts to undertake the practice of court reporting for remuneration without having first procured a certificate or temporary permission under Sections 9-13-101 through 9-13-123 ; or (b) knowingly files false information with the board for the purpose of obtaining certification or temporary permission under Sections 9-13-101 through 9-13-123 , shall be subject to a civil fine to be imposed by the board of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).

(2) Each day's violation shall be considered a separate infraction.

(3) A person who is not authorized to practice court reporting under Sections 9-13-101 through 9-13-123 shall not bring or maintain an action to recover fees for court reporting services that the person performed in violation of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-103 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 12 / Section 13-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-103
Status: in_force

The Supreme Court shall specify a date for the first meeting of the board, at which the board will organize itself by electing one (1) of its members chairman and electing such other officers as deemed appropriate. The office of the Supreme Court shall be the permanent mailing address for all applications or correspondence of the board. The board shall hold its meetings not less than once a year at such times and places as the board shall designate.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-13 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 27-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-13
Status: in_force

(1) With regard to any mental health treatment court, the Administrative Office of Courts shall do the following:

(a) Certify and re-certify mental health treatment court applications that meet with standards established by the Administrative Office of Courts in accordance with this chapter.

(b) Ensure that the structure of the mental health treatment court complies with rules adopted under this section and applicable federal regulations.

(c) Revoke certification of a mental health treatment court upon a determination that the program does not comply with rules adopted under this section and applicable federal regulations.

(d) Make agreements and contracts to effectuate the purposes of this chapter with:

(i) Another department, authority or agency of the state;

(ii) Another state;

(iii) The federal government;

(iv) A state-supported or private institute of higher learning; or

(v) A public or private agency, foundation, corporation or individual.

(e) Directly, or by contract, approve and certify any mental health treatment court component established under this chapter.

(f) Require, as a condition of operation, that each mental health treatment court created or funded under this chapter be certified by the Administrative Office of Courts.

(g) Collect monthly data from each certified mental health treatment court and compile an annual report summarizing the data collected and the outcomes achieved.

(h) Every three (3) years, if funding is available, contract with an external evaluator to conduct an evaluation of the compliance with the Bureau of Justice Assistance key components, as adapted for mental health treatment courts, and effectiveness of:

(i) Statewide mental health treatment court program; and

(ii) Individual mental health treatment courts.

(i) Adopt rules to implement this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-33 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 11-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-33
Status: in_force

A justice court judge may correct any errors or mistakes in any proceedings that are conducted before such judge or in the records of proceedings conducted before such judge. A justice court judge may set aside any proceeding or judgment in a case conducted before such judge upon a written order as may be just and proper after a proceeding in which the judge determines that good cause has been shown to support such order.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-3-14 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 3-14
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-3-14
Status: in_force

The clerk of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by majority vote of the Supreme Court and shall serve at the pleasure of the court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-27 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-27
Status: in_force

In any civil case instituted in the circuit court, wherein all parties file a motion to transfer said case to the county court for trial, or wherein all parties file an instrument of writing consenting to such a transfer, the circuit court may, in its discretion, transfer the case to the county court for trial; and the said county court shall have full jurisdiction of and shall proceed to try any case so transferred, provided, however, that such order of transfer be rendered prior to the empaneling of the jury in such cases.

In misdemeanor cases and in felony cases not capital, wherein indictments have been returned by the grand jury, the circuit court may transfer with full jurisdiction all or any of the same, in its discretion, to the county court for trial; and the said county court shall have jurisdiction of and shall proceed to try all charges of misdemeanor which may be preferred by the district attorney or by the county prosecuting attorney or by the sheriff on affidavit sworn to before the circuit clerk of the county; and prosecutions by affidavit are hereby authorized in misdemeanor cases under the same procedure as if indictments had been returned in the circuit court and same had been transferred to the county court.

And, provided further, any reputable citizen may make an affidavit charging crime before the judge of the county court, and such affidavit shall be filed with the clerk of the county court, and if the crime charged is a misdemeanor, the county court shall have jurisdiction to try and dispose of said charge and, if the crime charged be a felony, the county judge shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine said cause, the same as now provided by law to be done by justices of the peace, and to commit the person so charged, with or without bail as the evidence may warrant, or to discharge the defendant.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-41 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 9-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-41
Status: in_force

In any county in which there is a city of more than thirteen thousand six hundred inhabitants and less than fourteen thousand inhabitants, as shown by the next preceding regular federal census, and having a county court established by Section 9-9-1 , the board of supervisors shall, on petition of not less than twenty per cent (20%) of the qualified electors of said county, call an election for the purpose of ascertaining whether said court shall be abolished. Said election shall be held in the manner provided by law for holding general elections and at least three weeks' notice thereof shall be given by publication in some newspaper having a general circulation within the county.

The tickets used at said election shall have on their face the following:

For abolishing the county court of __________ county ( )

Against abolishing the county court of __________ county ( )

and the voters shall vote by placing a cross mark after one of said propositions.

In the event a majority of the qualified electors of said county voting in said election vote in favor of the abolition of said court then the same shall immediately cease to exist and the clerk of the circuit court shall transfer all cases pending on the docket of said court. Those cases involving misdemeanors or amounts under two hundred dollars shall be transferred to the proper justice of the peace and those involving over two hundred dollars shall be transferred to the circuit court of the county.

In the event said county court is abolished as hereinabove provided, all executions or garnishments issued on judgment rendered by said court shall be returnable before the circuit court of the county and shall be disposed of just as if the judgment had been rendered by said circuit court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-45 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 9-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-45
Status: in_force

When hereafter any county of the state shall become eligible by reason of the growth in population, in assessed valuation and the existence therein of a municipality of the number of inhabitants all as specified in Section 9-9-1 of this chapter, it shall be the duty of the Governor, upon the determination by him of the facts aforesaid, to issue his public proclamation establishing a county court in the said county, and calling an election on a date to be fixed in said proclamation for the election of a county judge. The term of office of a county judge elected under this section and Section 9-9-39 shall expire thereafter at the same time at which there expires the regular terms of circuit judges and chancellors. When in the last year of any four-year judicial period any county has fallen below the requirements of eligibility as stated in Section 9-9-1 of this chapter, it shall be the duty of the Governor so to ascertain and proclaim, thereupon after the expiration of the then four-year term, the county court shall cease to exist in such county, unless by an election held under the provisions of Section 9-9-39 the said court be retained or reestablished.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-21 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 11 / Section 13-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-21
Status: in_force

In each suit, cause or matter where (1) a plea or answer is filed, and (2) in probate or any other cause or matter wherein the court reporter actually serves, a court reporter's tax fee of ten dollars ($10.00) shall be collected as costs, and paid into the treasury of the county in which the case is tried, as the jury tax is collected by law and paid in the circuit court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-13 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 21-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-13
Status: in_force

(1) The Administrative Director of Courts shall coordinate the functions and duties of administrative personnel, including court administrators and court administrative aides to judges, to facilitate cooperation and so that the overall administration of justice may be accomplished with efficiency in all courts of the state.

(2) The Administrative Director of Courts is authorized to direct the expenditure of state monies appropriated to the Administrative Office of Courts or any courts of the state for any and all functions or projects directly or indirectly affecting the operation of any court and may transfer monies appropriated for the office or any account to any one or more other accounts or office.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-121 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-121
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-121
Status: in_force

The clerk of the circuit court, before he enters upon the duties of the office, shall take the oath of office, and give bond, with sufficient surety, to be payable, conditioned and approved as provided by law, in a penalty equal to three percent (3%) of the sum of all the state and county taxes shown by the assessment rolls and the levies to have been collectible in the county for the year immediately preceding the commencement of the term of office for such clerk. However, such bond shall not exceed the amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00). And he may be required to give additional bond from time to time, for the faithful application of all moneys coming into his hands by law or order of the court; but such additional bonds shall be cumulative security, and the original bond shall likewise cover all moneys coming into the hands of the clerk by law or order of the court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-9 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 11 / Section 19-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-9
Status: in_force

If a complaint is filed against a member of the commission, he shall be disqualified as to that complaint.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-20 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-20
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-20
Status: in_force

(1) There shall be two (2) judges for the Fifth Circuit Court District.

(2) The two (2) judgeships shall be separate and distinct and denominated for purposes of appointment and election only as “Place One” and “Place Two.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-128 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 7-128
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-128
Status: in_force

(1) Where there is no requirement for a permanent record to be made, the clerk, upon order of the court, may dispose of and destroy all case files of the circuit or county court which have been in existence for ten (10) years or which have been reduced to judgment and that judgment satisfied and cancelled. The clerk may also dispose of and destroy any loose records not required by law to be kept as permanent records after a period of ten (10) years. No records, however, may be destroyed without the approval of the Director of the Department of Archives and History.

(2) The files, records and other documents described herein may, upon order of the court in accordance with the provisions of this section, be electronically stored for convenience and efficiency in storage. The electronic storage of documents, for purposes of this section, shall have the same meaning as set forth in Section 9-1-51 . In those counties electing to store files, records and documents by means of electronic storage, the following described case files shall be electronically stored after the time periods described below have elapsed:

(a) Cases in county criminal or civil court which have been dismissed or in which a judgment has been entered at least three (3) years prior to the date upon which they are electronically stored; and

(b) Cases in circuit, criminal or civil court which have been dismissed or in which a judgment has been entered at least five (5) years prior to the date upon which they are electronically stored.

