MS SB2604

Increases annual salaries for Mississippi judges effective July 1, 2012: Supreme Court Chief Justice to $159,000, Presiding Justice to $154,833, Associate Justices to $152,250, Court of Appeals Chief Judge to $147,578, Court of Appeals Associate Judges to $144,827, and Chancery and Circuit Court judges to $136,000 each.

Raises the general docket fee for filing appeals in civil or criminal cases from an unspecified amount to $200.00, with all fees deposited into the State General Fund.

Establishes a $40.00 additional filing fee for every civil case filed in chancery and circuit courts to be deposited in the State General Fund specifically for judicial salaries.

Imposes a state assessment on persons convicted of misdemeanors and felonies of $75.00 for misdemeanors and varying amounts for felonies, with portions of these assessments directed to the State General Fund for judicial salary funding.

Requires submission of Section 1 to the U.S. Attorney General under the Voting Rights Act of 1965; Section 1 takes effect July 1, 2012 or upon Voting Rights Act approval (whichever is later), while other sections take effect July 1, 2011.