Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-77 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 13 / 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. § 9-7-33 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 7-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-33
Status: in_force

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

(a) Bolivar County;

(b) Coahoma County;

(c) Quitman County; and

(d) Tunica County.

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

(a) Subdistrict 11-1 shall consist of the following precincts from the following counties:

(i) Bolivar County: Benoit, Beulah, Boyle, Choctaw, Cleveland Courthouse, East Central Cleveland*, East Cleveland*, East Rosedale, Gunnison, Longshot, North Cleveland, Northwest Cleveland*, Pace, Scott, Shaw, Skene, South Cleveland*, Stringtown, West Central Cleveland, West Cleveland and West Rosedale; and

(ii) Coahoma County: Bobo, Clarksdale 2-4*, Clarksdale 5-4*, Farrell*, Rena Lara and Sherard*.

(b) Subdistrict 11-2 shall consist of the following precincts from the following counties:

(i) Bolivar County: Cleveland Eastgate, Duncan/Alligator, East Central Cleveland*, East Cleveland*, Merigold, Mound Bayou, Northwest Cleveland*, Renova, Shelby, South Cleveland* and Winstonville;

(ii) Coahoma County: Cagle Crossing, Clarksdale 1-4*, Clarksdale 3-3, Clarksdale 3-4, Clarksdale 4-2, Clarksdale 4-3, Dublin and Roundaway; and

(iii) Quitman County: Belen*, District 3 South*, Lambert, Northwest Marks, Southwest Marks and West Lambert.

(c) Subdistricts 11-3 shall consist of Tunica County and the following precincts in the following counties:

(i) Coahoma County: Clarksdale 1-4*, Clarksdale 2-4*, Clarksdale 5-4*, Coahoma, Farrell*, Friar's Point, Jonestown, Lula, Lyon and Sherard*; and

(ii) Quitman County: Belen*, Crenshaw, Crowder, Darling, District 3 North, District 3 South* and Sledge.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-21 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 17 / Section 27-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-21
Status: in_force

(1) The Administrative Office of Courts shall be responsible for certification and monitoring of mental health treatment courts.

(2) The Administrative Office of Courts shall promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the certification and re-certification process and make any other policies consistent with this section to carry out this process.

(3) The Administrative Office of Courts shall establish, implement and operate a uniform certification process for all mental health treatment courts designed to adjudicate criminal actions involving an identified classification of criminal defendants to ensure funding for mental health treatment courts which supports effective and proven behavioral health treatment practices that reduce recidivism among their participants.

(4)(a) The Administrative Office of Courts shall establish a certification process that ensures any new or existing mental health treatment court meets standards for mental health treatment court operation.

(b) Mental health treatment court certification application must include:

(i) A description of the need for the mental health treatment court;

(ii) The targeted population for the mental health treatment court;

(iii) The eligibility criteria for mental health treatment court participants;

(iv) A description of the process for identifying eligible participants, using a risk and needs screening and a clinical assessment which focuses on accepting moderate to high-risk individuals; and

(v) A description of the mental health treatment court components, including anticipated budget, implementation plan, and a list of the evidence-based programs to which participants will be referred by the mental health treatment court.

(5) Every mental health treatment court shall be certified under the following schedule:

(a) All certified mental health treatment courts in existence on December 31, 2022, must submit a recertification petition to the Administrative Office of Courts before July 1, 2023. The mental health treatment court must submit a recertification petition every two (2) years.

(b) A mental health treatment court's certification expires on December 31 of every odd calendar year.

(6) 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. § 9-21-3 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / 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. § 9-13-117 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 13-117
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-117
Status: in_force

The board, for good cause shown and in keeping with its regulations and after a hearing conducted in a manner consistent with due process, may revoke or suspend any certificate issued or may disqualify any applicant from certification.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-15 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / 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. § 9-5-105 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 5-105
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-105
Status: in_force

When any chancellor in this state shall, by agreement of the parties, hear any cause or matter in vacation, at any place, other than the place of his residence, all expenses incurred by him in attendance upon said hearing, shall be paid equally by the parties thereto, upon the chancellor's filing an itemized statement thereof, with the clerk of the chancery court of the county in which such matter shall be pending; and when at any such hearing the attendance of the court reporter shall be required his actual expenses shall be likewise paid.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-51 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-51
Status: in_force

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

(2) The senior judge of the Nineteenth Circuit Court District may divide the court of any county within the district into civil, criminal and appellate court divisions as a matter of convenience by the entry of an order upon the minutes of the court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-27 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 12 / Section 13-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-27
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of the court reporter to deliver to the clerk of the court in which any suit may be tried, at the conclusion of the trial, all depositions, exhibits, maps or other item of evidence, or matter of proceeding, introduced in evidence during the progress of the trial, and such clerk is hereby designated the custodian of such depositions, exhibits, maps or other item of evidence, or matter of proceeding, and he shall file and identify the same and, in the event an appeal to the supreme court shall be perfected in the suit, it shall be the duty of the clerk to correctly transcribe such depositions, exhibits, or other item of evidence, or matter or proceeding, and to cause a correct copy of any map to be made and to incorporate said copies of depositions, exhibits, maps, or other item of evidence, or matter of proceeding in the record of such suit to be filed with the supreme court. Provided, however, that upon order of the trial court any original exhibit shall be forwarded to the supreme court as a part of the record.

It shall be the duty of the clerk to safely keep in his custody all of such original depositions, exhibits, maps or other item of evidence, or matter of proceeding, until the final determination of the suit, or until the time has expired in which an appeal to the supreme court may be perfected.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-14 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9 / Section 21-14
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-14
Status: in_force

(1) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Comprehensive Electronic Court Systems Fund. The purpose of the fund shall be to provide funding for the development, implementation and maintenance of a comprehensive case management and electronic filing system, one of the purposes of which will be to provide duplicate dockets and case files at remote sites. The system will be designed to:

(a) Provide a framework for the seamless, transparent exchange of data among courts and with appropriate law enforcement, children's services and public welfare agencies.

(b) Allow judges and prosecutors to determine whether there are holds or warrants from other jurisdictions for defendants prior to release on bail or otherwise.

(c) Assist related agencies in tracking the court activity of individuals in all participating jurisdictions.

(d) Assist child protection and human services agencies to determine the status of children and caregivers in the participating jurisdictions.

(e) Duplicate and preserve court documents at remote sites so that they may be protected against catastrophic loss.

(f) Improve the ability of the Administrative Office of Courts and the state courts to handle efficiently monies flowing through the courts and to collect delinquent fees, fines and costs.

(g) Enable the state courts and clerks to generate management reports and analysis tools, allowing them to constantly track individual cases and the overall caseload.

(h) Provide a uniform system for docketing and tracking cases and to automatically generate status reports.

(i) Enable the Administrative Office of Courts to acquire statistical data promptly and efficiently.

(j) Make trial court and individual case dockets available to the public online through use of the Internet.

(2) Monies from the fund shall be distributed by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by the Administrative Office of Courts.

(3) 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 the comprehensive case management and electronic filing system;

(b) The interest accruing to the fund;

(c) Monies received from the federal government;

(d) Donations; and

(e) Monies received from such other sources as may be provided by law.

(4) The Supreme Court may utilize and fund as a pilot program any case management and electronic filing system of the Three Rivers Planning and Development District or that of any county or vendor that complies with the data and case management and electronic filing policy standards adopted by the Supreme Court. No statewide comprehensive case management and electronic system shall be implemented by the Mississippi Supreme Court unless such system is approved by the Legislature.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-15 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 25 / 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. § 9-7-30 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-30
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-30
Status: in_force

There shall be two (2) judges for the Ninth Circuit Court District. One (1) judge shall be elected from each subdistrict.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-80 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 13 / 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. § 9-5-93 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 5-93
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-93
Status: in_force

Whenever the chancery court or chancellor has lawfully set any matter in vacation for confirmation or decree, and no contest has been timely filed, if an order or decree determining the same or setting another date therefor be not entered upon such date, the chancellor shall have the power to enter an order or decree on any day prior to the adjournment of the next succeeding term, without further process. Provided, that if the matter be one in which contest might have been entered prior to the date set and such contest be filed before the entry of such order or decree, the same shall be disposed of as if such contest had been timely filed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-126 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / 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. § 9-27-9 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 27-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-9
Status: in_force

(1) Any mental and behavioral health treatment provider directly administering services to a participant shall be licensed by the appropriate state licensing board or hold a current and valid certification by the State Department of Mental Health or other appropriate state agency.

(2) A mental health treatment court shall provide either directly or through referrals, a range of services, including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) Screenings using a valid and reliable screening tool effective for identifying individuals with mental and behavioral health issues for eligibility and appropriate services;

(b) Clinical assessment;

(c) Referral to appropriate level of treatment services;

(d) Counseling and treatment for co-occurring substance use disorders;

(e) Employment Services;

(f) Education and/or vocational services; and

(g) Community service coordination, care and support.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-1 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-1
Status: in_force

(1) There shall be an inferior court to be known as the county court in and for each of the following counties:

(a) Each county of the state wherein a county court is in existence on July 1, 1985;

(b) From and after January 1, 1987, each county that has a population exceeding fifty thousand (50,000) inhabitants as shown by the latest federal decennial census; and

(c) The board of supervisors of any county having a population exceeding thirty-nine thousand (39,000) inhabitants as shown by the latest federal decennial census in which Highways 589 and 98 intersect shall have the option to establish a county court under the provisions of this section.

(2)(a) A county judge for a county that is required to establish a county court under subsection (1)(b) of this section shall be elected by the qualified electors of the county in the same manner as provided for the election of circuit court judges at an election held at the same time as the next regular election of circuit court judges first occurring after the date upon which it can be determined that a county court is required under the provisions of subsection (1)(b) of this section to be established in such county.