(3) Nothing in this section shall serve as authority to destroy any docket book, minute book, issue docket, subpoena docket, witness docket book, execution docket book, voter registration book, marriage record book, trial order, abstract of judgment, judgment roll, criminal file where an indictment was returned and the defendant convicted if the file is not at least twenty (20) years old, habeas corpus docket, preliminary hearing docket or Court of Appeals or Supreme Court appeals docket.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-7 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 27 / Section 27-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-7
Status: in_force

(1) The Administrative Office of Courts is the repository for reports filed by mental health treatment courts established under this chapter. The goal of the mental health treatment courts is to support effective and proven practices that reduce recidivism and provide behavioral health treatment for participants.

(2) Mental health treatment courts must adhere to the standards established in this chapter.

(a) These standards shall include, but are not limited to:

(i) The use of evidence-based practices including, but not limited to, the use of a valid and reliable risk and needs screening tool to identify participants, deliver appropriate treatments and services;

(ii) Targeting moderate to high-risk offenders for participation;

(iii) Utilizing current, evidence-based practices proven effective for behavioral health treatment;

(iv) Frequent testing for alcohol or drugs;

(v) Coordinated strategy between all mental health treatment court personnel;

(vi) Ongoing judicial interaction with each participant; and

(vii) Monitoring and evaluation of mental health treatment court implementation and outcomes through data collection and reporting.

(b) Mental health treatment courts must implement a data collection plan, utilizing the treatment court case management system, which shall include collecting the following data:

(i) Total number of participants;

(ii) Total number of successful participants;

(iii) Total number of unsuccessful participants and the reason why each participant did not complete the program;

(iv) Total number of participants who were arrested for a new criminal offense while in the mental health treatment court;

(v) Total number of participants who were convicted of a new felony offense while in the mental health treatment court;

(vi) Total number of participants who committed at least one (1) violation while in the mental health treatment court and the resulting sanction(s);

(vii) Results of the initial risk and needs screening or other clinical assessments conducted on each participant;

(viii) Total number of applications for screening by race, gender, offenses charged, indigence and if not accepted, the reason for nonacceptance; and

(ix) Any other data or information as required by the Administrative Office of Courts.

(3) All mental health treatment courts must measure successful completion of the program based on those participants who complete the program without a new criminal conviction.

(4)(a) Mental health treatment courts must collect and submit to the Administrative Office of Courts each month, the following data:

(i) Total number of participants at the beginning of the month;

(ii) Total number of participants at the end of the month;

(iii) Total number of new participants who began the program in the month;

(iv) Total number of participants who successfully completed the program in the month;

(v) Total number of participants who left the program in the month;

(vi) Total number of participants who were arrested for a new criminal offense while in the program in the month;

(vii) Total number of participants who were convicted of a new criminal offense while in the program in the month;

(viii) Total number of participants who committed at least one (1) violation while in the program and any resulting sanction(s);

(ix) Total number of active participants who did not receive treatment in the month;

(x) Total number of participants on prescribed psychotropic medications in the month;

(xi) Total number of new participants admitted to an acute psychiatric facility or a crisis stabilization unit in the first thirty (30) days of acceptance into the mental health treatment court; and

(xii) Total number of participants admitted to an acute psychiatric facility or a crisis stabilization unit in the month.

(b) By August 1, 2023, and each year thereafter, the Administrative Office of Courts shall report to the PEER Committee the information in subsection (4)(a) of this section in a sortable, electronic format.

(5) A certified mental health treatment court may individually establish rules and may make special orders and rules as necessary that do not conflict with rules promulgated by the Supreme Court or the Administrative Office of Courts.

(6) A certified mental health treatment court may appoint full- or part-time employees it deems necessary for the work of the mental health treatment court and shall fix the compensation of those employees, who shall serve at the will and pleasure of the circuit court judge who presides over the mental health treatment court.

(7) A certified mental health treatment court established under this chapter is subject to the regulatory powers of the Administrative Office of Courts as set forth in Section 9-27-13 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-81 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-81
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-81
Status: in_force

The circuit court shall have original jurisdiction in all actions when the principal of the amount in controversy exceeds two hundred dollars, and of all other actions and causes, matters and things arising under the constitution and laws of this state which are not exclusively cognizable in some other court, and such appellate jurisdiction as prescribed by law. Such court shall have power to hear and determine all prosecutions in the name of the state for treason, felonies, crimes, and misdemeanors, except such as may be exclusively cognizable before some other court; and said court shall have all the powers belonging to a court of oyer and terminer and general jail delivery, and may do and perform all other acts properly pertaining to a circuit court of law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-137 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 5-137
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-137
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of the clerk to preserve and keep all records, files, papers and proceedings belonging to his office, and to record all last wills and testaments which may be probated; all letters testamentary, of administration, and guardianship; all accounts allowed; all inventories, appraisements, and reports duly returned; all instruments which are duly proved, and which by law are required to be recorded in his office, in well-bound books to be kept for that purpose, each class in a separate book or books, or by means of electronic filing or storage or both in addition to or in lieu of any such physical records as provided in Sections 9-1-51 through 9-1-57 , as the clerk may elect; all records shall be properly indexed. He shall issue all process which may be required of him by law or by order of the court, or the chancellor in vacation; and shall discharge all other duties which may be required of him by law, or which properly appertain to the duties of his office. The clerk shall be under the direction of the court in termtime, and of the chancellor in vacation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-5 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 13-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-5
Status: in_force

The court reporter when appointed and qualified by taking the oath required, and by filing the bond hereinafter mentioned, thereby becomes an officer of the court, and shall hold his office as court reporter for the term of four years from the date of his appointment unless sooner removed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-9 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 21-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-9
Status: in_force

(1) The Administrative Director of Courts shall have the following duties and authority with respect to all courts in addition to any other duties and responsibilities as may be properly assigned by the Supreme Court and/or by law:

(a) To require the filing of reports, the collection and compilation of statistical data and other information on the judicial and financial operation of the courts and on the operation of other offices directly related to and serving the courts;

(b) To determine the state of the dockets and evaluate the practices and procedures of the courts and make recommendations concerning the number of judges and other personnel required for the efficient administration of justice;

(c) To prescribe uniform administrative and business methods, systems, forms and records to be used in the offices of the clerks of courts;

(d) To devise, promulgate and require the use of a uniform youth court case tracking system, including a youth court case filing form for filing with each individual youth court matter, to be utilized by the Administrative Office of Courts and the youth courts in order that the number of youthful offenders, abused, neglected, truant and dependent children, as well as children in need of special care and children in need of supervision, may be tracked with specificity through the youth court and adult justice systems; in support of the uniform case docketing system, the director shall require that all youth courts utilize the Mississippi Youth Court Information Delivery System (MYCIDS);

(e) To develop, promulgate and require the use of a statewide docket numbering system to be utilized by the youth courts, which youth court docket numbers shall standardize and unify the numbering system by which youth court docket numbers are assigned, such that each docket number would, among other things, identify the county and year in which a particular youth court action was commenced;

(f) To develop, promulgate and require the use of uniform youth court orders and forms in all youth courts and youth court proceedings;

(g) To prepare and submit budget recommendations for state appropriations necessary for the maintenance and operation of the judicial system and to authorize expenditures from funds appropriated for these purposes as permitted or authorized by law;

(h) To develop and implement personnel policies for nonjudicial personnel employed by the courts;

(i) To investigate, make recommendations concerning and assist in the securing of adequate physical accommodations for the judicial system;

(j) To procure, distribute, exchange, transfer and assign such equipment, books, forms and supplies as are acquired with state funds or grant funds or otherwise for the judicial system;

(k) To make recommendations for the improvement of the operations of the judicial system;

(l) To prepare and submit an annual report on the work of the judicial system to the Supreme Court;

(m) To take necessary steps in the collection of unpaid court costs, fines and forfeitures;

(n) To perform such additional administrative duties relating to the improvement of the administration of justice as may be assigned by the Supreme Court; and

(o) To promulgate standards, rules and regulations for computer and/or electronic filing and storage of all court records and court-related records maintained throughout the state in courts and in offices of circuit and chancery clerks.

(p) To utilize the provisions of law that regulate public purchasing in Sections 31-7-1 et seq. , to contract with a provider to effectuate the requirements of paragraph (d) for the Mississippi Youth Court Information Delivery System (MYCIDS).

(2)(a) The Administrative Director of Courts shall conduct an audit of the Mississippi Youth Court Information Delivery System (MYCIDS), by August 1, 2024, to review: the services provided by the system, any contractors or employees used to administer the system, the process used to design or administer the system, guidelines used to create the system and the primary functions of the system and whether the system can be accessed by users of the Mississippi Electronic Court System or merged with the Mississippi Electronic Court System.

(b) The Administrative Director of Courts shall provide a report to the Judiciary A Committees of the Mississippi House of Representatives and the Senate by September 1, 2024, that includes:

(i) A copy of the audit;

(ii) Recommendations that resolve any deficiencies in the system or improve the system;

(iii) Recommendations that outline the creation of a new system which is to be in operation by July 1, 2026.

