Senate Bill 2156

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 9-7-31 AND 9-7-32, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE SUBDISTRICTS WITHIN THE TENTH CIRCUIT COURT DISTRICT AND TO REVISE THE NUMBER OF CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES IN THAT DISTRICT; TO PROVIDE FOR PRECINCT BOUNDARIES; TO PROVIDE FOR CANDIDACY FOR ELECTION FOR JUDGESHIPS PRIOR TO THE INCEPTION OF THE JUDGESHIP; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 9-7-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

[From and after January 1, 2013, this section shall read as follows:]

9-7-31. The Tenth Circuit Court District shall be divided into two (2) subdistricts as follows:

(a) Subdistrict 10-1 shall consist of Clarke County, * * * Wayne County, and the following precincts in Lauderdale County: 1, 2, 3, 5, 13, 16, 17, 18, 20, Andrews Chapel, Bailey, Causeyville, Center Hill, Clarkdale, Collinsville, Culpepper, East Bonita, Martin, Meehan, Mt. Gilead, New Lauderdale, Obadiah, Pickard, Prospect, Sageville, South Nellieburg, Suqualena, Valley, Vimville, West Lauderdale, Whynot and Zero.

(b) Subdistrict 10-2 shall consist of Kemper County and the following precincts in Lauderdale County: 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, Alamucha, Center Ridge, Daleville, East Lauderdale, East Marion, Kewanee, Marion, Odom, Russell, South Russell, Toomsuba and West Dalewood.

SECTION 2. Section 9-7-32, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

[From and after January 1, 2013, this section shall read as follows:]

9-7-32. (1) There shall be three (3) judges for the Tenth Circuit Court District.

(2) For purposes of appointment and election, the three (3) judgeships shall be separate and distinct, and two (2) judges shall be elected from Subdistrict 10-1, and one (1) judge shall be elected from Subdistrict 10-2. The two (2) judgeships in Subdistrict 10-1 shall be denominated for purposes of appointment and election * * * as "Place One" and "Place Two," and the judgeship in Subdistrict 10-2 shall be denominated for purposes of appointment and election as "Place Three."

SECTION 3. The boundaries of the subdistricts described in this act shall be the boundaries of the precincts listed as those boundaries are contained in Census 2010 redistricting maps (Public law 94-171) Tiger line file.

SECTION 4. For the purposes of the 2012 special judicial election only, all candidates for Place Three in the Tenth Circuit Court District shall qualify to run not later than sixty (60) days before the regular election of November 2012. The judges shall otherwise be elected, and any vacancy in office filled, as provided for circuit judges generally.

The two (2) judges serving in Place One and Place Two on the effective date of this act shall continue to serve in those places, and any vacancy therein shall be filled as otherwise provided by law. The candidates for the third judgeship created by this act shall be entitled to run for that office in the regular election of November 2012.

SECTION 5. 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 6. 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.