(b) A county judge for a county electing to establish a county court under subsection (1)(c) of this section shall be elected by the qualified electors of the county in the same manner as provided for the election of circuit court judges at an election held at the November general election first occurring after the date when the board of supervisors spreads upon its minutes a resolution creating the county court. The term of the county court judge so elected shall begin on the first day of January following the November election, and shall end at the same time as for county court judges generally. Thereafter, the county court judge shall be elected and serve for a term as provided for county court judges generally.

(3) The provisions of this section shall not be construed so as to require that a county court be established in any county in which the board of supervisors has agreed and contracted with the board of supervisors of any other county or counties to support and maintain one (1) county court for such counties as provided in Section 9-9-3 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-113 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / 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. § 9-9-35 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / 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. § 9-23-51 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / 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. § 9-11-18 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 11-18
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-18
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby created in the county depository of each county a clearing account to be designated as the “Justice Court Clerk Clearing Account,” in which shall be deposited (a) all such monies as the clerk of the justice court shall receive from any person complying with any writ of garnishment, attachment, execution or other like process authorized by law for the enforcement of a judgment; (b) all such monies as are received in criminal cases in the justice court pursuant to any order requiring payment as restitution to the victims of criminal offenses; (c) all cash bonds as shall be deposited with the court; (d) any portion of any fees required by law to be collected in civil cases which are to pay for the service of process or writs in another county as provided by Section 9-11-20 ; and (e) any other money as shall be deposited with the court, except fees paid for the services of a constable, which by its nature is not at the time of its deposit public monies, but which is to be held by the court in a trust or custodial capacity in a case or proceeding before the court. The clerk of the justice court shall account for all monies deposited in and disbursed from such account and shall be authorized and empowered to draw and issue checks on such account at such times, in such amounts and to such persons as shall be proper and in accordance with law; provided, however, such monies as are forfeited in criminal cases shall be paid by the clerk of the justice court to the clerk of the board of supervisors for deposit in the general fund of the county in the same manner as provided in Section 9-11-19 for fees, costs, fines and penalties charged and collected in the justice court.

(2) Any monies deposited with the court in civil cases, which are fees paid for the services of a constable, shall be reported by the clerk of the court in the same manner as provided by Section 9-11-19 and shall be considered as being fees within the meaning of such section. It shall be the duty of the clerk of the board of supervisors to disburse such fees monthly, upon approval of the board of supervisors, to the constables entitled thereto.

(3) The justice court clearing account may bear interest and the clerk of the justice court shall account for all interest earned on such account and pay such interest to the clerk of the board of supervisors for deposit in the general fund of the county in the same manner as provided in Section 9-11-19 for fees, costs, fines and penalties charged and collected in the justice court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-1-5 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 1-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-1-5
Status: in_force

In order to utilize the services of a judge temporarily assigned to chancery or circuit court in a county, the chancery or circuit court judge is authorized to extend a term of his court in one (1) county in a district, even if it overlaps into a term of that court in another county in the same district, so long as the term of court in the county into which the extension runs shall not be pretermitted. The Nineteenth Chancery Court District and the Eighteenth Circuit Court District are hereby excepted from the provisions of this section.

The word “county” wherever used herein shall be construed to mean “judicial district” in counties having two (2) judicial districts.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-25 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 5-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-25
Status: in_force

There shall be three (3) chancellors for the Seventh Chancery Court District. The three (3) chancellorships shall be separate and distinct. One (1) chancellor shall be elected from Subdistrict 7-1 and shall be denominated for purposes of appointment and election only as “Place One,” and two (2) chancellors shall be elected from Subdistrict 7-2 and shall be denominated for purposes of appointment and election only as “Place Two” and “Place Three.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-3 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 11-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-3
Status: in_force

(1) Except as otherwise provided herein, no justice court judge elected for a full term of office commencing on or after January 1, 2012, shall exercise the judicial functions of his office or be eligible to take the oath of office until he has filed in the office of the chancery clerk the following two (2) certifications: (a) a certificate of completion of a course of training and education conducted by the Mississippi Judicial College of the University of Mississippi Law Center; and (b) a certificate of successful completion of a minimum competency examination administered by the Mississippi Judicial College of the University of Mississippi Law Center within six (6) months of the beginning of the term for which such justice is elected. A justice court judge who has completed the course of training and education, passed the minimum competency examination, and has satisfied his annual continuing education course requirements, and who is then elected for a succeeding term of office subsequent to the initial term for which he completed the training course, shall not be required to repeat the basic training and education course upon reelection but shall be subject to the continuing education requirements.

(2) In addition to meeting the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, after taking office, each justice court judge shall be required to file annually in the office of the chancery clerk a certificate of completion of a course of continuing education conducted by the Mississippi Judicial College.

(3) The requirements for obtaining each of the certificates in subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall be as provided in Section 9-11-4 .

(4) Upon the failure of any justice court judge to file with the chancery clerk the certificates of completion as provided in subsections (1) and (2) of this section, such justice court judge shall, in addition to any other fine or punishment provided by law for such conduct, not be entitled to compensation for the period of time during which such certificates remain unfiled. If a justice court judge has not filed the required certifications within eight (8) months of the inception of the term, that justice court judge shall forfeit his office, his position shall be declared vacant, and the resulting vacancy shall be filled as provided by Section 23-15-839 .

(5) The competency examination requirements in Sections 9-11-3 and 9-11-4 shall not apply to any sitting justice court judges as of July 24, 2008.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-15 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / 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. § 9-19-17 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 19-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-17
Status: in_force

A justice or judge removed by the supreme court or the seven-member tribunal is ineligible for judicial office, and pending further order of the court, may be suspended from practicing law in this state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-45 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 7-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-45
Status: in_force

The Seventeenth Circuit Court District shall be composed of the following counties:

(a) Panola County;

(b) Tallahatchie County;

(c) Tate County; and

(d) Yalobusha County.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-55 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-55
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-55
Status: in_force

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

(a) Holmes County;

(b) Humphreys County; and

(c) Yazoo County.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-15 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 23-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-15
Status: in_force

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

(a) The participant cannot have any felony convictions for any offenses that are crimes of violence as defined in Section 97-3-2 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 .

(c) Other criminal proceedings alleging commission of a crime of violence cannot be pending against the participant.

(d) The participant cannot be charged with burglary of a dwelling under Section 97-17-23(2) or 97-17-37 .

(e) The crime before the court cannot be a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol or any other drug or drugs that resulted in the death of a person.

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

(2) Participation in the services of an alcohol and drug intervention component shall be open only to the individuals over whom the court has jurisdiction, except that the court may agree to provide the services for individuals referred from another intervention 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 an intervention court, a participant may be required to undergo a chemical test or a series of chemical tests as specified by the intervention court. A participant is liable for the costs of all chemical tests required under this section, regardless of whether the costs are paid to the intervention court or the laboratory; however, if testing is available from other sources or the program itself, the judge may waive any fees for testing. The judge may waive all fees if the applicant is determined to be indigent.

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

(4) A person does not have a right to participate in intervention court under this chapter. The court having jurisdiction over a person for a matter before the court shall have the final determination about whether the person may participate in intervention court under this chapter. However, any person meeting the eligibility criteria in subsection (1) of this section shall, upon request, be screened for admission to intervention court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-19 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9 / Section 21-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-19
Status: in_force

All judges, clerks of court, and other officers or employees of the courts and of offices related to and serving the courts shall comply with all requests made by the Administrative Director for information and statistical data relative to the work of the courts and of such offices and relative to the expenditure of public monies for their maintenance and operation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-19 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / 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. § 9-23-51 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 19 / 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. § 9-19-27 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9 / Section 19-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-27
Status: in_force

The commission shall publish an annual statistical report which shall contain the number of complaints filed and the number of dispositions by type, specifying the number of complaints and dispositions for the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, circuit courts, chancery courts, county courts, justice courts, municipal courts and all other courts in existence in Mississippi. The annual report shall also contain all other data the commission deems appropriate; however, no judicial district, county, region or individual judge shall be referred to in the foregoing report. All references shall be only to general court types and shall comply with the applicable confidentiality requirements.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-38 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 5-38
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-38
Status: in_force

There shall be three (3) chancellors for the Eleventh Chancery Court District. The three (3) chancellorships shall be separate and distinct. One (1) chancellor shall be elected from Subdistrict 11-1 and denominated for purposes of appointment and election only as “Place One,” one (1) chancellor shall be elected from Subdistrict 11-2 and denominated for purposes of appointment and election only as “Place Two,” and one (1) chancellor shall be elected at large from the entire Eleventh Chancery Court District and denominated for purposes of appointment and election only as “Place Three.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-3 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 17 / 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. § 9-5-215 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 5-215
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-215
Status: in_force

Any chancellor in this state may, by an order made and entered on the minute book of the chancery court in each of said counties in his district, require the docket of said court to be provided and kept as follows:

(a) The clerk shall provide and keep, for the use of the chancellor, a loose leaf judge's docket, in which he shall enter, on a separate sheet, each matter or cause now pending in the court, or hereafter instituted therein, together with a chronological list of all pleadings, orders and decrees in each such matter or cause.

(b) The sheets on which the various matters or causes are entered shall be arranged in such docket as the chancellor may direct, and shall remain therein until each matter or cause is finally disposed of, when the sheet containing the entries concerning the same shall be removed, and placed in numerical order in a transfer binder.

(c) All litigated or contested matters or causes appearing on the judge's docket, which are triable by law, or by consent, at any term, shall be set for trial by the chancellor at such time during the term as he may direct. Provided, however, when any chancellor has entered an order on the minute book of the chancery court of the counties in his district requiring the docket of said court to be kept, as provided in this section, Sections 9-5-205 through 9-5-213 shall not apply to the chancery court of said district.