(iv) A list of the companies or agencies that have submitted bids to resolve deficiencies, make improvements or create a new system.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-101 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 13-101
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-101
Status: in_force

(1) The Board of Certified Court Reporters, hereinafter referred to as “the board,” shall be composed of nine (9) members. Two (2) of the members shall be judges, one (1) from the Supreme Court and one (1) from a trial court, appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi with the approval of the full court. Two (2) of the board members shall be practicing attorneys and shall be appointed by the Chief Justice, with the approval of the full court, on nomination by the Mississippi Bar. Two (2) of the members shall be official court reporters in, and citizens of, Mississippi for at least five (5) years prior to their appointments and shall be appointed by the Chief Justice with approval of the full court on nomination by the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Court Reporters Association. Two (2) of the members shall be free-lance court reporters in, and citizens of, Mississippi for at least five (5) years prior to their appointments and shall be appointed by the Chief Justice with approval of the full court on nomination by the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Court Reporters Association. Initially, for judges, lawyers and reporters, one (1) of the two (2) shall be appointed for a term of one (1) year and one (1) for a term of two (2) years. For court reporters, one (1) official shall be appointed for a term of one (1) year and one (1) for a term of two (2) years and one (1) free-lance court reporter shall be appointed for a term of one (1) year and one (1) for a term of two (2) years. The ninth board member shall be the Supreme Court Clerk, who shall serve as a permanent member of the board.

(2) After each member's term expires, his successor shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall fill any vacancy for the duration of an unexpired term by appointing a person having the appropriate qualifications and the Supreme Court may remove any member for cause. Members may be appointed to successive terms.

(3) Each member shall take an oath that he will fairly, impartially and to the best of his ability administer the provisions of Sections 9-13-101 through 9-13-121 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-53 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 5-53
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-53
Status: in_force

The Eighteenth Chancery Court District is composed of the following counties:

(a) Benton County;

(b) Calhoun County;

(c) Lafayette County;

(d) Marshall County; and

(e) Tippah County.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-47 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 5-47
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-47
Status: in_force

The Fifteenth Chancery Court District is composed of the following counties:

(a) Copiah County; and

(b) Lincoln County.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-80 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 21-80
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-80
Status: in_force

(1) The court shall appoint an interpreter in the following order of preference:

(a) Certified court interpreter.

(b) Registered court interpreter.

(c) Non-credential interpreter.

(2) A non-credentialed interpreter may be appointed if:

(a) Neither a certified nor registered court interpreter reasonably is available; and

(b) The court has evaluated the totality of the circumstances, including the gravity of the judicial proceeding and the potential penalty or consequence involved.

(3) If the court appoints a non-credentialed interpreter, the court must make the following findings on the record:

(a) The proposed interpreter appears to have: (i) adequate language skills, knowledge of interpreting techniques, and familiarity with interpreting in a court setting; and (ii) read and understand, and agrees to abide by, the Mississippi Code of Ethics for Court Interpreters and the Mississippi Rules on Standards for Court Interpreters.

(4) A summary of the efforts made to obtain a certified or registered court interpreter, as well as a summary of the efforts to determine the capabilities of the proposed non-credentialed interpreter, must be made in open court and placed on the record.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 5-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3
Status: in_force

(1) The state shall be divided into an appropriate number of chancery court districts, severally numbered and composed of the counties as set forth in the sections which follow. A court to be styled “The Chancery Court of the County of ․․․․” shall be held in each county, and within each judicial district of a county having two (2) judicial districts, at least twice a year. Court shall be held in chancery court districts consisting of a single county on the same dates state agencies and political subdivisions are open for business excluding legal holidays. The dates upon which terms shall commence and the number of days for which terms shall continue in chancery court districts consisting of more than one (1) county shall be set by order of the chancellor in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2) of this section. A matter in court may extend past a term if the interest of justice so requires.

(2) An order establishing the commencement and continuation of terms of court for each of the counties within a chancery court district consisting of more than one (1) county shall be entered annually and not later than October 1 of the year immediately preceding the calendar year for which the terms of court are to become effective. Notice of the dates upon which terms of court shall commence and the number of days for which the terms shall continue in each of the counties within a chancery court district shall be posted in the office of the chancery clerk of each county within the district and mailed to the office of the Secretary of State for publication and distribution to all Mississippi Bar members. If an order is not timely entered, the terms of court for each of the counties within the chancery court district shall remain unchanged for the next calendar year.

(3) The number of chancellorships for each chancery court district shall be determined by the Legislature based upon the following criteria:

(a) The population of the district;

(b) The number of cases filed in the district;

(c) The caseload of each chancellor in the district;

(d) The geographic area of the district;

(e) An analysis of the needs of the district by the court personnel of the district; and

(f) Any other appropriate criteria.

(4) The Judicial College of the University of Mississippi Law Center and the Administrative Office of Courts shall determine the appropriate:

(a) Specific data to be collected as a basis for applying the above criteria;

(b) Method of collecting and maintaining the specified data; and

(c) Method of assimilating the specified data.

(5) In a district having more than one (1) office of chancellor, there shall be no distinction whatsoever in the powers, duties and emoluments of those offices except that the chancellor who has been for the longest time continuously a chancellor of that court or, should no chancellor have served longer in office than the others, the chancellor who has been for the longest time a member of The Mississippi Bar shall be the senior chancellor. The senior chancellor shall have the right to assign causes and dockets and to set terms in districts consisting of more than one (1) county.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-18.3 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 9-18.3
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-18.3
Status: in_force

(1) In order to relieve the crowded condition of the docket in the county court and in the youth court of Lauderdale County and particularly to facilitate and make possible the trial and disposition of the large number of causes on the docket and in the youth court, there shall be two (2) county judges for Lauderdale County, provided for and elected as herein set out.

(2) For the purposes of nomination and election, the two (2) judgeships shall be separate and distinct, the presently existing judgeship and its succession to be denominated for purposes of appointment, nomination and election only as “Place One” and the judgeship hereby created and its succession for said selfsame purposes and none other to be designated as “Place Two.” There shall be no distinction whatsoever in the powers, duties and emoluments of the two (2) offices of county judge, except that the county judge of Lauderdale County who has been for the longest time continuously a county judge of the county shall have the right to assign causes, terms and dockets. Should neither judge of the county court have served longer in office than the other, then that judge of the county court who has been for the longest time a member of The Mississippi Bar shall have the right to assign causes, terms and dockets.

(3) While there shall be no limitation whatsoever upon the powers and duties of the said county judges other than as cast upon them by the Constitution and laws of this state, the county court of Lauderdale County may, in the discretion of the county judge who has been for the longest time continuously a judge of said court, be divided into civil, equity, criminal and youth court divisions as a matter of convenience by the entry of an order upon the minutes of the court.

(4) The initial holder of the additional judgeship created by this section, or “Place Two,” shall be elected in the regular election of November 2006; candidates therefor shall qualify to run not later than forty-five (45) days before that election. The person elected shall begin the term of office in January of 2007 at the same time as county judges generally, and there shall be no vacancy of the office before that time. Thereafter the two (2) judges shall otherwise be elected, and any vacancy in office filled, as provided for county judges generally.

(5) The Board of Supervisors of Lauderdale County may, in its discretion, set aside, appropriate and expend monies from the general fund to be used in the payment of salaries of judges, clerks, reporters, officers and employees of the youth court division of the county court, including the related facilities of the youth court division of the county court, and such funds shall be expended for no other purposes. The county shall not be reimbursed for the amount of any such levy provided for by this section under the terms of the Homestead Exemption Law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-15 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9 / Section 11-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-15
Status: in_force

(1) Justice court judges shall hold regular terms of their courts, at such times as they may appoint, not exceeding two (2) and not less than one (1) in every month, at the appropriate justice court courtroom established by the board of supervisors; and they may continue to hold their courts from day to day so long as business may require; and all process shall be returnable, and all trials shall take place at such regular terms, except where it is otherwise provided; but where the defendant is a nonresident or transient person, and it shall be shown by the oath of either party that a delay of the trial until the regular term will be of material injury to him, it shall be lawful for the judge to have the parties brought before him at any reasonable time and hear the evidence and give judgment or where the defendant is a nonresident or transient person and the judge and all parties agree, it shall be lawful for the judge to have the parties brought before him on the day a citation is made and hear the evidence and give judgment. Such court shall be a court of record, with all the power incident to a court of record, including power to fine in the amount of fine and length of imprisonment as is authorized for a municipal court in Section 21-23-7(11) for contempt of court.

(2)(a) In counties with a population of less than one hundred fifty thousand (150,000), each justice court shall designate at least one-half ( 1 / 2 ) day each month as a traffic court day, sufficient to handle the traffic violations docket of that court, and shall notify all appropriate law enforcement agencies of the date or dates. On the day or days so designated, the justice court shall give priority to all cases involving traffic violations.

(b) In counties with a population of one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) or more, each justice court shall designate at least one (1) day each month as a traffic court day, sufficient to handle the traffic violations of that court, and shall notify all appropriate law enforcement agencies of the date or dates. On the day or days so designated, the justice court shall give priority to all cases involving traffic violations. The one (1) day may be one (1) whole day or it may be divided into half days as long as one-half ( 1 / 2 ) day is held in the morning and one-half ( 1 / 2 ) day is held in the afternoon, in the discretion of the court.

