Senate Bill 2311

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 9-7-81 AND 9-11-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE JURISDICTIONAL AMOUNT OF JUSTICE COURT AND TO CLARIFY THE EXCLUSIVENESS OF THAT JURISDICTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 9-7-81, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

9-7-81. The circuit court shall have original jurisdiction in all actions when the principal of the amount in controversy exceeds Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), and of all other actions and causes, matters and things arising under the constitution and laws of this state which are not exclusively cognizable in some other court, and such appellate jurisdiction as prescribed by law. Such court shall have power to hear and determine all prosecutions in the name of the state for treason, felonies, crimes and misdemeanors, except such as may be exclusively cognizable before some other court; and said court shall have all the powers belonging to a court of oyer and terminer and general jail delivery, and may do and perform all other acts properly pertaining to a circuit court of law.

SECTION 2. Section 9-11-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

9-11-9. Justice court judges shall have exclusive jurisdiction of all actions for the recovery of debts or damages or personal property, where the principal of the debt, the amount of the demand, or the value of the property sought to be recovered shall not exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00).

The justice court judges shall have no pecuniary interest in the outcome of any action once suit has been filed.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2004, and shall apply only to causes of action filed after that date.