Such docket may be kept on computer as provided in Section 9-5-201 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-11 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 13-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-11
Status: in_force

The judge or chancellor may in his discretion at any time remove the court reporter from office for incompetency or neglect of duty, and may appoint a court reporter to fill the vacancy as often as such removals occur. The appointment of a successor to the court reporter shall be made, and he shall qualify in the same manner, and he shall comply with all the other requirements, as is provided in the foregoing sections of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-1 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 23 / Section 27-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-1
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Rivers McGraw Mental Health Treatment Court Act.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-83 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / 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. § 9-21-71 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 11 / 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. § 9-13-7 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 13-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-7
Status: in_force

Copy of the writing by which the court reporter was appointed, and of the minutes relative to court reporter's oath shall, at the cost of the court reporter, be certified by the clerk of the court in which the entries thereof are made, to the clerk of the court in each of the several counties of the district for which the court reporter was appointed, to be entered on the minutes of the court in each county.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-119 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 13 / 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. § 9-19-25 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 12 / 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. § 9-13-15 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9 / Section 13-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-15
Status: in_force

If the court reporter is absent during the session of the court, the judge or chancellor may, by an order entered upon the minutes of the court, appoint a court reporter pro tempore, who shall be sworn to faithfully discharge his duties as such, and who shall perform all the duties and be liable to all the penalties and punishments described for or incident to the office of court reporter. The court reporter pro tempore shall be paid for his services by the Administrative Office of Courts, out of the salary of the regular court reporter and at the same rate as the regular court reporter for the time that the court reporter pro tempore shall act. The court which is being served by the court reporter pro tempore shall authorize his compensation by auditing and reporting the time served by the court reporter pro tempore to the Administrative Office of Courts. However, if the appointment of a court reporter pro tempore is made because of illness of the regular court reporter, the court may authorize compensation of said court reporter pro tempore from the Administrative Office of Courts without diminution of the salary of the regular court reporter, for a period not to exceed forty-five (45) days in any one (1) calendar year. The salary of the court reporter pro tempore shall be paid as provided in Section 9-13-19 .

All acts of the court reporter pro tempore shall be as valid and effectual as if done by the regular court reporter; and such acts as are required to be certified and signed by the court reporter shall be certified and signed by him as court reporter pro tempore.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-18 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / 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. § 9-11-5 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 11 / Section 11-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-5
Status: in_force

(1) The justice court judges shall be provided courtrooms by the county and all trials shall be held therein. Such courtrooms shall be in the county courthouse, county office building or any other building within the county deemed appropriate by the board of supervisors.

(2) The county shall provide office space and furnish each justice court office and provide necessary office supplies.

(3) The board of supervisors of each county may secure insurance coverage to protect the office of the justice court clerk against losses due to theft or robbery.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-9 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / 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. § 9-23-51 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / 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. § 9-19-19 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 17 / 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. § 9-21-3 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 12 / 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. § 9-21-51 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 12 / Section 21-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-51
Status: in_force

(1) The Supreme Court through the Administrative Office of Courts shall conduct a study to determine the progress of the implementation of Chapter 458, Laws of 1994 and Chapter 521, Laws of 1994. In conducting such study, the Administrative Office of Courts shall examine the various court systems and county offices in the state as defined in Section 9-1-51 to determine the types of computer software and hardware being used by courts and county offices which have elected to store records electronically. The Administrative Office of Courts, after consultation with designees of the Mississippi Association of Supervisors, the Mississippi Circuit Clerks' Association, the Mississippi Association of Chancery Clerks, the Mississippi Municipal Association, The Mississippi Bar, the Department of Archives and History and such other interested entities as the Administrative Office of Courts may identify, shall 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 county offices. The standards, rules and regulations required by this subsection shall be completed by the Administrative Office of Courts and adopted by the Supreme Court on or before July 1, 1998.

(2) Concurrently with the study mandated in subsection (1) of this section, the Administrative Office of Courts shall consult with designees of the Mississippi Association of Supervisors, the Mississippi Circuit Clerks' Association, the Mississippi Association of Chancery Clerks, the Assessors/Collectors Association, the Mississippi Municipal Association, the Mississippi State Tax Commission, The Mississippi Bar, the Department of Archives and History and such other interested entities as the Administrative Office of Courts may identify for the purpose of jointly considering and jointly proposing to the Legislature recommendations relating to the electronic filing and storage of all noncourt records maintained throughout the state in county offices as defined in Section 9-1-51 . The Administrative Office of Courts shall report to the Legislature not later than January 1, 1998, a summary report of the types of computer software and hardware being used by courts and county offices which have elected to store records electronically, the rules promulgated pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, as well as the recommendations of the group as to the standards, rules and regulations for computer and/or electronic filing and storage of all noncourt records maintained throughout the state in county offices.

(3) All courts and county offices electing to store court records and court-related records electronically shall comply with the standards, rules and regulations promulgated by the Administrative Office of Courts and adopted by the Mississippi Supreme Court. Any courts or county offices which currently store court records and court-related records electronically or which elect to store such records electronically before January 1, 1998, must bring such systems into compliance with the standards, rules and regulations no later than January 1, 1999.

The Administrative Office of Courts shall assist any court or county office currently storing court records or court-related records electronically or electing to store such records before July 1, 1999, in order to assure compliance with the standards, rules and regulations to be promulgated.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-203 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 5-203
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-203
Status: in_force

The clerk shall place on the general docket all applications made and proceedings had in said court in matters testamentary, of administration, in minors' business, and in cases of persons of unsound mind, by entering the name of the person whose estate is the subject of the application or proceedings, the time of filing the application or other paper, the nature of it in brief terms, the issuance and return of process, if any, or publication and proof of it, and a note of reference to all orders made by the clerk or court, by the book and page, so that by reference to such docket the history of the administration of such estate may be traced.

Such docket may be kept on computer as provided in Section 9-5-201 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-117 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 11 / Section 13-117
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-117
Status: in_force

The board, for good cause shown and in keeping with its regulations and after a hearing conducted in a manner consistent with due process, may revoke or suspend any certificate issued or may disqualify any applicant from certification.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-42 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 7-42
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-42
Status: in_force

(1) There shall be three (3) judges for the Fifteenth 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 Jefferson Davis, Lamar, Lawrence or Marion County. The judge to fill Place Two may be a resident of any county in the district. The judge to fill Place Three must be a resident of Pearl River County.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-30 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 7-30
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-30
Status: in_force

There shall be two (2) judges for the Ninth Circuit Court District. One (1) judge shall be elected from each subdistrict.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-71 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 17 / 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. § 9-9-15 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9 / Section 9-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-15
Status: in_force

(1) In order to relieve the crowded condition of the docket in the county court and in the youth court of the first judicial district of Hinds County and particularly to facilitate and make possible the trial and disposition of the large number of causes on said docket and in the youth court, there shall be three (3) county judges for Hinds County, Mississippi, provided for and elected as herein set out.

(2) For purposes of appointment, nomination and election, the three (3) 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, Place Two and Place Three. There shall be no distinction whatsoever in the powers, duties and emoluments of the three (3) offices of county judge, except that the county judge of Hinds County who has been for the longest time continuously a county judge of said county, 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 in Hinds 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, criminal and youth court divisions as a matter of convenience, by the entry of an order upon the minutes of the court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-3 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9 / 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. § 9-21-80 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 11 / 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. § 9-9-5 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9 / Section 9-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-5
Status: in_force

(1) The county judge shall possess all of the qualifications of a circuit judge as prescribed by the Mississippi Constitution. In the event of the establishment of a county court by agreement between two (2) or more counties as provided in Section 9-9-3 , the judge of said court may be a qualified elector of any one (1) of said counties, and shall have such other qualifications as provided for by law. The county judge shall be elected by the qualified electors of his county at the time and in the manner as circuit judges are elected and he shall hold office for the same term. Vacancies in the office of county judge shall be filled in the same manner as vacancies in the office of circuit judge.

(2) Provided, however, that in any county having a total population in excess of eleven thousand (11,000) according to the 1970 federal decennial census and a total assessed valuation of real and personal property of not less than sixteen million dollars ($16,000,000.00) and not more than seventeen million dollars ($17,000,000.00) and in which Mississippi Highway 4 and United States Highway 61 intersect, in which there is a vacancy in the post of county judge resulting from the failure of a candidate to qualify for that post, the board of supervisors of such county may, upon certification of such vacancy to the board, appoint a county judge to serve out the term so vacated who shall be a licensed attorney from such county or an adjoining county. The compensation of such attorney shall be the same he would have otherwise received if elected.

(3) In the event that any county wherein is located a state hospital and wherein U.S. Highway 80 and Mississippi Highway 43 intersect shall establish a county court, the county judge of such county shall be elected at the general election to be held on Tuesday after the first Monday of November, 1982, after qualifying therefor as provided by law. Provided, however, that the board of supervisors of such county may appoint a county judge who shall be a licensed attorney from such county until the office of county judge shall be filled pursuant to said election.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-15 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / 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. § 9-5-89 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 5-89
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-89
Status: in_force

The court may appoint a guardian ad litem to any infant or defendant of unsound mind, and allow him suitable compensation payable out of the estate of such party, but the appointment shall not be made except when the court shall consider it necessary for the protection of the interest of such defendant; and a decree or judgment of any court shall not be void or erroneous because of the failure to have a guardian ad litem.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-143 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 7-143
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-143
Status: in_force

The Hinds County Circuit Clerk shall enter the names or identifying numbers of all qualified electors in Hinds County when selecting a jury for any hearing, trial or cause of action that comes before any of the four (4) temporary special circuit judges authorized by Section 9-7-26 for the Seventh Circuit Court District.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-15 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 12 / 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. § 9-7-143 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-143
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-143
Status: in_force

The Hinds County Circuit Clerk shall enter the names or identifying numbers of all qualified electors in Hinds County when selecting a jury for any hearing, trial or cause of action that comes before any of the four (4) temporary special circuit judges authorized by Section 9-7-26 for the Seventh Circuit Court District.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-15 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9 / Section 23-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-15
Status: in_force

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

(a) The participant cannot have any felony convictions for any offenses that are crimes of violence as defined in Section 97-3-2 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 .