(3) The justice court may, in its discretion, upon prior notice to the county prosecutor and upon a showing in open court of rehabilitation, good conduct for a period of two (2) years since the last conviction in any court and that the best interest of society would be served, order the record of conviction of a person of any or all misdemeanors in that court expunged, and upon so doing, such person thereafter legally stands as though he or she had never been convicted of the misdemeanor(s) and may lawfully so respond to any query of prior convictions. This order of expunction does not apply to the confidential records of law enforcement agencies and has no effect on the driving record of a person maintained under Title 63, Mississippi Code of 1972, or any other provision of said Title 63.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, a person who was convicted in justice court of a misdemeanor before reaching his twenty-third birthday, excluding conviction for a traffic violation, and who is a first offender, may utilize the provisions of Section 99-19-71 , to expunge such misdemeanor conviction.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-21 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 5-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-21
Status: in_force

The Sixth Chancery Court District is composed of the following counties:

(a) Attala County;

(b) Carroll County;

(c) Choctaw County;

(d) Kemper County;

(e) Neshoba County; and

(f) Winston County.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-12-1 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 12-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-12-1
Status: repealed

(1)(a) From and after January 1, 2024, there shall be created one (1) inferior court as authorized by Article 6, Section 172 of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 , to be located within the boundaries established in Section 29-5-203 for the Capitol Complex Improvement District, hereinafter referred to as “CCID”. The CCID inferior court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine all preliminary matters and criminal matters authorized by law for municipal courts that accrue or occur, in whole or in part, within the boundaries of the Capitol Complex Improvement District; and shall have the same jurisdiction as municipal courts to hear and determine all cases charging violations of the motor vehicle and traffic laws of this state, and violations of the City of Jackson's traffic ordinance or ordinances related to the disturbance of the public peace that accrue or occur, in whole or in part, within the boundaries of the Capitol Complex Improvement District.

(b) Any person convicted in the CCID inferior court may be placed in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, Central Mississippi facility.

(2) The Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court shall appoint the CCID inferior court judge authorized by this section. The judge shall possess all qualifications required by law for municipal court judges. Such judge shall be a qualified elector of this state, and shall have such other qualifications as provided by law for municipal judges.

(3) The Administrative Office of Courts shall provide compensation for the CCID inferior court judge and the support staff of the judge. Such compensation shall not be in an amount less than the compensation paid to municipal court judges and their support staff in the City of Jackson.

(4) All fines, penalties, fees and costs imposed and collected by the CCID inferior court shall be deposited with the City of Jackson municipal treasurer or equivalent officer.

(5) This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2027.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-29 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 11 / Section 13-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-29
Status: in_force

At any time prior to the expiration of the period allowed by law to perfect an appeal to the supreme court, or before the determination of the suit, any party to said suit, or any witness who may have testified therein, may, upon petition duly filed and presented to the court or presented to the trial judge thereof in vacation, and upon ten days notice to the opposite party or parties, or to one of his attorneys of record, in which notice the time and place of the presentation of the petition shall be given, obtain an order from the court or judge authorizing the clerk of the court to permit said petitioning party to withdraw from the clerk's custody, any exhibit, map or other item of evidence, which may be the property of said party or witness, if in the opinion of the court or judge such withdrawal shall be proper. Provided, however, the party or witness requesting the withdrawal shall cause a true copy of such exhibit, map, or other item of evidence, or matter of proceeding to be made by the clerk, and such clerk shall duly certify to the correctness of the copy, and such party or witness shall pay all fees authorized by law for making such copy and for such certificate; the clerk shall be required to make the copy and certificate upon the payment of such fees. Thereafter such certified copy of said exhibit, map or other item of evidence, or matter of proceedings shall remain in custody of the clerk, and during any hearing or trial of the cause and for all other purposes the duly certified copy of such exhibit, map or item of evidence, or matter of proceeding shall be deemed and considered as the true exhibit, map, item of evidence or matter of proceeding exhibited and introduced in such suit.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-5 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 23-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-5
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) “ Chemical ” tests means the analysis of an individual's: (i) blood, (ii) breath, (iii) hair, (iv) sweat, (v) saliva, (vi) urine, or (vii) other bodily substance to determine the presence of alcohol or a controlled substance.

(b) “ Crime of violence ” means an offense listed in Section 97-3-2 .

(c) “ Intervention court ” means a drug court, mental health court, veterans court or problem-solving court that utilizes an immediate and highly structured intervention process for eligible defendants or juveniles that brings together mental health professionals, substance abuse professionals, local social programs and intensive judicial monitoring.

(d) “ Evidence-based practices ” means supervision policies, procedures and practices that scientific research demonstrates reduce recidivism.

(e) “ Risk and needs assessment ” means the use of an actuarial assessment tool validated on a Mississippi corrections population to determine a person's risk to reoffend and the characteristics that, if addressed, reduce the risk to reoffend.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-119 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 13-119
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-119
Status: in_force

(1) All Certified Shorthand Reporters and Certified Stenomask Reporters shall pay to the board an annual certification fee established by the board. All certificates issued under the provisions of this chapter shall expire one (1) year from the date of issue. Applications for renewal of certification shall be accompanied by the required annual certification fee.

(2) All funds collected under the provisions of this chapter shall be deposited into a special fund, hereby created in the State Treasury. All expenses incurred by the board in implementing the provisions of this chapter shall be paid out of such special fund pursuant to legislative appropriation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-45 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 12 / Section 21-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-45
Status: in_force

(1) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund designated as the Judicial System Operation Fund. The funds shall be administered by the Supreme Court through the Administrative Office of Courts. The fund shall consist of monies deposited therein as provided in Section 99-19-72 and monies from any other source designated for deposit into the fund. The Administrative Office of Courts may also accept monies from any public or private source for deposit into the fund. Money remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned from the investment of monies in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund.

(2) Monies in the fund shall be subject to appropriation by the Legislature and may only be used for the purpose of the operation of the judicial system in the state as determined necessary by the Supreme Court and to provide additional funds for the judicial salaries set forth in Section 25-3-35 and Section 9-9-11(8) . Monies in the fund used for the purposes described in this section shall be in addition to other funds available from any other source for such purposes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-1-44 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 1-44
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-1-44
Status: in_force

If the total amount of all fees received by the office of the chancery clerk or by the office of the circuit clerk in any year are insufficient to pay the expenses of the office for that year, the clerk shall notify the board of supervisors, and if the board of supervisors makes a finding and enters on its minutes the finding that the fees received by the office of the clerk are insufficient to pay the expenses of the office for that year, then the board of supervisors, in its discretion, may appropriate funds from the general fund of the county to the office of the clerk as necessary to supplement the payment of the expenses of the office of the clerk.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-13 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 17 / Section 27-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-13
Status: in_force

(1) With regard to any mental health treatment court, the Administrative Office of Courts shall do the following:

(a) Certify and re-certify mental health treatment court applications that meet with standards established by the Administrative Office of Courts in accordance with this chapter.

(b) Ensure that the structure of the mental health treatment court complies with rules adopted under this section and applicable federal regulations.

(c) Revoke certification of a mental health treatment court upon a determination that the program does not comply with rules adopted under this section and applicable federal regulations.

(d) Make agreements and contracts to effectuate the purposes of this chapter with:

(i) Another department, authority or agency of the state;

(ii) Another state;

(iii) The federal government;

(iv) A state-supported or private institute of higher learning; or

(v) A public or private agency, foundation, corporation or individual.

(e) Directly, or by contract, approve and certify any mental health treatment court component established under this chapter.

(f) Require, as a condition of operation, that each mental health treatment court created or funded under this chapter be certified by the Administrative Office of Courts.

(g) Collect monthly data from each certified mental health treatment court and compile an annual report summarizing the data collected and the outcomes achieved.

(h) Every three (3) years, if funding is available, contract with an external evaluator to conduct an evaluation of the compliance with the Bureau of Justice Assistance key components, as adapted for mental health treatment courts, and effectiveness of:

(i) Statewide mental health treatment court program; and

(ii) Individual mental health treatment courts.

(i) Adopt rules to implement this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-43 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 19 / Section 21-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-43
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special fund designated as the Civil Legal Assistance Fund. The funds shall be administered by the Supreme Court through the Administrative Office of Courts. The Administrative Office of Courts may also accept monies from any public or private source for deposit into the fund. Money remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned from the investment of monies in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the funds.

(2) All monies shall be allocated to only those organizations providing legal services to low income Mississippians. Furthermore, no monies from this fund shall be expended to provide legal services in matters currently prohibited by the Legal Services Corporation, Washington, D.C., and no funds shall be expended on persons who are not financially eligible to receive legal services as directed by the Legal Services Corporation, Washington, D.C.

(3) The monies appropriated shall be distributed to eligible legal services programs based on the percentage of poverty population within the program service area, consistent with the formula used by the Legal Services Corporation.

(4) Monies appropriated to the fund may be used to promote increased participation by the private bar in the delivery of legal services to the indigent through the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project.

(5) Recipients of funds shall have the following duties:

(a) To develop, operate and administer programs within their respective service areas that provide free legal services to indigent clients involved in civil matters;

(b) To report annually to the Supreme Court, through the Administrative Office of Courts, on its activities, including providing a copy of its annual audit that accounts for the use of the funds; and

(c) To refund annually all unused or uncommitted funds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-129 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-129
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-129
Status: in_force

Within ten days after each term of circuit court, it shall be the duty of the clerk to deliver to the clerk of the board of supervisors a certified list of allowances made by the court at such term, payable out of the county treasury, specifying the amount, to whom allowed, and on what account. For any failure to deliver such list, the clerk of the circuit court may be punished by the court as for a contempt.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-43 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 21-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-43
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special fund designated as the Civil Legal Assistance Fund. The funds shall be administered by the Supreme Court through the Administrative Office of Courts. The Administrative Office of Courts may also accept monies from any public or private source for deposit into the fund. Money remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned from the investment of monies in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the funds.

(2) All monies shall be allocated to only those organizations providing legal services to low income Mississippians. Furthermore, no monies from this fund shall be expended to provide legal services in matters currently prohibited by the Legal Services Corporation, Washington, D.C., and no funds shall be expended on persons who are not financially eligible to receive legal services as directed by the Legal Services Corporation, Washington, D.C.

(3) The monies appropriated shall be distributed to eligible legal services programs based on the percentage of poverty population within the program service area, consistent with the formula used by the Legal Services Corporation.

