A basic knowledge of Mississippi courts and judges can be very beneficial if you ever find yourself in the courtroom. All too often individuals and businesses find the need to file a lawsuit, or are at the receiving end of a lawsuit, and their lack of knowledge on how the court system works leaves them lost in the proceedings. Regardless of the circumstances that put you there, it doesn’t hurt to understand the court process and know a little about the individual overseeing your case.

It’s important to understand that there are multiple courts in each state that oversee different types of cases. Each of these courts have judges that administer the law and case process. When considering Mississippi courts and Mississippi judges, keep the following in mind:

1. Mississippi Circuit Courts handle civil and felony criminal cases.

2. The Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals and Mississippi Courts of Appeals only hear appellate cases.

3. Bankruptcy information and case filings are also accessible through Mississippi court records.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Locate Mississippi courts and judges

There are multiple levels to the Mississippi courts system. Those courts with the smallest jurisdiction are drug, municipal and youth courts. There are 82 Justice of the Peace courts in Mississippi, which handle traffic cases, minor criminal cases and small claims for $2,500 or less. The 19 Mississippi county courts have exclusive jurisdiction over juvenile cases and those concerning eminent domain. File land records in the Chancery courts, which also handle family and probate cases. There are 22 district circuit courts. Residents elect Mississippi court judges, who serve a four-year term.

I recommend: Obtain a list of Mississippi circuit courts, including contact information, judges and a location map, on the State of Mississippi Judiciary website. Visit Mississippi Justice Court for valuable case information, such as forms and local court rules.

File an appeal with the Supreme Court and Mississippi Court of Appeals

The Mississippi Supreme Court and Court of Appeals hear only appellate cases. The purpose of an appellate court is to review the trial transcript and original evidence of a case to determine if there were any errors in the original case decision. There are no witnesses, jurors or new evidence in a case heard before the Mississippi appellate courts and their decisions are final. There are nine judges in Mississippi Supreme Court. The Court of Appeals ten judges, elected from five districts, that serve eight-year terms.

I recommend: View oral arguments webcasts from recent Mississippi Supreme Court cases on the State of Mississippi Judiciary website. Search Court of Appeals Decisions with three different databases on the State of Mississippi Judiciary Decisions Search page.

Access records from bankruptcy courts in Mississippi

Whether you need to search for a bankruptcy filing on a debtor or determine if bankruptcy is an option for you or your company, the Mississippi Bankruptcy Courts can assist you with both. Two districts make up the Mississippi Bankruptcy court: the northern and southern districts. Both provide information on the basics for bankruptcy filing, contact information for trustees and bankruptcy attorneys and an online search of Mississippi bankruptcy records through the PACER system (Public Access to Court Electronic Records).

I recommend: Obtain bankruptcy court forms and guides on the US Bankruptcy Court – Northern District of Mississippi website. Visit the bankruptcy court records search on the Southern District of Mississippi Document Filing System.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Regardless of how much knowledge you have of courts and judges in Mississippi, you should hire an attorney who specializes in your specific type of case to represent you.