(c) Other criminal proceedings alleging commission of a crime of violence cannot be pending against the participant.

(d) The participant cannot be charged with burglary of a dwelling under Section 97-17-23(2) or 97-17-37 .

(e) The crime before the court cannot be a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol or any other drug or drugs that resulted in the death of a person.

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

(2) Participation in the services of an alcohol and drug intervention component shall be open only to the individuals over whom the court has jurisdiction, except that the court may agree to provide the services for individuals referred from another intervention 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 an intervention court, a participant may be required to undergo a chemical test or a series of chemical tests as specified by the intervention court. A participant is liable for the costs of all chemical tests required under this section, regardless of whether the costs are paid to the intervention court or the laboratory; however, if testing is available from other sources or the program itself, the judge may waive any fees for testing. The judge may waive all fees if the applicant is determined to be indigent.

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

(4) A person does not have a right to participate in intervention court under this chapter. The court having jurisdiction over a person for a matter before the court shall have the final determination about whether the person may participate in intervention court under this chapter. However, any person meeting the eligibility criteria in subsection (1) of this section shall, upon request, be screened for admission to intervention court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-115 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 12 / Section 13-115
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-115
Status: in_force

(1) Free-lance reporters shall make application for certification in the manner prescribed in Section 9-13-105 . Without satisfying the requirements of this chapter, no free-lance reporter shall make a verbatim record of any testimony of a proceeding, jurisdiction of which is within the courts of Mississippi or where appeal to any court of the State of Mississippi is allowable by law.

(2) Any court reporter not a resident of Mississippi wishing to make a verbatim record or transcript of testimony to be used in a legal proceeding within the State of Mississippi may do so upon obtaining temporary permission from the board or the judge of any court of record, such permission not to be valid for more than thirty (30) days unless special conditions are established therein by the board or judge from whom the temporary permission was obtained.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-9 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / 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. § 9-23-19 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 23-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-19
Status: in_force

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

(2) An intervention court may apply for and receive the following:

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

(b) Grant and contract money from governmental sources.

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

(3) The costs of participation in an alcohol and drug intervention program required by the certified intervention 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 court may assess such reasonable and appropriate fees to be paid to the local Intervention Court Fund for participation in an alcohol or drug intervention program; however, all fees may be waived if the applicant is determined to be indigent.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-13 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / 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. § 9-19-19 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / 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. § 9-23-13 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / 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. § 9-19-19 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 13 / 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. § 9-21-77 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 21 / 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. § 9-23-9 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 12 / Section 23-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-9
Status: in_force

(1) The State Intervention Courts Advisory Committee is established to develop and periodically update proposed statewide evaluation plans and models for monitoring all critical aspects of intervention courts. The committee must provide the proposed evaluation plans to the Chief Justice and the Administrative Office of Courts. The committee shall be chaired by the Director of the Administrative Office of Courts or a designee of the director and shall consist of eleven (11) members all of whom shall be appointed by the Supreme Court. The members shall be broadly representative of the courts, mental health, veterans affairs, law enforcement, corrections, criminal defense bar, prosecutors association, juvenile justice, child protective services and substance abuse treatment communities.

(2) The State Intervention Courts Advisory Committee may also make recommendations to the Chief Justice, the Director of the Administrative Office of Courts and state officials concerning improvements to intervention court policies and procedures including the intervention court certification process. The committee may make suggestions as to the criteria for eligibility, and other procedural and substantive guidelines for intervention court operation.

(3) The State Intervention Courts Advisory Committee shall act as arbiter of disputes arising out of the operation of intervention courts established under this chapter and make recommendations to improve the intervention courts; it shall also make recommendations to the Supreme Court necessary and incident to compliance with established rules.

(4) The State Intervention Courts Advisory Committee shall establish through rules and regulations a viable and fiscally responsible plan to expand the number of adult and juvenile intervention court programs operating in Mississippi. These rules and regulations shall include plans to increase participation in existing and future programs while maintaining their voluntary nature.

(5) The State Intervention Courts Advisory Committee shall receive and review the monthly reports submitted to the Administrative Office of Courts by each certified intervention court and provide comments and make recommendations, as necessary, to the Chief Justice and the Director of the Administrative Office of Courts.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-3 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 9-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-3
Status: in_force

Any two (2) or more counties in the discretion of their respective boards of supervisors may contract and agree between themselves to support and maintain one (1) county court for such counties. If such agreement be made then the expenses of the operation of said court shall be prorated among such two (2) or more counties and the pro rata part of each county shall be paid from the general funds of each county, from any special tax which may be levied for the support of such court, or any funds made available to the county from the Federal Law Enforcement Assistance Administration for this purpose.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-201 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / 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. § 9-5-51 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 5-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-51
Status: in_force

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

(a) Adams County;

(b) Claiborne County;

(c) Jefferson County; and

(d) Wilkinson County.

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

(a) Subdistrict 17-1 shall consist of Claiborne County, Jefferson County, and the following precincts in Adams County: Airport Carpenter*, Convention Center*, Foster Mound, Maryland*, Northside School, Palestine, Pine Ridge, Thompson and Washington*.

(b) Subdistrict 17-2 shall consist of Wilkinson County and the following precincts in Adams County: Beau Pre, Bellemont, By-Pass Fire Station, Carpenter*, Concord, Convention Center*, Courthouse, Duncan Park, Kingston, Liberty Park, Maryland*, Morgantown, Oakland and Washington.

(3) There shall be two (2) chancellors for the Seventeenth Chancery Court District. One (1) chancellor shall be elected from each subdistrict.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-51 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 13 / Section 21-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-51
Status: in_force

(1) The Supreme Court through the Administrative Office of Courts shall conduct a study to determine the progress of the implementation of Chapter 458, Laws of 1994 and Chapter 521, Laws of 1994. In conducting such study, the Administrative Office of Courts shall examine the various court systems and county offices in the state as defined in Section 9-1-51 to determine the types of computer software and hardware being used by courts and county offices which have elected to store records electronically. The Administrative Office of Courts, after consultation with designees of the Mississippi Association of Supervisors, the Mississippi Circuit Clerks' Association, the Mississippi Association of Chancery Clerks, the Mississippi Municipal Association, The Mississippi Bar, the Department of Archives and History and such other interested entities as the Administrative Office of Courts may identify, shall 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 county offices. The standards, rules and regulations required by this subsection shall be completed by the Administrative Office of Courts and adopted by the Supreme Court on or before July 1, 1998.

(2) Concurrently with the study mandated in subsection (1) of this section, the Administrative Office of Courts shall consult with designees of the Mississippi Association of Supervisors, the Mississippi Circuit Clerks' Association, the Mississippi Association of Chancery Clerks, the Assessors/Collectors Association, the Mississippi Municipal Association, the Mississippi State Tax Commission, The Mississippi Bar, the Department of Archives and History and such other interested entities as the Administrative Office of Courts may identify for the purpose of jointly considering and jointly proposing to the Legislature recommendations relating to the electronic filing and storage of all noncourt records maintained throughout the state in county offices as defined in Section 9-1-51 . The Administrative Office of Courts shall report to the Legislature not later than January 1, 1998, a summary report of the types of computer software and hardware being used by courts and county offices which have elected to store records electronically, the rules promulgated pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, as well as the recommendations of the group as to the standards, rules and regulations for computer and/or electronic filing and storage of all noncourt records maintained throughout the state in county offices.

(3) All courts and county offices electing to store court records and court-related records electronically shall comply with the standards, rules and regulations promulgated by the Administrative Office of Courts and adopted by the Mississippi Supreme Court. Any courts or county offices which currently store court records and court-related records electronically or which elect to store such records electronically before January 1, 1998, must bring such systems into compliance with the standards, rules and regulations no later than January 1, 1999.

The Administrative Office of Courts shall assist any court or county office currently storing court records or court-related records electronically or electing to store such records before July 1, 1999, in order to assure compliance with the standards, rules and regulations to be promulgated.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-25 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 13-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-25
Status: in_force

The court reporter shall attend each session of the court of the district for which he was appointed, from day to day, and unless the same be waived, shall take, under the control of the judge or chancellor full and complete notes, stenographically (and may use recording machines in aid thereof) of all the oral evidence and other oral proceedings, except arguments of counsel, in each case, civil and criminal, tried therein upon an issue of facts and, in any other matter or in any other case that the judge or chancellor may especially direct. He shall carefully note the order in which the evidence, both oral and written, is introduced, and by whom it is introduced, giving the name of each witness, and identifying each deposition, exhibit made, or other item of evidence or matter of proceedings by words or figures of description, and he shall carefully note oral motions and all objections of counsel and rulings of the court made during the trial, in the order in which the same shall occur. And, upon request of any party, he shall, within the time required by the Mississippi Supreme Court Rules, or from the time of the demand, if made after the trial, neatly write out in typewriting a complete copy of his stenographic notes as taken therein or he shall neatly write out in typewriting a complete copy of all matters recorded on the recording machine with a caption showing the style of the case, its number, the court in which it was tried, and when tried, and shall affix thereto a suitable index, and shall certify, sign, and file the same in the office of the clerk of the court in which the case was tried; and he shall preserve his stenographic notes or his tape or record made by said recording machine in each case in which an appeal is taken, as a record of his office. If a party demand the writing out of the court reporter's notes for any other than the bona fide purpose of perfecting an appeal, he shall pay the court reporter in advance Twenty-five Cents (25¢) per hundred words for the same, but such work shall not delay the preparation of records for appeals. The court reporter shall serve in all habeas corpus and other matters which are heard in vacation, by agreement or otherwise, in the county of residence of the judge or chancellor. The court is authorized to purchase recording machines for the use of the court reporter, the cost of which shall be allocated to each county in the district according to the weeks of court held in each county. Any recording machine purchased for this purpose shall be of such quality as to accurately take and preserve all notes and records herein required to be made and preserved.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-27 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 13-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-27
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of the court reporter to deliver to the clerk of the court in which any suit may be tried, at the conclusion of the trial, all depositions, exhibits, maps or other item of evidence, or matter of proceeding, introduced in evidence during the progress of the trial, and such clerk is hereby designated the custodian of such depositions, exhibits, maps or other item of evidence, or matter of proceeding, and he shall file and identify the same and, in the event an appeal to the supreme court shall be perfected in the suit, it shall be the duty of the clerk to correctly transcribe such depositions, exhibits, or other item of evidence, or matter or proceeding, and to cause a correct copy of any map to be made and to incorporate said copies of depositions, exhibits, maps, or other item of evidence, or matter of proceeding in the record of such suit to be filed with the supreme court. Provided, however, that upon order of the trial court any original exhibit shall be forwarded to the supreme court as a part of the record.