(4) Monies appropriated to the fund may be used to promote increased participation by the private bar in the delivery of legal services to the indigent through the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project.

(5) Recipients of funds shall have the following duties:

(a) To develop, operate and administer programs within their respective service areas that provide free legal services to indigent clients involved in civil matters;

(b) To report annually to the Supreme Court, through the Administrative Office of Courts, on its activities, including providing a copy of its annual audit that accounts for the use of the funds; and

(c) To refund annually all unused or uncommitted funds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-15 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 11-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-15
Status: in_force

(1) Justice court judges shall hold regular terms of their courts, at such times as they may appoint, not exceeding two (2) and not less than one (1) in every month, at the appropriate justice court courtroom established by the board of supervisors; and they may continue to hold their courts from day to day so long as business may require; and all process shall be returnable, and all trials shall take place at such regular terms, except where it is otherwise provided; but where the defendant is a nonresident or transient person, and it shall be shown by the oath of either party that a delay of the trial until the regular term will be of material injury to him, it shall be lawful for the judge to have the parties brought before him at any reasonable time and hear the evidence and give judgment or where the defendant is a nonresident or transient person and the judge and all parties agree, it shall be lawful for the judge to have the parties brought before him on the day a citation is made and hear the evidence and give judgment. Such court shall be a court of record, with all the power incident to a court of record, including power to fine in the amount of fine and length of imprisonment as is authorized for a municipal court in Section 21-23-7(11) for contempt of court.

(2)(a) In counties with a population of less than one hundred fifty thousand (150,000), each justice court shall designate at least one-half ( 1 / 2 ) day each month as a traffic court day, sufficient to handle the traffic violations docket of that court, and shall notify all appropriate law enforcement agencies of the date or dates. On the day or days so designated, the justice court shall give priority to all cases involving traffic violations.

(b) In counties with a population of one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) or more, each justice court shall designate at least one (1) day each month as a traffic court day, sufficient to handle the traffic violations of that court, and shall notify all appropriate law enforcement agencies of the date or dates. On the day or days so designated, the justice court shall give priority to all cases involving traffic violations. The one (1) day may be one (1) whole day or it may be divided into half days as long as one-half ( 1 / 2 ) day is held in the morning and one-half ( 1 / 2 ) day is held in the afternoon, in the discretion of the court.

(3) The justice court may, in its discretion, upon prior notice to the county prosecutor and upon a showing in open court of rehabilitation, good conduct for a period of two (2) years since the last conviction in any court and that the best interest of society would be served, order the record of conviction of a person of any or all misdemeanors in that court expunged, and upon so doing, such person thereafter legally stands as though he or she had never been convicted of the misdemeanor(s) and may lawfully so respond to any query of prior convictions. This order of expunction does not apply to the confidential records of law enforcement agencies and has no effect on the driving record of a person maintained under Title 63, Mississippi Code of 1972, or any other provision of said Title 63.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, a person who was convicted in justice court of a misdemeanor before reaching his twenty-third birthday, excluding conviction for a traffic violation, and who is a first offender, may utilize the provisions of Section 99-19-71 , to expunge such misdemeanor conviction.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-181 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-181
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-181
Status: in_force

The clerk shall keep a docket, in which he shall enter every capias pro finem and all executions issued by him, specifying the names of the parties, the date, the amount of the judgment or decree and of costs, the name of the officer to whom it is delivered, to what county directed, the date when issued, and the return-day thereof; and, when the same is returned, shall, without delay, record the return at large on the same page of the docket. And the execution docket shall be kept duly indexed, both directly and indirectly, in the alphabetical order of the names of each of the parties. Such docket may be kept on computer as provided in Section 9-7-171 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-103 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 13-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-103
Status: in_force

The Supreme Court shall specify a date for the first meeting of the board, at which the board will organize itself by electing one (1) of its members chairman and electing such other officers as deemed appropriate. The office of the Supreme Court shall be the permanent mailing address for all applications or correspondence of the board. The board shall hold its meetings not less than once a year at such times and places as the board shall designate.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-201 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 5-201
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-201
Status: in_force

(1) The clerk shall keep a general docket in which he shall enter the names of the parties in each suit, the time of filing the complaint, petition or answer, and all other papers in the cause, the issuance and return of process, and a note of reference to all orders made therein by the book and page. He shall mark on the papers in every cause the style and number of the suit, and the time when and the party by whom filed. All the papers and pleadings filed in a cause shall be kept in the same file, and all the files kept in numerical order. The general docket shall be duly indexed, both direct and indirect, in the alphabetical order of the names of the parties, and each of them, so that the page of the docket containing the entries in each cause may be readily found.

(2) The general docket required to be kept by this section and all other dockets or records required by law to be kept by the chancery clerk may be kept on computer in lieu of any other physical docket, record or well-bound book if all such dockets and records are kept by computer in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Administrative Office of Courts.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-123 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-123
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-123
Status: in_force

(1) The clerk of the circuit court shall have power, with the approbation of the court, or of the judge in vacation, to appoint one or more deputies, who shall take the oath of office and may give bond, and who thereupon shall have power to do and perform all the acts and duties which their principal may lawfully do; such approval, when given by the judge in vacation, shall be in writing, and shall be entered on the minutes of the court at the next term.

(2) Each deputy clerk of the circuit court, before he enters upon the duties of the appointment, shall take the oath of office, and shall give bond, with sufficient surety, to be payable, conditioned and approved as provided by law, in a penalty equal to three percent (3%) of the sum of all the state and county taxes shown by the assessment rolls and the levies to have been collectible in the county for the year immediately preceding the commencement of the term of office for the circuit clerk. However, the amount of such bond shall not be less than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) nor more than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00). The bond shall cover all monies coming into the hands of the deputy clerk by law or order of the court. The board of supervisors, in its discretion, may pay the bond on behalf of the deputy clerk.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-20 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 11 / Section 11-20
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-20
Status: in_force

In any civil case in the justice court in which any process or writ is to be served outside of the county where issued, the clerk of the justice court is hereby authorized and directed to forward, by United States mail, to the clerk of the justice court of the county where such writ or process is to be served, that portion of any fees required by law to be collected for the service of such process or writ along with the process or writ to be served. The clerk of the justice court of the county where the process or writ is to be served shall, upon receipt thereof, deliver such process or writ to a constable of the county for the service thereof and shall report and pay over such fees to the chancery clerk of the county at the time and in the manner provided in subsection (1) of Section 9-11-19 for the report and payment of fees, costs, fines and penalties charged and collected in the justice court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-83 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 7-83
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-83
Status: in_force

The circuit court shall have jurisdiction of all cases transferred to it by the chancery court or remanded to it by the supreme court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-3 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9 / Section 19-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-3
Status: in_force

The terms of office of the commission members shall be for six (6) years, except that the initial terms of office shall be as follows: the circuit court judge member for six (6) years, the chancellor member for five (5) years, the county court judge member for five (5) years, the justice court judge member for four (4) years, one (1) of the lay members for three (3) years, the other lay member for two (2) years, and the attorney member for one (1) year. Members shall not be allowed to succeed themselves after serving a full term. Commission membership terminates if a member ceases to hold the position that qualified the member for appointment. A vacancy shall be filled by the appointing power for the remainder of the term.

No member of the commission, except a justice or judge, shall be eligible for state judicial office so long as he is a member of the commission and for a period of two (2) years thereafter. No member of the commission shall hold office in a political party or participate in any campaign for judicial office and hold public office; provided that a judge may participate in his own campaign for judicial office and hold that office. The commission shall elect one (1) of its members as its chairman.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-57 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 7-57
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-57
Status: in_force

The Twenty-second Circuit Court District is composed of the following counties:

(a) Claiborne County;

(b) Copiah County; and

(c) Jefferson County.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-37 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 5-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-37
Status: in_force

(1) The Eleventh Chancery Court District is composed of the following counties:

(a) Holmes County;

(b) Leake County;

(c) Madison County; and

(d) Yazoo County.

(2) The Eleventh Chancery Court District shall be divided into two (2) subdistricts as follows:

(a) Subdistrict 11-1 shall consist of Holmes County, Yazoo County and the following precincts in Madison County: Bible Church, Canton 4, Canton 5, Flora, Madison County Baptist Family Life Center, Magnolia Heights and Smith School;

(b) Subdistrict 11-2 shall consist of Leake County and the following precincts in Madison County: Bear Creek, Camden, Cameron, Canton 1, Canton 2, Canton 3, Canton 7, Cedar Grove, Cobblestone, Couparle, Gluckstadt, Highland Colony Baptist Church, Liberty, Lorman/Cavalier, Luther Branson School, Madison 1, Madison 2, Madison 3, Main Harbor, New Industrial Park, North Bay, Ratliff Ferry, Ridgeland 1, Ridgeland 3, Ridgeland 4, Ridgeland First Methodist Church, Ridgeland Tennis Center, Sharon, Sunnybrook, Tougaloo, Trace Harbor, Victory Baptist Church, Virlilia, Whisper Lake and Yandell Road.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-13 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 23-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-13
Status: in_force

(1) An intervention court's alcohol and drug intervention component shall provide for eligible individuals, either directly or through referrals, a range of necessary court intervention services, including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) Screening using a valid and reliable assessment tool effective for identifying alcohol and drug dependent persons for eligibility and appropriate services;

(b) Clinical assessment; for a DUI offense, if the person has two (2) or more DUI convictions, the court shall order the person to undergo an assessment that uses a standardized evidence-based instrument performed by a physician to determine whether the person has a diagnosis for alcohol and/or drug dependence and would likely benefit from a court-approved medication-assisted treatment indicated and approved for the treatment of alcohol and/or drug dependence by the United States Food and Drug Administration, as specified in the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association. Upon considering the results of the assessment, the court may refer the person to a rehabilitative program that offers one or more forms of court-approved medications that are approved for the treatment of alcohol and/or drug dependence by the United States Food and Drug Administration;

(c) Education;

(d) Referral;

(e) Service coordination and case management; and

(f) Counseling and rehabilitative care.

