Senate Bill 2607 Summary

• Creates a mandatory county court in all 82 Mississippi counties organized into 44 judicial districts, replacing the optional system that previously allowed counties to establish courts individually or by agreement.

• Establishes 88 total county court judgeships across the state, with most districts having one judge, but six districts (DeSoto, Lee, Madison, Lauderdale, Rankin, and Jackson) having two judges, and two districts (Hinds and Harrison) having three judges.

• Sets county court judge salaries at $1,000 less than circuit and chancery judges, with all judges required to be elected by county voters and possess circuit judge qualifications under the Mississippi Constitution.

• Expands county court jurisdiction to include concurrent jurisdiction with circuit and chancery courts for civil and equity matters up to $200,000, as well as exclusive jurisdiction over eminent domain, partition of personal property, and unlawful entry and detainer cases.

• Allocates $60,000 annually per county court district from the Youth Court Support Fund and requires county treasuries to pay county court judge compensation, with implementation effective January 1, 2023, and judicial elections held in November 2022.