MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2022 Regular Session

To: Judiciary A; Appropriations

By: Representatives Banks, Stamps, Crudup

House Bill 988

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 9-7-23 AND 9-7-25, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE FIVE JUDGES IN THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT COURT DISTRICT; TO REVISE THE SUBDISTRICTS OF THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT COURT DISTRICT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 9-7-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     9-7-23.  (1)  The Seventh Circuit Court District shall be Hinds County.

     (2)  The Seventh Circuit Court District shall be divided into * * *four (4) five (5) subdistricts in Hinds County as follows:

          (a)  Subdistrict 7-1 shall * * *consist of the following precincts in Hinds County:  1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 44, 45, 46, 47, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 92, 93, 96 and 97 have the same boundaries as Hinds County Supervisor District 1.

          (b)  Subdistrict 7-2 shall * * *consist of the following precincts in Hinds County:  11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, Brownsville, Cynthia, Pocahontas and Tinnin have the same boundaries as Hinds County Supervisor District 2.

          (c)  Subdistrict 7-3 shall * * *consist of the following precincts in Hinds County:  18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 31, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 86, 89, and Jackson State have the same boundaries as Hinds County Supervisor District 3.

          (d)  Subdistrict 7-4 shall * * *consist of the following precincts in Hinds County:  87, 88, 90, 91, 94, 95, Bolton, Byram 1, Byram 2, Cayuga, Chapel Hill, Clinton 1, Clinton 2, Clinton 3, Clinton 4, Clinton 5, Clinton 6, Dry Grove, Edwards, Learned, Old Byram, Pinehaven, Raymond 1, Raymond 2, Spring Ridge, St. Thomas, Terry, Utica 1 and Utica 2 have the same boundaries as Hinds County Supervisor District 4.

          (e)  Subdistrict 7-5 shall have the same boundaries as Hinds County Supervisor District 5.

     SECTION 2.  Section 9-7-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     9-7-25.  (1)  There shall be * * * four (4)five (5) circuit judges for the Seventh Circuit Court District.  One (1) judge shall be elected from each subdistrict.

     (2)  While there shall be no limitation whatsoever upon the powers and duties of the said judges other than as cast upon them by the Constitution and laws of this state, the court in the First Judicial District of Hinds County, in the discretion of the senior circuit judge, may be divided into civil and criminal divisions as a matter of convenience, by the entry of an order upon the minutes of the court.

     SECTION 3.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.