(2) Any inpatient treatment or inpatient detoxification program ordered by the court shall be certified by the Department of Mental Health, other appropriate state agency or the equivalent agency of another state.

(3) All intervention courts shall make available the option for participants to use court-approved medication-assisted treatment while participating in the programs of the court in accordance with the recommendations of the National Drug Court Institute.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-17-3 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 13 / Section 17-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-17-3
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of the court administrator to:

(a) Perform all nonjudicial tasks of the court;

(b) Maintain all statistical reports;

(c) Serve as liaison with the general public and members of the bar;

(d) Coordinate and assist in the duties of the clerks of the courts of the district related to the judicial duties of the clerks;

(e) Provide general administrative support for all judges and chancellors of the district; and

(f) Perform other duties assigned by the judges.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-27 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 11-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-27
Status: in_force

(1) Except as otherwise provided under this section, the board of supervisors of each county shall, at its own expense, appoint one (1) person to serve as clerk of the justice court system of the county, and may appoint such other employees for the justice court of the county as it deems necessary, including a person or persons to serve as deputy clerk or deputy clerks. The board of supervisors of each county with two (2) judicial districts may, at its own expense, appoint two (2) persons to serve as clerks of the justice court system of the county, one (1) for each judicial district, and may appoint such other employees for the justice court system of the county as it deems necessary including persons to serve as deputy clerks. The clerk and deputy clerks shall be empowered to file and record actions and pleadings, to receive and receipt for monies, to acknowledge affidavits, to issue warrants in criminal cases upon direction by a justice court judge in the county, to approve the sufficiency of bonds in civil and criminal cases, to certify and issue copies of all records, documents and pleadings filed in the justice court and to issue all process necessary for the operation of the justice court. The clerk or deputy clerks may refuse to accept a personal check in payment of any fine or cost or to satisfy any other payment required to be made to the justice court. All orders from the justice court judge to the clerk of the justice court shall be written. All cases, civil and criminal, shall be assigned by the clerk to the justice court judges of the county in the manner provided in Section 11-9-105 and Section 99-33-2 . A deputy clerk who works in an office separate from the clerk and who is the head deputy clerk of the separate office may be designated to be trained as a clerk as provided in Section 9-11-29 .

(2) By August 1, 2015, and each year thereafter, the Administrative Office of Courts shall report the names of all justice court clerks who have failed to comply with the reporting requirements of Section 9-1-46 to the boards of supervisors that selected them. Each clerk shall be given three (3) months from the date on which the board was given notice to come into compliance with the requirements of Section 9-1-46 . The Administrative Office of Courts shall notify the board of supervisors of any justice court clerk who fails to come into compliance after the three-month notice required in this subsection. Any noncompliant clerks shall be terminated for failure to comply with Section 9-1-46 reporting requirement.

(3) From and after July 1, 2022, two (2) or more counties may, upon resolution duly adopted by the board of supervisors of each such counties, agree to appoint one (1) person to serve as clerk of the justice court system of the counties. When two (2) or more counties enter into such agreement, each county shall pay the amount mutually agreed upon and duly adopted by resolution of the respective boards of supervisors for the justice court clerk. If the boards of supervisors make an appointment as authorized under this subsection for a justice court clerk, the boards of supervisors may also appoint such other employees for the justice court system of the counties as it deems necessary, including a person or persons to serve as deputy clerk or deputy clerks. Such other employees, including a deputy clerk or deputy clerks, shall be paid an amount mutually agreed upon and duly adopted by resolution of the respective boards of supervisors.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-23 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 11 / Section 13-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-23
Status: in_force

The board of supervisors of each county shall provide the court reporter with all necessary stationery used by him in the performance of his official duties in the county.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-21 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 13-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-21
Status: in_force

In each suit, cause or matter where (1) a plea or answer is filed, and (2) in probate or any other cause or matter wherein the court reporter actually serves, a court reporter's tax fee of ten dollars ($10.00) shall be collected as costs, and paid into the treasury of the county in which the case is tried, as the jury tax is collected by law and paid in the circuit court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-23 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 19-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-23
Status: in_force

The commission on judicial performance shall make rules implementing this chapter, including rules of practice and procedure concerning receiving, processing and handling of complaints or inquiries and for hearings of the commission, a committee of the commission, its master or its factfinder, and the supreme court, to be approved by the supreme court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-40 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 5-40
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-40
Status: in_force

(1) There shall be two (2) judges for the Twelfth Chancery Court District.

(2) The two (2) chancellorships shall be separate and distinct and denominated for purposes of appointment and election only as “Place One” and “Place Two.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-155 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 5-155
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-155
Status: in_force

The chancellor shall, at each term of the court, carefully examine all bonds taken by the clerk in vacation, in pursuance of any order of the court, or the requirement of law, in any proceeding in such court, and make such orders in reference thereto as he shall deem necessary for the security of the parties interested therein.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-113 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 13-113
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-113
Status: in_force

After July 2, 1994, no judge of any court of this state shall appoint an official court reporter who is not a Certified Shorthand Reporter. In the event of a vacancy, a judge may appoint a temporary reporter; but such temporary reporter shall, within thirty (30) days of such appointment, make application for temporary certification and shall not serve for more than six (6) months without having obtained a permanent certification under Sections 9-13-101 through 9-13-121 , except as provided by Section 9-13-121(3) .
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-3-29 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 3-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-3-29
Status: in_force

The Supreme Court may, by order entered on its minutes, appoint a marshal and such deputy marshals as the court may deem necessary not to exceed three (3), who shall hold their places during the pleasure of the court, and shall attend its sessions, and perform all the duties of a sheriff and deputies attending court, and shall obey all lawful orders of the court. Said marshal and deputy marshals shall each receive a salary to be fixed by the judges of the Supreme Court, through an order entered on the minutes of said court, within its appropriation. They shall be paid on a certificate by the chief justice, or by a justice appointed by him to so act, to the Auditor of Public Accounts, who shall issue his warrant for the amount or amounts so certified to the State Treasurer.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-31 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 5-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-31
Status: in_force

(1) The Ninth Chancery Court District is composed of the following counties:

(a) Humphreys County;

(b) Issaquena County;

(c) Sharkey County;

(d) Sunflower County;

(e) Warren County; and

(f) Washington County.

(2) The Ninth Chancery Court District shall be divided into three (3) subdistricts as follows:

(a) Subdistrict 9-1 shall consist of the following precincts in the following counties:

(i) Sunflower County: Boyer-Linn, Drew, Fairview-Hale, Indianola 2 East*, Indianola 3 North*, Indianola 3 Northeast*, Indianola 3 South*, Rome, Ruleville, Ruleville North and Sunflower Plantation; and

(ii) Washington County: American Legion, Brent Center, Buster Brown Community Center, Darlove Baptist Church*, Elks Club, Extension Building, Grace Methodist Church*, Greenville Industrial College, Leland Health Department Clinic, Leland Rotary Club, Metcalf City Hall and Potter House Church.

(b) Subdistrict 9-2 shall consist of Humphreys County and the following precincts in the following counties:

(i) Sunflower County: Doddsville, Indianola 2 East*, Indianola 2 West, Indianola 3 North*, Indianola 3 Northeast*, Indianola 3 South*, Indianola Southeast, Inverness, Moorhead, Sunflower 3 and Sunflower 4; and

(ii) Washington County: Arcola City Hall, Christ Wesleyan Methodist Church, Darlove Baptist Church*, Glen Allan Health Clinic, Grace Methodist Church*, Hollandale City Hall, St. James Episcopal Church, Swiftwater Baptist Church, Tampa Drive and Ward's Recreation Center.

(c) Subdistrict 9-3 shall consist of Issaquena County, Sharkey County and Warren County.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-126 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-126
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-126
Status: in_force

(1) There shall be allowed out of the county treasury from the general county funds, or any other available funds payable monthly by the board of supervisors of the county, not less than the following amounts for the purposes of defraying the salaries of deputy circuit clerks:

Class 1 and 2 counties not less than Four Hundred Fifty Dollars ($450.00) per month;

Class 3 and 4 counties not less than Three Hundred Fifty Dollars ($350.00) per month;

Class 5, 6, 7 and 8 counties not less than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) per month.

The above and foregoing allowances shall be for the purposes of defraying the salaries of deputy circuit clerks provided such allowance, and upon written request of the circuit clerk, shall be paid directly to the deputy circuit clerk designated by him, in the absence of which request, the allowance shall be paid monthly to the circuit clerk. Deputy circuit clerks employed under authority of this section shall be deemed employees of the county. The clerk shall select and supervise their public duties.