It shall be the duty of the clerk to safely keep in his custody all of such original depositions, exhibits, maps or other item of evidence, or matter of proceeding, until the final determination of the suit, or until the time has expired in which an appeal to the supreme court may be perfected.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-4-3 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 4-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-4-3
Status: in_force

(1) The Court of Appeals shall have the power to determine or otherwise dispose of any appeal or other proceeding assigned to it by the Supreme Court.

The jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals is limited to those matters which have been assigned to it by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court shall prescribe rules for the assignment of matters to the Court of Appeals. These rules may provide for the selective assignment of individual cases and may provide for the assignment of cases according to subject matter or other general criteria. However, the Supreme Court shall retain appeals in cases imposing the death penalty, or cases involving utility rates, annexations, bond issues, election contests, or a statute held unconstitutional by the lower court.

(2) Decisions of the Court of Appeals are final and are not subject to review by the Supreme Court, except by writ of certiorari. The Supreme Court may grant certiorari review only by the affirmative vote of four (4) of its members. At any time before final decision by the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court may, by order, transfer to the Supreme Court any case pending before the Court of Appeals.

(3) The Court of Appeals shall have jurisdiction to issue writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, quo warranto, certiorari, prohibition or any other process when this may be necessary in any case assigned to it by the Supreme Court.

(4) The Court of Appeals shall issue a decision in every case heard before the Court of Appeals within two hundred seventy (270) days after the final briefs have been filed with the court.

(5) The Supreme Court shall issue a decision in every case within its original jurisdiction, including all direct and post-conviction collateral relief appeals or applications in cases imposing the death penalty, within two hundred seventy (270) days after the final briefs have been filed with the court. The Supreme Court shall issue a decision in every case received on certiorari from the Court of Appeals within one hundred eighty (180) days after the final briefs have been filed with the court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-3 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 21 / Section 23-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-3
Status: in_force

(1) The Legislature of Mississippi recognizes the critical need for judicial intervention to reduce the incidence of alcohol and drug use, alcohol and drug addiction, and crimes committed as a result of alcohol and drug use and alcohol and drug addiction. It is the intent of the Legislature to facilitate local intervention court alternative orders adaptable to chancery, circuit, county, youth, municipal and justice courts.

(2) The goals of the intervention courts under this chapter include the following:

(a) To reduce alcoholism and other drug dependencies among adult and juvenile offenders and defendants and among respondents in juvenile petitions for abuse, neglect or both;

(b) To reduce criminal and delinquent recidivism and the incidence of child abuse and neglect;

(c) To reduce the alcohol-related and other drug-related court workload;

(d) To increase personal, familial and societal accountability of adult and juvenile offenders and defendants and respondents in juvenile petitions for abuse, neglect or both;

(e) To promote effective interaction and use of resources among criminal and juvenile justice personnel, child protective services personnel and community agencies; and

(f) To use corrections resources more effectively by redirecting prison-bound offenders whose criminal conduct is driven in part by drug and alcohol dependence to intensive supervision and clinical treatment available in the intervention court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-15 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / 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. § 9-5-19 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 5-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-19
Status: in_force

(1) There shall be four (4) chancellors for the Fifth Chancery Court District. One chancellor shall be elected from each subdistrict.

(2) While there shall be no limitation whatsoever upon the powers and duties of the said chancellors 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 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. § 9-9-15 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-15
Status: in_force

(1) In order to relieve the crowded condition of the docket in the county court and in the youth court of the first judicial district of Hinds County and particularly to facilitate and make possible the trial and disposition of the large number of causes on said docket and in the youth court, there shall be three (3) county judges for Hinds County, Mississippi, provided for and elected as herein set out.

(2) For purposes of appointment, nomination and election, the three (3) 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, Place Two and Place Three. There shall be no distinction whatsoever in the powers, duties and emoluments of the three (3) offices of county judge, except that the county judge of Hinds County who has been for the longest time continuously a county judge of said county, 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 in Hinds 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, criminal and youth court divisions as a matter of convenience, by the entry of an order upon the minutes of the court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-19 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 11-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-19
Status: in_force

(1) It shall be the duty of every clerk of the justice court to receive and account for all fees, costs, fines and penalties charged and collected in the justice court, and, monthly to report in writing under oath, to the clerk of the board of supervisors who shall upon receipt submit such report to the board of supervisors of all such fees, costs, fines and penalties received, including cash bonds and other monies which have been forfeited in criminal cases and at least semiannually any delinquent fines and penalties, giving the date, amount, and names of persons from whom such monies were received, and to pay so much thereof as shall have been received to the clerk of the board of supervisors for deposit into the general fund of the county. Any clerk of the justice court who shall fail to make such report or to pay the money so received shall, in addition to any other fine or punishment provided by law for such conduct, not be entitled to compensation for the period of time during which such report or money is outstanding.

(2) The provisions of this section shall not, except as to cash bonds and other monies which have been forfeited in criminal cases, apply to monies required to be deposited in the justice court clerk clearing account as provided in Section 9-11-18, Mississippi Code of 1972 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-3 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 12 / 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. § 9-5-45 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 5-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-45
Status: in_force

There shall be three (3) chancellors for the Fourteenth Chancery Court District. One (1) chancellor shall be elected from each subdistrict.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-17-5 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 17 / Section 17-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-17-5
Status: in_force

(1) In each county where a court administrator has been appointed pursuant to this chapter, a special fund in the county treasury is hereby established to be known as the “court administration fund.”

(2)(a) The judges and chancellors may apply their expense allowance in Section 9-1-36, Mississippi Code of 1972 , to the court administration fund.

(b) The board of supervisors of any county within a judicial district having a court administrator is authorized to pay its pro rata cost of the salary and furnish an equipped office for the court administrator and his staff from county funds. The board of supervisors is further authorized to accept grants, gifts, donations or federal funds for the benefit of the office of the court administrator.

(c) The board of supervisors of any county within a judicial district having a court administrator is authorized, in its discretion, to charge, in addition to all other costs required by law, an amount not to exceed two dollars ($2.00) for each complaint filed in the chancery, circuit and county courts of such county. Any money collected pursuant to this subsection shall be paid into the court administrator fund.

(d) Money paid into the court administration fund under this chapter shall be applied to the office of the court administrator for the purpose of funding that office.

(3) All expenditures made from the court administration fund shall be upon written requisition of the court administrator approved by a judge or chancellor to the county or counties of the district designated by him, in proportion to the business of his office in the county.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-5 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9 / Section 27-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-5
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) “ Behavioral health ” means the promotion of mental health, resilience and wellbeing; the treatment of mental and substance use disorders; and the support of those who experience and/or are in recovery from these conditions, along with their families and communities.

(b) “ 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.

(c) “ Clinical assessment ” means the use of an actuarial assessment tool which evaluates an individual's physical, medical, cognitive, psychological (personality, emotions, beliefs and attitudes), and behavioral history and current conditions in order to determine the presence and severity of any mental health disorder.

(d) “ Co-Occurring disorder ” means coexistence of both a mental health and a substance use disorder as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM).

(e) “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)” is the publication by the American Psychiatric Association used by behavioral health professionals for the classification and diagnosing of mental health disorders.

(f) “ Evidence-based practices ” means practices which have been empirically researched and proven to have measurable positive outcomes; have been rigorously tested; have yielded consistent, replicable results; and have proven safe, beneficial and effective for a specific population.

(g) “ Mental health ” means a state of mental or emotional well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn, work well, and contribute to their community.

(h) “ Mental health disorder ” means a syndrome characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotion regulation or behavior that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological or developmental process underlying mental functioning as defined by the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as published by the American Psychiatric Association.

(i) “ Mental Health Treatment program ” means a highly structured evidence-based program for mental and behavioral health treatment of defendants that:

(i) Brings together mental health professionals, local social programs and intensive judicial monitoring;

(ii) Follows the key components of the mental health treatment court curriculum published by the Bureau of Justice Assistance; and

(iii) Utilizes supervision, policies, procedures and practices that scientific research demonstrates reduces recidivism.

(j) “ Risk and needs assessment ” means an actuarial evaluation tool to guide decision making at various points across the criminal justice continuum by approximating an individual's likelihood of reoffending and determining what individual criminogenic needs must be addressed to reduce that likelihood. Criminogenic risk and needs assessment tools consist of questions that are designed to ascertain someone's history of criminal behavior, attitudes and personality, and life circumstances.

