MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2005 Regular Session

To: Apportionment and Elections; Judiciary A

By: Representative Moss, Cummings, McCoy

House Bill 952

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 9-5-5 AND 9-5-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE SUBDISTRICTS IN THE FIRST CHANCERY COURT DISTRICT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 9-7-5 AND 9-7-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE SUBDISTRICTS IN THE FIRST CIRCUIT COURT DISTRICT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  Section 9-5-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     9-5-5.  (1)  The First Chancery Court District shall be comprised of the following counties:

          (a)  Alcorn County;

          (b)  Itawamba County;

          (c)  Lee County;

          (d)  Monroe County;

          (e)  Pontotoc County;

          (f)  Prentiss County;

          (g)  Tishomingo County; and

          (h)  Union County.

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

          (a)  Subdistrict 1-1 shall consist of Alcorn, Prentiss and Tishomingo Counties.

          (b)  Subdistrict 1-2 shall consist of Itawamba, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc and Union Counties.

     SECTION 2.  Section 9-5-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     9-5-7.  There shall be three (3) chancellors for the First Chancery Court District.  One (1) chancellor shall be elected from Subdistrict 1-1 and two (2) chancellors shall be elected from Subdistrict 1-2.

     SECTION 3.  Section 9-7-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     9-7-5.  (1)  The First Circuit Court District shall be comprised of the following counties:

          (a)  Alcorn County;

          (b)  Itawamba County;

          (c)  Lee County;

          (d)  Monroe County;

          (e)  Pontotoc County;

          (f)  Prentiss County; and

          (g)  Tishomingo County.

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

          (a)  Subdistrict 1-1 shall consist of Alcorn, Prentiss and Tishomingo Counties.

          (b)  Subdistrict 1-2 shall consist of Itawamba, Lee, Monroe and Pontotoc Counties.

     SECTION 4.  Section 9-7-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     9-7-7.  There shall be three (3) judges for the First Circuit Court District.  One (1) judge shall be elected from Subdistrict 1-1 and two (2) judges shall be elected from Subdistrict 1-2.

     SECTION 5.  The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall 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 6.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the date it is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.