(2) This section shall not apply to any county having a county court except that in any county in which U.S. Highway 49 and Mississippi Highway 6 intersect, any county in which U.S. Highway 61 and Mississippi Highway 4 intersect, any county having a population in excess of fifty-seven thousand (57,000) and which is traversed by the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway or whose county seat is within twenty (20) miles of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, any county bordering the State of Tennessee and the Mississippi River, any county in which U.S. Highway 61 and U.S. Highway 82 intersect, any county in which U.S. Highway 61 and Mississippi Highway 8 intersect, any county in which U.S. Highway 82 and U.S. Highway 49E intersect, any county in which U.S. Highway 49 and Mississippi Highway 16 intersect and which is traversed by Interstate Highway 55, and any county in which Highway 589 and Highway 98 intersect, the provisions of this section shall be discretionary with the respective board of supervisors.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-29 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 5-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-29
Status: in_force

(1) There shall be four (4) chancellors for the Eighth Chancery Court District.

(2) The four (4) chancellorships shall be separate and distinct and denominated for purposes of appointment and election only as “Place One,” “Place Two,” “Place Three” and “Place Four.”

(3) While there shall be no limitation whatsoever upon the powers and duties of the chancellors other than as cast upon them by the Constitution and laws of this state, the court in the Eighth Chancery Court District, in the discretion of the senior chancellor, may be divided into four (4) divisions as a matter of convenience by the entry of an order upon the minutes of the court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-21 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 23-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-21
Status: in_force

The director and members of the professional and administrative staff of the intervention court who perform duties in good faith under this chapter are immune from civil liability for:

(a) Acts or omissions in providing services under this chapter; and

(b) The reasonable exercise of discretion in determining eligibility to participate in the intervention court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-27 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 11 / Section 11-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-27
Status: in_force

(1) Except as otherwise provided under this section, the board of supervisors of each county shall, at its own expense, appoint one (1) person to serve as clerk of the justice court system of the county, and may appoint such other employees for the justice court of the county as it deems necessary, including a person or persons to serve as deputy clerk or deputy clerks. The board of supervisors of each county with two (2) judicial districts may, at its own expense, appoint two (2) persons to serve as clerks of the justice court system of the county, one (1) for each judicial district, and may appoint such other employees for the justice court system of the county as it deems necessary including persons to serve as deputy clerks. The clerk and deputy clerks shall be empowered to file and record actions and pleadings, to receive and receipt for monies, to acknowledge affidavits, to issue warrants in criminal cases upon direction by a justice court judge in the county, to approve the sufficiency of bonds in civil and criminal cases, to certify and issue copies of all records, documents and pleadings filed in the justice court and to issue all process necessary for the operation of the justice court. The clerk or deputy clerks may refuse to accept a personal check in payment of any fine or cost or to satisfy any other payment required to be made to the justice court. All orders from the justice court judge to the clerk of the justice court shall be written. All cases, civil and criminal, shall be assigned by the clerk to the justice court judges of the county in the manner provided in Section 11-9-105 and Section 99-33-2 . A deputy clerk who works in an office separate from the clerk and who is the head deputy clerk of the separate office may be designated to be trained as a clerk as provided in Section 9-11-29 .

(2) By August 1, 2015, and each year thereafter, the Administrative Office of Courts shall report the names of all justice court clerks who have failed to comply with the reporting requirements of Section 9-1-46 to the boards of supervisors that selected them. Each clerk shall be given three (3) months from the date on which the board was given notice to come into compliance with the requirements of Section 9-1-46 . The Administrative Office of Courts shall notify the board of supervisors of any justice court clerk who fails to come into compliance after the three-month notice required in this subsection. Any noncompliant clerks shall be terminated for failure to comply with Section 9-1-46 reporting requirement.

(3) From and after July 1, 2022, two (2) or more counties may, upon resolution duly adopted by the board of supervisors of each such counties, agree to appoint one (1) person to serve as clerk of the justice court system of the counties. When two (2) or more counties enter into such agreement, each county shall pay the amount mutually agreed upon and duly adopted by resolution of the respective boards of supervisors for the justice court clerk. If the boards of supervisors make an appointment as authorized under this subsection for a justice court clerk, the boards of supervisors may also appoint such other employees for the justice court system of the counties as it deems necessary, including a person or persons to serve as deputy clerk or deputy clerks. Such other employees, including a deputy clerk or deputy clerks, shall be paid an amount mutually agreed upon and duly adopted by resolution of the respective boards of supervisors.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-133 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 7-133
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-133
Status: in_force

A jury tax of three dollars is imposed on each original suit in the circuit court in which a plea is filed, and on every issue therein tried separately by a jury, and a tax of two dollars on each case transferred or appealed thereto, to constitute a fund for the payment of jurors, and to be collected by the clerk or sheriff as costs. The clerk shall be liable on his official bond for any failure to charge, receive, or issue execution for the jury tax; and the sheriff shall likewise be liable for a failure to collect or to pay the same to the county treasurer; and they may be fined as for a contempt therefor not more than one hundred dollars.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-165 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 5-165
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-165
Status: in_force

The clerk shall not suffer any paper filed to be withdrawn but by leave of the chancellor, and then only by retaining a copy to be made at the cost of the party obtaining the leave. Provided, however, that any duly licensed and practicing attorney in good standing in the court may remove court files and related legal papers other than youth court and adoption court files and related papers from the clerk's office by signing therefor himself, or by a designated representative of his law office, on a record to be provided for that purpose. Such files or documents so removed shall be attested to by the clerk or his deputy at the time of removal, and said attorney shall be personally responsible for their safekeeping and return within ten (10) days, or before the first day of the next term of chancery court, whichever comes first and such files or documents shall not be removed from the county where the same are filed except that said files or documents may be taken by said attorney for use in a vacation hearing to such county where the hearing may be held. Failure to return any such court files or related legal papers as provided herein shall constitute contempt of court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-161 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 5-161
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-161
Status: in_force

(1) The clerk shall, within three (3) months after the final termination of each suit involving real estate, record all the pleadings, proofs, exhibits and proceedings therein, or such part thereof as may be required by order of the chancellor, in a book to be kept for that purpose, and to be styled “The Book of Final Records in Chancery.” He shall likewise make a final record of all other proceedings or suits, if required by the decree or by order of the chancellor, omitting such portions from the record books as the chancellor may direct. The clerk shall also make final record of all or such portions of a former terminated proceeding or suit as may be requested by any person, upon payment by such person of the cost thereof.

(2) It shall be the duty of the chancery clerk of any county in which there is a county court established, to record in the final record the proceedings of all or any part thereof of proceedings in said court, affecting the title of lands in said county, when requested so to do by any person interested in said lands, and upon the payment of the fee therefor by the person requesting same, and the clerk shall index same in the deed records of the county, and the filing of said proceedings or parts thereof shall be constructive notice from the date of said filing to all persons of said proceedings the same as if they had been decided by the chancery court.

(3) The records required by subsections (1) and (2) of this section may be kept by means of electronic filing or storage or both as provided in Sections 9-1-51 through 9-1-57 , as the clerk may elect.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-15 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 5-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-15
Status: in_force

(1) The Fourth Chancery Court District is composed of the following counties:

(a) Amite County;

(b) Franklin County;

(c) Pike County; and

(d) Walthall County.

(2) There shall be two (2) chancellors for the Fourth Chancery Court District. The two (2) chancellorships shall be separate and distinct and denominated for purposes of appointment and election only as “Place One” and “Place Two.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-75 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9 / Section 21-75
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-75
Status: in_force

The court may appoint either an interpreter who is paid or a volunteer interpreter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-29 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 19-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-29
Status: in_force

All complaints filed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be absolutely privileged. The Commission on Judicial Performance, its members, executive director, commission counsel, master or fact finder, their assistants, staff and employees, and the members of any committee created under the authority of the Mississippi Code of Judicial Conduct shall be immune from civil suit for any conduct arising out of the performance of their official duties.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-201 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 5-201
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-201
Status: in_force

(1) The clerk shall keep a general docket in which he shall enter the names of the parties in each suit, the time of filing the complaint, petition or answer, and all other papers in the cause, the issuance and return of process, and a note of reference to all orders made therein by the book and page. He shall mark on the papers in every cause the style and number of the suit, and the time when and the party by whom filed. All the papers and pleadings filed in a cause shall be kept in the same file, and all the files kept in numerical order. The general docket shall be duly indexed, both direct and indirect, in the alphabetical order of the names of the parties, and each of them, so that the page of the docket containing the entries in each cause may be readily found.

(2) The general docket required to be kept by this section and all other dockets or records required by law to be kept by the chancery clerk may be kept on computer in lieu of any other physical docket, record or well-bound book if all such dockets and records are kept by computer in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Administrative Office of Courts.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-45 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 9-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-45
Status: in_force

When hereafter any county of the state shall become eligible by reason of the growth in population, in assessed valuation and the existence therein of a municipality of the number of inhabitants all as specified in Section 9-9-1 of this chapter, it shall be the duty of the Governor, upon the determination by him of the facts aforesaid, to issue his public proclamation establishing a county court in the said county, and calling an election on a date to be fixed in said proclamation for the election of a county judge. The term of office of a county judge elected under this section and Section 9-9-39 shall expire thereafter at the same time at which there expires the regular terms of circuit judges and chancellors. When in the last year of any four-year judicial period any county has fallen below the requirements of eligibility as stated in Section 9-9-1 of this chapter, it shall be the duty of the Governor so to ascertain and proclaim, thereupon after the expiration of the then four-year term, the county court shall cease to exist in such county, unless by an election held under the provisions of Section 9-9-39 the said court be retained or reestablished.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-177 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-177
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-177
Status: in_force

The clerk shall keep an appearance docket, in which he shall enter all civil cases not triable at the first term after they are begun, in the order in which they are commenced, with the date of such commencement. Such docket may be kept on computer as provided in Section 9-7-171 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-18.6 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9 / Section 9-18.6
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-18.6
Status: in_force

(1) In order to relieve the crowded condition of the docket in the county court and in the youth court of Lee County and particularly to facilitate and make possible the trial and disposition of the large number of causes in the youth court, there shall be two (2) county judges for Lee County, provided for and elected as herein set out.

