Senate Bill 2302

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 9-7-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL JUDGESHIP FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT COURT DISTRICT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

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

9-7-7. (1) There shall be four (4) judges for the First Circuit Court District.

(2) The initial term for the fourth judgeship created under subsection (1) shall begin on January 1, 2004, and shall end at the same time as the terms of circuit judges generally. The initial holder of the fourth judgeship created by subsection (1) shall be appointed.

SECTION 2. 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 3. 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, or on January 1, 2004, whichever is later. circuit Court District.