(k) “ Risk and needs screening ” means the use of a brief actuarial tool that is used to determine a defendant's eligibility of a mental health treatment court by measuring the criminogenic risk and needs, identifying risk and protective factors, supports development of case management plan goals and determines the need of a full risk and needs assessment.

(l) “ Substance use disorder ” means a cluster of cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms indicating that the individual continues using the substance despite significant substance-related problems such as impaired control, social impairment, risky behaviors, and pharmacological tolerance and withdrawal.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-5 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 17 / Section 19-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-5
Status: in_force

The members of the commission on judicial performance shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary travel expenses and subsistence as may be incurred in the performance of their duties. Members of the commission who are judges shall serve without compensation. Other members of the commission shall receive a per diem in the amount authorized in Section 25-3-69, Mississippi Code of 1972 , for each day or part thereof spent in performing their duties under this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-12-7 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 12-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-12-7
Status: in_force

The Department of Finance and Administration in conjunction with the Administrative Office of Courts shall designate a suitable location or building for the purpose of allowing the Capitol Complex Improvement District (CCID) inferior court to hold court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-43 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-43
Status: in_force

In any county now having a county court established by Chapter 131 of the laws of 1926 and having only one judicial district therein and in which the assessed valuation of real and personal property has fallen below seventeen million dollars but exceeds fifteen million dollars according to the assessment of 1932, and in which the urban population exceeds the rural population, and having therein a municipality in excess of 15,000 population, according to the last federal census, said county court shall remain in existence until abolished by a direct act of the legislature or by an election as now provided by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-5 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 21 / 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. § 9-5-153 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 5-153
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-153
Status: in_force

The approval by the court of minutes entered in vacation or in term time, and adoption of the orders and decrees made by the clerk, may be evidenced by an order of the court approving such orders and decrees, excepting such as may be specified as not approved. It shall not be necessary to enter on the minutes of the court, in term time, any of said orders or decrees made in vacation or in term time, but the same, as entered in vacation or in term time, shall, by the approval of the court, become the acts of the court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-37 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-37
Status: in_force

(1) From and after July 1, 2013, or the date this section is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, whichever is later, in any county not brought within the provisions of this chapter by the terms of Sections 9-9-1 and 9-9-3 , the board of supervisors is authorized to determine whether a county court shall be established in the county. If a majority of the board are in favor of a county court, then the board shall so certify to the Secretary of State and the Governor shall then issue a proclamation establishing the county court in the county; and thereafter at the next succeeding meeting of the board of supervisors the board shall call an election for the election of a county judge, and the election shall be conducted in the way and manner now provided by law for holding a special election.

(2)(a) Any county not brought within the provisions of this chapter by the terms of Sections 9-9-1 and 9-9-3 that has a county court established under the provisions of subsection (1) of this section may thereafter come from under this chapter in the manner hereinafter provided. On petition of twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors of the county, addressed to the board of supervisors of the county, an election shall be called by the board of supervisors and conducted in the way and manner now provided by law for a special election for the purpose of determining whether the county court shall be abolished; and, if the majority vote at the election is in favor of abolishing the county court, then the election commission shall so certify to the Secretary of State. The Governor shall then issue a proclamation declaring that the county court in said county be abolished on the first day of the month next succeeding the election.

(b) If a county court is abolished under the provisions of this subsection (2), the board of supervisors is not authorized to establish a county court within less than two (2) years thereafter.

(3) The salary of the county judge shall be as provided in Section 9-9-11 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-45 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 21 / 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. § 9-11-25 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 11-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-25
Status: in_force

Every justice court judge whose term of office expires, or who resigns, removes from the county, or otherwise goes out of office, and the legal representative and next of kin of every justice court judge who dies, shall, within ten (10) days thereafter, deliver his case record, with all process and papers and books of statutes relating to his office, to the clerk of the justice court of the county.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-49 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-49
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-49
Status: in_force

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

(a) George County;

(b) Greene County; and

(c) Jackson County.

(2) The local contribution required for the maintenance of the Nineteenth Circuit Court District shall not exceed, as to George and Greene Counties, the amount of their present local contribution in their present respective circuit court districts, and any excess shall be paid by Jackson County.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-71 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 21 / 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. § 9-1-59 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 1-59
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-1-59
Status: in_force

Each circuit, chancery and county court in this state shall require all pleadings and other papers to be served, filed, signed or verified by electronic means in conformity with the Mississippi Electronic Court System procedures by July 1, 2021.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-103 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / 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. § 9-23-1 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / 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. § 9-7-47 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 7-47
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-47
Status: in_force

The Eighteenth Circuit Court District shall be Jones County.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-21 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 27-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-21
Status: in_force

(1) The Administrative Office of Courts shall be responsible for certification and monitoring of mental health treatment courts.

(2) The Administrative Office of Courts shall promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the certification and re-certification process and make any other policies consistent with this section to carry out this process.

(3) The Administrative Office of Courts shall establish, implement and operate a uniform certification process for all mental health treatment courts designed to adjudicate criminal actions involving an identified classification of criminal defendants to ensure funding for mental health treatment courts which supports effective and proven behavioral health treatment practices that reduce recidivism among their participants.

(4)(a) The Administrative Office of Courts shall establish a certification process that ensures any new or existing mental health treatment court meets standards for mental health treatment court operation.

(b) Mental health treatment court certification application must include:

(i) A description of the need for the mental health treatment court;

(ii) The targeted population for the mental health treatment court;

(iii) The eligibility criteria for mental health treatment court participants;

(iv) A description of the process for identifying eligible participants, using a risk and needs screening and a clinical assessment which focuses on accepting moderate to high-risk individuals; and

(v) A description of the mental health treatment court components, including anticipated budget, implementation plan, and a list of the evidence-based programs to which participants will be referred by the mental health treatment court.

(5) Every mental health treatment court shall be certified under the following schedule:

(a) All certified mental health treatment courts in existence on December 31, 2022, must submit a recertification petition to the Administrative Office of Courts before July 1, 2023. The mental health treatment court must submit a recertification petition every two (2) years.

(b) A mental health treatment court's certification expires on December 31 of every odd calendar year.

(6) 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. § 9-5-7 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 5-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-7
Status: in_force

(1) There shall be four (4) chancellors for the First 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.” The chancellor to fill Place One must be a resident of Alcorn, Prentiss or Tishomingo County. The chancellors to fill Place Two and Place Three must reside in Itawamba, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc or Union County. The chancellor to fill Place Four may be a resident of any county in the district. Election of the four (4) offices of chancellor shall be by election to be held in every county within the First Chancery Court District.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-13 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 19 / 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. § 9-13-107 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 13-107
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-107
Status: in_force

No person shall be qualified or authorized to report testimony or proceedings relevant to matters under the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Mississippi, all state agencies or the Legislature or any committee or subcommittee thereof, or where appeal to any court of the State of Mississippi is allowable by law, unless such person satisfies the provisions of Sections 9-13-101 through 9-13-121 with respect to certification. Sections 9-13-101 through 9-13-121 shall not be construed to apply to any proceedings that take place outside the borders of the State of Mississippi.

Every applicant for examination for certification as a Certified Shorthand Reporter shall file with the person designated by the board a written application in the form prescribed by the board. At the time the application is filed, the applicant shall pay to the board an application fee established by regulation, which fee shall not be subject to withdrawal by the applicant in the event he should decide not to take the examination or is denied the right to take the examination. Upon request, the board shall forward to any interested person application forms together with the text of this chapter and copies of regulations promulgated by the board under the provisions of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-5 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9 / Section 19-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-5
Status: in_force

The members of the commission on judicial performance shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary travel expenses and subsistence as may be incurred in the performance of their duties. Members of the commission who are judges shall serve without compensation. Other members of the commission shall receive a per diem in the amount authorized in Section 25-3-69, Mississippi Code of 1972 , for each day or part thereof spent in performing their duties under this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-75 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 12 / 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. § 9-7-131 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / 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. § 9-21-7 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 11 / 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. § 9-5-50 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / 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. § 9-5-39 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / 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. § 9-5-203 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 5-203
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-203
Status: in_force

The clerk shall place on the general docket all applications made and proceedings had in said court in matters testamentary, of administration, in minors' business, and in cases of persons of unsound mind, by entering the name of the person whose estate is the subject of the application or proceedings, the time of filing the application or other paper, the nature of it in brief terms, the issuance and return of process, if any, or publication and proof of it, and a note of reference to all orders made by the clerk or court, by the book and page, so that by reference to such docket the history of the administration of such estate may be traced.

Such docket may be kept on computer as provided in Section 9-5-201 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-141 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 5-141
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-141
Status: in_force

The clerk or his deputy may at any time receive and file all bills, petitions, motions, accounts, inventories, reports, or other papers offered for that purpose, and may issue all process authorized by law and proper in any matter or proceeding. He may also at any time, in termtime or vacation, perform the following functions; issue warrants of appraisement to appraise the personal estate of decedents; allow and register claims against estates being administered in the court of which he is clerk; make all orders and issue all process necessary for the collection and preservation of estates of decedents, minors, and persons of unsound mind; appoint some person to collect and preserve the estate of any decedent in the state in any case provided for; grant letters of administration to the husband or wife, or other person entitled thereto; take the proof of wills, admit wills to probate, in common form, grant letters testamentary, letters of administration with the will annexed, and de bonis non; appoint guardians for minors, persons of unsound mind, and convicts of felony; grant letters of administration; institute suits in cases provided for, and, whenever an appeal shall be taken from the grant of letters testamentary, of administration, or guardianship, appoint some fit person to discharge the duties pending the appeal. He may do all such other acts as are provided by law and by the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-26 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / 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. § 9-9-36 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 9-36
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-36
Status: in_force

In any county in cases where an overcrowded docket justifies the same, any chancellor may assign to a county judge in that 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 the cause, trial or hearing may be signed as follows: “__________ County Judge and Acting Chancellor by assignment.” No special order evidencing the assignment shall be entered on the minutes.