(2) For the purposes of nomination and election, the two (2) judgeships shall be separate and distinct, with the county judgeship that existed on January 1, 2018, to be denominated for purposes of appointment, nomination and election only as “Place One” and the additional judgeship hereby created to be designated as “Place Two.” There shall be no distinction whatsoever in the powers, duties and emoluments of the two (2) offices of county judge, except that the county judge of Lee County who has been for the longest time continuously a county judge of the county shall have the right to assign causes, terms and dockets. Should neither judge of the county court have served longer in office than the other, then that judge of the county court who has been for the longest time a member of The Mississippi Bar shall have the right to assign causes, terms and dockets.

(3) While there shall be no limitation whatsoever upon the powers and duties of the county judges other than as cast upon them by the Constitution and laws of this state, the county court of Lee County may, in the discretion of the county judge who has been for the longest time continuously a judge of the court, be divided into civil, equity, criminal and youth court divisions as a matter of convenience by the entry of an order upon the minutes of the court.

(4) The initial holder of the additional judgeship created by this section, or “Place Two,” shall be elected in the regular election of November 2018. The person elected shall begin the term of office in January 2019 at the same time as county judges generally, and there shall be no vacancy of the office before that time. The two (2) judges shall otherwise be elected, and any vacancy in office filled, as provided for county judges generally.

(5) Each county judge shall appoint a court reporter in accordance with Section 9-13-61 for the purpose of doing the necessary stenographic work of the court.

(6) The Board of Supervisors of Lee County may, in its discretion, set aside, appropriate and expend monies from the general fund to be used in the payment of salaries of judges, clerks, reporters, officers and employees of the youth court division of the county court, including the related facilities of the youth court division of the county court, and such funds shall be expended for no other purposes. The county shall not be reimbursed for the amount of any such levy provided for by this section under the terms of the Homestead Exemption Law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-1 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 21-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-1
Status: in_force

The Administrative Office of Courts is hereby created. The purpose of the Administrative Office of Courts shall be to assist in the efficient administration of the nonjudicial business of the courts of the state and in improving the administration of justice in Mississippi by performing the duties and exercising the powers as provided in this chapter.

As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term “court” means any tribunal recognized as a part of the judicial branch of government, but not including county boards of supervisors.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-11 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 27-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-11
Status: in_force

(1) In order to be eligible for alternative sentencing through a local mental health treatment court, the defendant must satisfy each of the following criteria:

(a) The defendant cannot have any felony convictions for any offenses that are crimes of violence as defined in Section 97-3-2 , other than burglary under Section 97-17-23(1) , within the previous ten (10) years.

(b) The crime before the court cannot be a crime of violence as defined in Section 97-3-2 , other than burglary under Section 97-17-23(1) .

(c) Other criminal proceedings alleging commission of a crime of violence other than burglary under Section 97-17-23(1) cannot be pending against the defendant.

(d) The crime before the court cannot be a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol or any other substance that resulted in the death of a person. In addition, defendants who are ineligible for nonadjudication under Section 63-11-30 shall be ineligible to participate in a mental health treatment court.

(e) The crime charged cannot be one of trafficking in controlled substances under Section 41-29-139(f) , nor can the defendant have a prior conviction for the same.

(2) Participation in the services of a mental health treatment component court shall be open only to the defendant over whom the court has jurisdiction, except that the court may agree to provide the services for participants referred from another mental health treatment court. In cases transferred from another jurisdiction, the receiving judge shall act as a special master and make recommendations to the sentencing judge.

(3)(a) As a condition of participation in a mental health treatment court, a defendant shall be required to undergo chemical testing as specified by the program. A participant is liable for the costs of all chemical tests required under this section, regardless of whether the costs are paid to the mental health treatment court or the laboratory; however, if testing is available from other sources or the program itself, the judge may waive any fees for testing. Fees may be waived if the defendant is determined by the court to be indigent.

(b) A laboratory that performs a chemical test under this section shall report the results of the test to the mental health treatment court.

(4) A defendant does not have a right to participate in a mental health treatment court under this chapter. The court having jurisdiction over a defendant for a matter before the court shall have the final determination about whether the defendant may participate in the mental health treatment court under this chapter. However, any defendant meeting the eligibility criteria in subsection (1) of this section, shall, upon request, be screened for admission into the court's program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-5 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9 / Section 23-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-5
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) “ Chemical ” tests means the analysis of an individual's: (i) blood, (ii) breath, (iii) hair, (iv) sweat, (v) saliva, (vi) urine, or (vii) other bodily substance to determine the presence of alcohol or a controlled substance.

(b) “ Crime of violence ” means an offense listed in Section 97-3-2 .

(c) “ Intervention court ” means a drug court, mental health court, veterans court or problem-solving court that utilizes an immediate and highly structured intervention process for eligible defendants or juveniles that brings together mental health professionals, substance abuse professionals, local social programs and intensive judicial monitoring.

(d) “ Evidence-based practices ” means supervision policies, procedures and practices that scientific research demonstrates reduce recidivism.

(e) “ Risk and needs assessment ” means the use of an actuarial assessment tool validated on a Mississippi corrections population to determine a person's risk to reoffend and the characteristics that, if addressed, reduce the risk to reoffend.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-31 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 19-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-31
Status: in_force

There is created in the State Treasury a special interest-bearing fund to be known as the Judicial Performance Fund. The purpose of the fund shall be to provide supplemental funding to the Commission on Judicial Performance. Monies from the funds derived from assessments under Section 99-19-73 shall be distributed by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by the Commission on Judicial Performance. The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal-year limitations, and shall consist of: (a) monies appropriated by the Legislature for the purpose of funding the Commission on Judicial Performance; (b) the interest accruing to the fund; (c) monies received under the provisions of Section 99-19-73 ; (d) monies received from the federal government; and (e) monies received from such other sources as may be provided by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-19 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 12 / Section 27-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-19
Status: in_force

If the participant completes all requirements imposed by the mental health treatment court, the charge and prosecution shall be dismissed. If the defendant was sentenced at the time of entry of a plea of guilty, the successful completion of the mental health treatment court order and other requirements of probation or suspension of sentence will result in the record of the criminal conviction or adjudication being expunged. However, no expunction of any implied consent violations shall be allowed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-13 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 21-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-13
Status: in_force

(1) The Administrative Director of Courts shall coordinate the functions and duties of administrative personnel, including court administrators and court administrative aides to judges, to facilitate cooperation and so that the overall administration of justice may be accomplished with efficiency in all courts of the state.

(2) The Administrative Director of Courts is authorized to direct the expenditure of state monies appropriated to the Administrative Office of Courts or any courts of the state for any and all functions or projects directly or indirectly affecting the operation of any court and may transfer monies appropriated for the office or any account to any one or more other accounts or office.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-141 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 7-141
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-141
Status: in_force

(1) In Harrison County, a county having two (2) judicial districts, it shall be the duty of the clerk of the circuit court to keep in his office at Biloxi, all records, record books, electronic equipment, records and documents and other documents of every character which he is now required by law to keep in his office at Gulfport, and said records, record books and documents of whatever character or duly certified copies thereof shall have the same force and effect in law as they would have if said books, records and documents had been kept or preserved by him in his office at Gulfport. And likewise, it shall be the duty of the clerk of the circuit court of Harrison County, as clerk of county court to keep in his office at Biloxi, all of the records, record books and documents of every character which he is now required by law to keep in his office at Gulfport, and said records, books and documents, or duly certified copies thereof, shall likewise have the same force and effect in law as they would have if said books, records and documents had been kept or preserved by him in his office at Gulfport.

(2) The Secretary of State shall furnish to the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Harrison County, for the use of said court at Biloxi, a full set of the reports of the Supreme Court or court of last resort of this state, and all other books and laws which he shall at any time be required to deliver to the sheriff or the clerk of said county, in the several counties of this state; and also all other laws, maps and public documents required by law to be furnished, or usually furnished, to the sheriff or clerk of the circuit and chancery courts of this state under laws now or heretofore in force or that may hereafter be enacted.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-33 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 5-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-33
Status: in_force

There shall be three (3) chancellors for the Ninth Chancery Court District. One (1) chancellor shall be elected from each subdistrict.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-31 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9 / Section 11-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-31
Status: in_force

(1) When any justice court judge is unable, by reason of being under any suspension by the Commission on Judicial Performance or the Mississippi Supreme Court, or by reason of sickness or other disability, to attend and hold court at the time and place required by law to do so for a period of time in excess of thirty (30) consecutive days, and due to such inability to attend and hold court there is no judge to hold court in such county, the board of supervisors of the county in which such judge serves shall appoint another justice court judge of the county or an adjoining county or a municipal court judge to attend and hold said court and perform all the duties of such judge during such suspension or disability.

(2) Any presently sitting justice court judge appointed pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall receive no additional compensation for his or her service. Any other person so appointed shall, for the period of his service, receive compensation from the county for each day's service a sum equal to 1 / 260 ths of the current salary in effect for justice court judges.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-17 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 27-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-17
Status: in_force

The mental health treatment court coordinator and members of the professional and administrative staff of the mental health treatment court who perform duties in good faith under this chapter are immune from civil liability for:

(a) Acts or omissions in providing services under this chapter; and

(b) The reasonable exercise of discretion in determining eligibility to participate in the mental health court.