MississippiHB 15442025 Regular SessionHouse

Judicial redistricting; revise for circuit courts.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

10 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 9 mixed.

Judicial elections follow a transition calendar

The law sets special elections for the Subdistrict 7-5 and Twenty-first Circuit judges on the first Tuesday in November 2025. Each winner serves until January 1, 2027, unless reelected in November 2026. Candidates for chancellor and circuit judge terms beginning January 1, 2027, run in November 2026. Candidates for terms beginning January 1, 2031, run in November 2030; regular judicial terms remain four years. Candidates qualify and run under the Nonpartisan Judicial Election Act.

Court calendars face statewide scheduling rules

Circuit court sessions must occur when state and local governments are open, excluding legal holidays, beyond just single-county districts. In multi-county districts, court terms in each county must be at least four weeks apart. Court terms keep the start dates set by law. Schedules must be posted and sent to county clerks and the Mississippi Bar; certified orders go to county supervisors. Existing term dates continue automatically when replacement orders are not entered on time.

Delta counties get new court maps

The law revises Fourth Circuit precinct assignments, then adds Holmes and Humphreys Counties on January 1, 2031. From that date, Subdistrict 4-1 includes Washington and Sunflower; 4-2 includes Leflore, Holmes, and Humphreys, with two judges each. Also beginning January 1, 2031, the Ninth Circuit includes Issaquena, Sharkey, Warren, and Yazoo Counties. Ninth Circuit Subdistrict 9-1 includes Issaquena, Sharkey, and specified Warren and Yazoo precincts; 9-2 includes other specified Warren and Yazoo precincts. On the same date, the Eleventh Circuit drops from three subdistricts to two: Bolivar forms 11-1, while Coahoma, Quitman, and Tunica form 11-2.

Hinds area courts change in stages

Until January 1, 2027, the Seventh Circuit has five judges and five Hinds County subdistricts, including Capitol Complex Improvement District precincts. From January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2030, it has six judges, one elected per subdistrict, adding Claiborne and Jefferson Counties as one subdistrict. The Capitol Complex remains a separate subdistrict during that period, and Hinds precinct assignments also change. From January 1, 2031, through December 31, 2034, the district includes Claiborne, Hinds, and Jefferson Counties, with four judges elected from Hinds Subdistrict 7-1, one from Claiborne-Jefferson Subdistrict 7-2, and one from Capitol Complex Subdistrict 7-3. Beginning January 1, 2035, five judges fill separate seats: four elected from Hinds Subdistrict 7-1 and one from Claiborne-Jefferson Subdistrict 7-2.

Northern court seats get residency rules

Beginning January 1, 2027, the First Circuit keeps four judges with seat-specific residency rules. Place One requires Alcorn, Prentiss, or Tishomingo County residence; Places Two and Three allow residence anywhere in the district. Place Four requires residence in Itawamba, Monroe, or Pontotoc County. Beginning January 1, 2031, the Third Circuit grows from three judges to four, with district-wide residency allowed for Places One and Two. Third Circuit Place Three requires district residence outside Lafayette County; Place Four requires Lafayette County residence.

Pike and nearby counties change courts

Beginning January 1, 2027, Pike County becomes Sixth Circuit Subdistrict 6-3. The Sixth Circuit grows from two judges to three, one elected from each subdistrict, and revises precincts in 6-1 and 6-2. On the same date, the Fourteenth Circuit consists of Copiah, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, and Lincoln Counties. Pike and Walthall leave the Fourteenth Circuit, which keeps two judges.

Prosecutor investigator limits rise and fall

Beginning January 1, 2027, the Twenty-first District Attorney may appoint two additional full-time criminal investigators, for three total. The Twenty-third District loses its special authority for two additional investigators. It remains under the general rule allowing one full-time investigator. The law states no funding amount.

Prosecutors follow district transition rules

When county assignments change, incumbent district attorneys stay with the same-numbered district until the next general election for that office. To run for a district, they must meet its residency and other legal requirements. From January 1, 2027, until January 1, 2028, the Twenty-third District Attorney serves as Seventh Circuit Chief Assistant. That official handles the former district's administrative and prosecution transition and receives the Seventh District Attorney's salary. The Twenty-second District Attorney elected in November 2027 serves three years, from January 1, 2028, until the district dissolves January 1, 2031.

Southern court maps and candidate rules change

Beginning January 1, 2027, the Tenth Circuit consists of Clarke, Kemper, and Lauderdale Counties; Wayne County leaves. On the same date, the Fifteenth Circuit consists of Lamar, Marion, Pearl River, and Walthall Counties. Jefferson Davis and Lawrence Counties leave the Fifteenth Circuit. Fifteenth Circuit Place One requires Lamar County residence, and Place Three requires Pearl River County residence. Place Two allows residence in any county within the district.

Statewide rules guide court districts and judges

Mississippi uses county and precinct boundaries from July 1, 2025, replacing the October 1, 1990, reference date. Circuit judge candidates must live in their district by the candidate qualification date, but not necessarily in their subdistrict. The University of Mississippi Law Center's Judicial College and Administrative Office of Courts must collect data to guide judge allocations. This includes population, caseload, land area, and other relevant data. Districts with multiple judges use seniority-based case assignments and senior-judge leadership; authorized criminal matters may go to county court.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Kevin Horan
Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 244 • No: 79

Senate vote • 4/2/2025

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 33 • No: 8

House vote • 4/1/2025

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 78 • No: 36 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 3/6/2025

Passed As Amended

Yes: 50 • No: 0

House vote • 2/6/2025