No compensation for those services shall be allowed the county judge, neither shall the county judge be compelled to accept any assignment except at his will. Furthermore, no assignment of any cause or hearing shall be made where counsel on both sides object to the assignment.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-129 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / 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. § 9-21-5 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9 / 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. § 9-5-161 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / 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. § 9-12-5 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 12-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-12-5
Status: repealed

(1) The Administrative Office of Courts, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court, shall appoint a clerk for the Capitol Complex Improvement District (CCID) inferior court.

(2) The Administrative Office of Courts shall provide support staff and any other staff necessary to carry out the functions and duties for the clerk of the CCID inferior court.

(3) The Administrative Office of Courts shall pay the salaries of the clerk and support staff of the CCID, subject to available funds specifically appropriated by the Legislature for such purpose. Such salaries shall not be in amounts less than the salaries paid to the clerk and staff of the municipal courts in the City of Jackson.

(4) This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2027.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-4-11 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 4-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-4-11
Status: in_force

The Court of Appeals shall be located in the City of Jackson and shall have offices as convenient to the State Law Library and the Supreme Court as can be arranged; but the court en banc, or any panel thereof, may sit at such other locations within the state as the Supreme Court may determine by rule.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-46 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 7-46
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-46
Status: in_force

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

(2) For the purpose of appointment and election, the two (2) judgeships shall be separate and distinct, and be denominated as “Place One” and “Place Two.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-9 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 23 / Section 23-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-9
Status: in_force

(1) The State Intervention Courts Advisory Committee is established to develop and periodically update proposed statewide evaluation plans and models for monitoring all critical aspects of intervention courts. The committee must provide the proposed evaluation plans to the Chief Justice and the Administrative Office of Courts. The committee shall be chaired by the Director of the Administrative Office of Courts or a designee of the director and shall consist of eleven (11) members all of whom shall be appointed by the Supreme Court. The members shall be broadly representative of the courts, mental health, veterans affairs, law enforcement, corrections, criminal defense bar, prosecutors association, juvenile justice, child protective services and substance abuse treatment communities.

(2) The State Intervention Courts Advisory Committee may also make recommendations to the Chief Justice, the Director of the Administrative Office of Courts and state officials concerning improvements to intervention court policies and procedures including the intervention court certification process. The committee may make suggestions as to the criteria for eligibility, and other procedural and substantive guidelines for intervention court operation.

(3) The State Intervention Courts Advisory Committee shall act as arbiter of disputes arising out of the operation of intervention courts established under this chapter and make recommendations to improve the intervention courts; it shall also make recommendations to the Supreme Court necessary and incident to compliance with established rules.

(4) The State Intervention Courts Advisory Committee shall establish through rules and regulations a viable and fiscally responsible plan to expand the number of adult and juvenile intervention court programs operating in Mississippi. These rules and regulations shall include plans to increase participation in existing and future programs while maintaining their voluntary nature.

(5) The State Intervention Courts Advisory Committee shall receive and review the monthly reports submitted to the Administrative Office of Courts by each certified intervention court and provide comments and make recommendations, as necessary, to the Chief Justice and the Director of the Administrative Office of Courts.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-131 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / 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. § 9-5-205 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 5-205
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-205
Status: in_force

The chancery clerk shall keep an issue docket in which he shall set down (1) all causes triable according to due course at the instant term and (2) such other causes for final hearings as may be ordered (a) by the court or (b) by consent of all the parties. And he shall also place on said docket all petitions for the sale of the estates of decedents, minors and persons of unsound mind; all proceedings representing estates to be insolvent; final accounts of executors, administrators and guardians and petitions for distribution of an estate or payment of a legacy and all other similar matters in which an order or decree of the court is sought in matters testamentary, of administration, or guardianship, and wherein the issuance of process or notice is necessary to the final hearing on the matter so set down.

Such docket may be kept on computer as provided in Section 9-5-201 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-4-3 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 4-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-4-3
Status: in_force

(1) The Court of Appeals shall have the power to determine or otherwise dispose of any appeal or other proceeding assigned to it by the Supreme Court.

The jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals is limited to those matters which have been assigned to it by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court shall prescribe rules for the assignment of matters to the Court of Appeals. These rules may provide for the selective assignment of individual cases and may provide for the assignment of cases according to subject matter or other general criteria. However, the Supreme Court shall retain appeals in cases imposing the death penalty, or cases involving utility rates, annexations, bond issues, election contests, or a statute held unconstitutional by the lower court.

(2) Decisions of the Court of Appeals are final and are not subject to review by the Supreme Court, except by writ of certiorari. The Supreme Court may grant certiorari review only by the affirmative vote of four (4) of its members. At any time before final decision by the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court may, by order, transfer to the Supreme Court any case pending before the Court of Appeals.

(3) The Court of Appeals shall have jurisdiction to issue writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, quo warranto, certiorari, prohibition or any other process when this may be necessary in any case assigned to it by the Supreme Court.

(4) The Court of Appeals shall issue a decision in every case heard before the Court of Appeals within two hundred seventy (270) days after the final briefs have been filed with the court.

(5) The Supreme Court shall issue a decision in every case within its original jurisdiction, including all direct and post-conviction collateral relief appeals or applications in cases imposing the death penalty, within two hundred seventy (270) days after the final briefs have been filed with the court. The Supreme Court shall issue a decision in every case received on certiorari from the Court of Appeals within one hundred eighty (180) days after the final briefs have been filed with the court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-15 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / 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. § 9-21-45 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / 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. § 9-21-73 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 17 / Section 21-73
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-73
Status: in_force

(1) The Administrative Office of Courts shall establish a program to facilitate the use of interpreters in all courts of the State of Mississippi.

(2)(a) The Administrative Office of Courts shall prescribe the qualifications of and qualify persons who may serve as credentialed court interpreters in all courts of the State of Mississippi. The Administrative Office of Courts may set and charge a reasonable fee for credentialing.

(b) The Administrative Office of Courts shall maintain a current master list of all credentialed court interpreters (the “Roster”).

(3) In all bilingual proceedings, the presiding judicial officer, with the assistance of the Administrative Office of Courts, shall utilize the services of an interpreter to communicate all spoken or written words when the necessity therefor has been determined pursuant to Section 9-21-79 .

(4) A Limited English Proficient (LEP) individual is entitled to use an interpreter in any instance arising out of or pertaining to the individual's involvement in litigation.

(5) All courts shall maintain on file in the office of the clerk of the court a list of all persons who have been credentialed as court interpreters in accordance with the Administrative Office of Court's Credentialing Program established pursuant to this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-3 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 23-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-3
Status: in_force

(1) The Legislature of Mississippi recognizes the critical need for judicial intervention to reduce the incidence of alcohol and drug use, alcohol and drug addiction, and crimes committed as a result of alcohol and drug use and alcohol and drug addiction. It is the intent of the Legislature to facilitate local intervention court alternative orders adaptable to chancery, circuit, county, youth, municipal and justice courts.

(2) The goals of the intervention courts under this chapter include the following:

(a) To reduce alcoholism and other drug dependencies among adult and juvenile offenders and defendants and among respondents in juvenile petitions for abuse, neglect or both;

(b) To reduce criminal and delinquent recidivism and the incidence of child abuse and neglect;

(c) To reduce the alcohol-related and other drug-related court workload;

(d) To increase personal, familial and societal accountability of adult and juvenile offenders and defendants and respondents in juvenile petitions for abuse, neglect or both;

(e) To promote effective interaction and use of resources among criminal and juvenile justice personnel, child protective services personnel and community agencies; and

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

The judge or chancellor may in his discretion at any time remove the court reporter from office for incompetency or neglect of duty, and may appoint a court reporter to fill the vacancy as often as such removals occur. The appointment of a successor to the court reporter shall be made, and he shall qualify in the same manner, and he shall comply with all the other requirements, as is provided in the foregoing sections of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-167 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 5-167
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-167
Status: in_force

The clerk of the chancery court shall subscribe to at least one (1) and not more than two (2) of the newspapers published in his county as the court or chancellor may direct; and in the event no newspaper is published in the county, the clerk shall subscribe to the newspaper in which the publications ordered by the court are usually made. To preserve such newspapers, the clerk shall carefully file the original or microfilm copies thereof in his office, or may keep the same 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. Before the clerk may utilize microfilm copies of newspapers presently on file and of those newspapers to be received in the future, the written approval of the court and the board of supervisors must be obtained. The expense of the subscriptions and the expense of the binding of filed newspapers or of the microfilming process shall be paid out of the county treasury. Two (2) or more counties may join together and agree to accomplish the purposes of this section and to share the costs of necessary equipment, subscriptions and labor involved.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-29 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 12 / 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. § 9-11-27 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / 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. § 9-23-5 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / 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 13 / 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. § 9-19-1 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 11 / Section 19-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-1
Status: in_force

The Commission on Judicial Performance shall consist of the following members:

(a) One (1) circuit court judge to be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi upon the recommendation of the Governor;

(b) One (1) chancellor to be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi upon the recommendation of the Lieutenant Governor;

(c) One (1) county court judge to be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House;

(d) One (1) justice court judge to be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi;

(e) One (1) practicing attorney to be appointed by the Chief Justice upon the recommendation of the Governing Board of The Mississippi Bar; and

(f) Two (2) lay persons who shall not be residents of the same Supreme Court District to be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi.

