Senate Bill 2226

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 BEFORE 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:

9-7-31. The Tenth Circuit Court District * * * ~~is composed of the following counties~~ 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.

* * * ~~(c) Lauderdale County; and~~

~~(d) Wayne County.~~

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

9-7-32. (1) There shall be * * * ~~two (2)~~ three (3) judges for the Tenth Circuit Court District.

(2) For purposes of appointment and election, the * * * ~~two (2)~~ three (3) judgeships shall be separate and distinct, and two (2) judges shall be elected by the voters of Subdistrict 10-1, and one (1) judge shall be elected by the voters of Subdistrict 10-2. The two (2) judgeships in Subdistrict 10-1 shall be denominated for purposes of appointment and election * * * ~~only~~ 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 Sections 1 and 2 of this act shall be the boundaries of the precincts as those boundaries are contained in Census Bureau's 2010 TIGER/Line Shapefiles released in November 2010.

SECTION 4. The candidates for the three (3) judgeships for the Tenth Circuit Court District as set fourth in Sections 1 and 2 of this act shall qualify and run for those positions in the November 2018 general election under the provisions of Sections 23-15-974 through 23-15-985.

SECTION 5. Sections 1 and 2 of this act shall take effect and be in force from and after January 1, 2019, and Sections 3 and 4 of this act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.