MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
1998 Regular Session
To: Judiciary
By: Senator(s) Jordan (18th)
Senate Bill 2957
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-31-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OR 1972, TO REVISE THE NUMBER OF FULL-TIME LEGAL ASSISTANTS TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 25-31-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
25-31-5. (1) The following number of full-time legal assistants are authorized in the following circuit court districts:
(a) First Circuit Court
District.............seven (7) legal assistants.
(b) Second Circuit Court
District.............eight (8) legal assistants.
(c) Third Circuit Court
District.............four (4) legal assistants.
(d) Fourth Circuit Court
District.............five (5) legal assistants.
(e) Fifth Circuit Court
District.............four (4) legal assistants.
(f) Sixth Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(g) Seventh Circuit Court
District.............nine (9) legal assistants.
(h) Eighth Circuit Court
District.............three (3) legal assistants.
(i) Ninth Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(j) Tenth Circuit Court
District.............four (4) legal assistants.
(k) Eleventh Circuit Court
District.............five (5) legal assistants.
(l) Twelfth Circuit Court
District.............three (3) legal assistants.
(m) Thirteenth Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(n) Fourteenth Circuit Court
District.............three (3) legal assistants.
(o) Fifteenth Circuit Court
District.............four (4) legal assistants.
(p) Sixteenth Circuit Court
District.............four (4) legal assistants.
(q) Seventeenth Circuit Court
District.............five (5) legal assistants.
(r) Eighteenth Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(s) Nineteenth Circuit Court
District.............four (4) legal assistants.
(t) Twentieth Circuit Court
District.............four (4) legal assistants.
(u) Twenty-first Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(v) Twenty-second Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(2) In addition to any legal assistants authorized pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the following number of full-time legal assistants are authorized (i) in the following circuit court districts if funds are appropriated by the Legislature to adequately fund the salaries, expenses and fringe benefits of such legal assistants, or (ii) in any of the following circuit court districts in which the board of supervisors of one or more of the counties in a circuit court district adopts a resolution to pay all of the salaries, supplemental pay, expenses and fringe benefits of legal assistants authorized in such district pursuant to this subsection:
(a) First Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(b) Second Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(c) Third Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(d) Fourth Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(e) Fifth Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(f) Sixth Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(g) Seventh Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(h) Eighth Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(i) Ninth Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(j) Tenth Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(k) Eleventh Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(l) Twelfth Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(m) Thirteenth Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(n) Fourteenth Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(o) Fifteenth Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(p) Sixteenth Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(q) Seventeenth Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(r) Eighteenth Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(s) Nineteenth Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(t) Twentieth Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(u) Twenty-first Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(v) Twenty-second Circuit Court
District.............two (2) legal assistants.
(3) The board of supervisors of any county is hereby authorized and empowered, in its discretion, to pay all or a part of the salary, supplemental pay, expenses and fringe benefits of any district attorney or legal assistant authorized in the circuit court district to which such county belongs pursuant to this section.
SECTION 2. The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi is hereby directed to submit this act, immediately upon approval by the Governor, or upon approval by the Legislature subsequent to a veto, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after January 1, 1998, or the date it is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1963, as amended and extended, whichever is later.