An alternate for each member shall be selected at the time and in the manner prescribed for initial appointments in each representative class to replace those members who might be disqualified or absent.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-29 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / 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. § 9-13-63 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 13-63
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-63
Status: in_force

In all cases filed in the county court, a court reporter's fee shall be charged as an item of cost as follows: A fee of one dollar ($1.00) shall be charged in all cases which, if there were no county court, would have been filed in the justice of the peace court; a fee of two dollars ($2.00) shall be charged in all cases appealed to the county court and a fee of three dollars ($3.00) shall be charged in all cases which, if there were no county court, would be filed in the circuit or chancery courts. All of said reporter's fees above mentioned are to be paid into the general fund of the county; provided, however, that no jury tax shall be charged in any case unless there is an issue joined and no court reporter's fee shall be charged unless issue has been joined in such case and testimony taken.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-81 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 21-81
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-81
Status: in_force

(1) Any volunteer interpreter providing services under Sections 9-21-71 through 9-21-81 shall be paid reasonable expenses by the court.

(2) The expenses of providing an interpreter in any court proceeding or instance arising out of litigation must be payable out of the county or municipal treasury at no cost to the litigant.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-17 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 5 / Section 13-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-17
Status: in_force

The circuit judge, chancellor, family court judge or county judge may, by an order spread upon the minutes and made a part of the records of the court, appoint an additional court reporter for a term or part of a term whose duties, qualifications and compensation shall be the same as is now provided by law for official court reporters. The additional court reporter shall be subject to the control of the judge or chancellor, as is now provided by law for official court reporters, and the judge or chancellor shall have the additional power to terminate the appointment of such additional court reporter, whenever in his opinion the necessity for such an additional court reporter ceases to exist, by placing upon the minutes of the court an order to that effect. The regular court reporter shall not draw any compensation while the assistant court reporter alone is serving; however, in the event the assistant court reporter is serving because of the illness of the regular court reporter, the court may authorize payment of said assistant court reporter from the Administrative Office of Courts without diminution of the salary of the regular court reporter, for a period not to exceed forty-five (45) days in any one (1) calendar year. However, in any circuit, chancery, county or family court district within the State of Mississippi, if the judge or chancellor shall determine that in order to relieve the continuously crowded docket in such district, or for other good cause shown, the appointment of an additional court reporter is necessary for the proper administration of justice, he may, with the advice and consent of the board of supervisors if the court district is composed of a single county and with the advice and consent of at least one-half ( 1 / 2 ) of the boards of supervisors if the court district is composed of more than one (1) county, by an order spread upon the minutes and made a part of the records of the court, appoint an additional court reporter. The additional court reporter shall serve at the will and pleasure of the judge or chancellor, may be a resident of any county of the state, and shall be paid a salary designated by the judge or chancellor not to exceed the salary authorized by Section 9-13-19 . The salary of the additional court reporter shall be paid by the Administrative Office of Courts, as provided in Section 9-13-19 ; and mileage shall be paid to the additional court reporter by the county as provided in the same section. The office of such additional court reporter appointed under this section shall not be abolished or compensation reduced during the term of office of the appointing judge or chancellor without the consent and approval of the appointing judge or chancellor.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-18 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / 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. § 9-7-64 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / 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. § 9-12-7 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 7 / Section 12-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-12-7
Status: in_force

The Department of Finance and Administration in conjunction with the Administrative Office of Courts shall designate a suitable location or building for the purpose of allowing the Capitol Complex Improvement District (CCID) inferior court to hold court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-101 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 11 / 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. § 9-9-37 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / Section 9-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-37
Status: in_force

(1) From and after July 1, 2013, or the date this section is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, whichever is later, in any county not brought within the provisions of this chapter by the terms of Sections 9-9-1 and 9-9-3 , the board of supervisors is authorized to determine whether a county court shall be established in the county. If a majority of the board are in favor of a county court, then the board shall so certify to the Secretary of State and the Governor shall then issue a proclamation establishing the county court in the county; and thereafter at the next succeeding meeting of the board of supervisors the board shall call an election for the election of a county judge, and the election shall be conducted in the way and manner now provided by law for holding a special election.

(2)(a) Any county not brought within the provisions of this chapter by the terms of Sections 9-9-1 and 9-9-3 that has a county court established under the provisions of subsection (1) of this section may thereafter come from under this chapter in the manner hereinafter provided. On petition of twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors of the county, addressed to the board of supervisors of the county, an election shall be called by the board of supervisors and conducted in the way and manner now provided by law for a special election for the purpose of determining whether the county court shall be abolished; and, if the majority vote at the election is in favor of abolishing the county court, then the election commission shall so certify to the Secretary of State. The Governor shall then issue a proclamation declaring that the county court in said county be abolished on the first day of the month next succeeding the election.

(b) If a county court is abolished under the provisions of this subsection (2), the board of supervisors is not authorized to establish a county court within less than two (2) years thereafter.

(3) The salary of the county judge shall be as provided in Section 9-9-11 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-27-7 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 21 / 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. § 9-13-23 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 13 / 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. § 9-21-14 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 21-14
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-14
Status: in_force

(1) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Comprehensive Electronic Court Systems Fund. The purpose of the fund shall be to provide funding for the development, implementation and maintenance of a comprehensive case management and electronic filing system, one of the purposes of which will be to provide duplicate dockets and case files at remote sites. The system will be designed to:

(a) Provide a framework for the seamless, transparent exchange of data among courts and with appropriate law enforcement, children's services and public welfare agencies.

(b) Allow judges and prosecutors to determine whether there are holds or warrants from other jurisdictions for defendants prior to release on bail or otherwise.

(c) Assist related agencies in tracking the court activity of individuals in all participating jurisdictions.

(d) Assist child protection and human services agencies to determine the status of children and caregivers in the participating jurisdictions.

(e) Duplicate and preserve court documents at remote sites so that they may be protected against catastrophic loss.

(f) Improve the ability of the Administrative Office of Courts and the state courts to handle efficiently monies flowing through the courts and to collect delinquent fees, fines and costs.

(g) Enable the state courts and clerks to generate management reports and analysis tools, allowing them to constantly track individual cases and the overall caseload.

(h) Provide a uniform system for docketing and tracking cases and to automatically generate status reports.

(i) Enable the Administrative Office of Courts to acquire statistical data promptly and efficiently.

(j) Make trial court and individual case dockets available to the public online through use of the Internet.

(2) Monies from the fund shall be distributed by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by the Administrative Office of Courts.

(3) 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 the comprehensive case management and electronic filing system;

(b) The interest accruing to the fund;

(c) Monies received from the federal government;

(d) Donations; and

(e) Monies received from such other sources as may be provided by law.

(4) The Supreme Court may utilize and fund as a pilot program any case management and electronic filing system of the Three Rivers Planning and Development District or that of any county or vendor that complies with the data and case management and electronic filing policy standards adopted by the Supreme Court. No statewide comprehensive case management and electronic system shall be implemented by the Mississippi Supreme Court unless such system is approved by the Legislature.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-21-80 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 3 / 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. § 9-7-17 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-17
Status: in_force

There shall be four (4) circuit judges for the Fourth Circuit Court District. One (1) circuit judge shall be elected from each subdistrict.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-173 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 5-173
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-173
Status: in_force

The clerk shall keep in his office a well-bound book, or 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, to be called the “Register of Claims,” each page of which shall be divided into five (5) columns, the first to contain the creditor's name, the second the description of the claim, the third the time when due, the fourth the amount of the claim, and the fifth the day of the registry. He shall register in said book all claims proved and allowed against any estate administered in his court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-3 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 23-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-3
Status: in_force

(1) The Legislature of Mississippi recognizes the critical need for judicial intervention to reduce the incidence of alcohol and drug use, alcohol and drug addiction, and crimes committed as a result of alcohol and drug use and alcohol and drug addiction. It is the intent of the Legislature to facilitate local intervention court alternative orders adaptable to chancery, circuit, county, youth, municipal and justice courts.

(2) The goals of the intervention courts under this chapter include the following:

(a) To reduce alcoholism and other drug dependencies among adult and juvenile offenders and defendants and among respondents in juvenile petitions for abuse, neglect or both;

(b) To reduce criminal and delinquent recidivism and the incidence of child abuse and neglect;

(c) To reduce the alcohol-related and other drug-related court workload;

(d) To increase personal, familial and societal accountability of adult and juvenile offenders and defendants and respondents in juvenile petitions for abuse, neglect or both;

(e) To promote effective interaction and use of resources among criminal and juvenile justice personnel, child protective services personnel and community agencies; and

(f) To use corrections resources more effectively by redirecting prison-bound offenders whose criminal conduct is driven in part by drug and alcohol dependence to intensive supervision and clinical treatment available in the intervention court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-23 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 1 / Section 11-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-23
Status: in_force

When any clerk of the justice court shall have collected in his official capacity any money, fines or penalties, and shall fail to pay or account for the same to the person or official entitled to receive the same, he shall be liable to be proceeded against on his official bond in a summary way by motion in any court having jurisdiction of the amount collected and withheld, of which motion five (5) days' notice shall be served on the clerk of the justice court and the sureties on his bond, or such of them as may be found; and judgment for the amount illegally withheld by the clerk of the justice court and ten percent (10%) thereon, and all costs, shall be rendered against the clerk of the justice court and his sureties, or such of them as have been served with notice.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-42 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 7-42
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-42
Status: in_force

(1) There shall be three (3) judges for the Fifteenth 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 Jefferson Davis, Lamar, Lawrence or Marion County. The judge to fill Place Two may be a resident of any county in the district. The judge to fill Place Three must be a resident of Pearl River County.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-217 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 5-217
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-217
Status: in_force

The clerk shall keep an execution docket in the manner required of the clerk of the circuit court, in which he shall enter all final process issued by him, and record at large the returns that may be made thereon.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-19-7 — MS Code / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / 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.