Opinion ID: 1145952
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the case was properly transferred to youth court.

Text: ¶ 23. The majority holds that the circuit court had original jurisdiction, but original does not mean exclusive. Even if the circuit court has original jurisdiction over juveniles charged with statutory rape, a youth court may not refuse to hear a case transferred from the circuit court. The statute clearly states, the youth court shall, upon acquiring jurisdiction, proceed as provided in this chapter for the adjudication and disposition of delinquent child proceeding proceedings. Miss.Code Ann. § 43-21-159. Simply stated, `shall' is mandatory. Pitalo v. GPCH-GP, Inc., 933 So.2d 927, 929 (Miss.2006) (citing Franklin v. Franklin, 858 So.2d 110, 114 (Miss.2003)). ¶ 24. Once the circuit court order was entered, the youth court had acquired jurisdiction over the case. As a court of lesser jurisdiction, a youth court does not have discretion to dismiss a case once it has been transferred to its jurisdiction by a circuit court. See Helmert v. Biffany, 842 So.2d 1287, 1290 (Miss.2003) (both chancery and youth courts have jurisdiction over the adjudication of minors, however, youth court jurisdiction is limited to specifically delineated matters); Griffin v. Bell, 215 So.2d 573, 575 (Miss.1968) (The youth court is a court of statutory and limited jurisdiction.). Accordingly, the youth court erred in dismissing this case.