Senate Bill 2966

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 9-9-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO GRANT TO COUNTIES OF A CERTAIN POPULATION SIZE THE OPTION TO CREATE A COUNTY COURT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 9-9-37 AND 9-9-45, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR PURPOSES OF AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

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

9-9-1. (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) At the sole election of the board of supervisors, each county that has a population exceeding thirty-nine thousand (39,000) inhabitants as shown by the latest federal decennial census shall have the option, but shall not be required, 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 for the same term and 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 that elects 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.

SECTION 2. Section 9-9-37, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

9-9-37. From and after July 1, 1985, in any county not brought within the provisions of this chapter by the terms of Sections 9-9-1 and 9-9-3 thereof, and in which a county court is not in existence, on a petition of ten percent (10%) of the qualified electors of such county, addressed to the board of supervisors, an election shall be called by the said board and conducted in such a way and manner now provided by law for a special election for the purpose of determining whether or not said court shall be established in such county; and, if a majority vote at such election in favor of a county court, then the election commission shall so certify to the Secretary of State and the Governor shall then issue a proclamation establishing the county court in such 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 such election shall be conducted in the way and manner now provided by law for holding a special election.

Any county which has or may come under the provisions of this chapter by an election as provided above may thereafter come from under this chapter in the manner hereinafter provided. On petition of ten percent (10%) of the qualified electors of such county, addressed to the board of supervisors of such county, an election shall be called by such board of supervisors and conducted in the way and manner now provided by law for a special election for the purpose of determining whether or not such county court shall be abolished in said county; and, if the majority vote at such election 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 such election.

In the event the county court is established or in the event the county court is abolished under the provisions of this section, then an election shall not be called on such subject within less than two (2) years thereafter.

The salary of the county judge in all counties which may come under the provisions of this chapter by an election as provided in this section shall be fixed at such amount as provided for in Section 9-9-11.

SECTION 3. Section 9-9-45, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

9-9-45. When hereafter any county of the state shall become eligible by reason of the growth in population, in assessed valuation and the existence therein of a municipality of the number of inhabitants all as specified in Section 9-9-1 of this chapter, it shall be the duty of the Governor, upon the determination by him of the facts aforesaid, to issue his public proclamation establishing a county court in the said county, and calling an election on a date to be fixed in said proclamation for the election of a county judge. The term of office of a county judge elected under this section and Section 9-9-39 shall expire thereafter at the same time at which there expires the regular terms of circuit judges and chancellors. When in the last year of any four-year judicial period any county has fallen below the requirements of eligibility as stated in Section 9-9-1 of this chapter, it shall be the duty of the Governor so to ascertain and proclaim, thereupon after the expiration of the then four-year term, the county court shall cease to exist in such county, unless by an election held under the provisions of Section 9-9-39 the said court be retained or reestablished.

SECTION 4. 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 5. 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.