House Bill 1288

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 9-7-23 AND 9-7-25, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR FIVE JUDGES FOR 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 comprised of Hinds County.

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

(a) Subdistrict 7-1 shall be the same as Supervisor District 1.

(b) Subdistrict 7-2 shall be the same as Supervisor District 2.

(d) Subdistrict 7-4 shall be the same as Supervisor District 4.

(e) Subdistrict 7-5 shall be the same as Supervisor District 5.

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

9-7-25. (1) There shall be 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. 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 4. 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.