How Does the Mississippi County Court Work?

Mississippi County Courts exist in the 22 counties of the state with exclusive jurisdiction over issues of eminent domain proceedings, juvenile matters, the partition of personal property, and unlawful entry. County Courts are typically established in Mississippi state counties with a large population to assist the Justice, Chancery, and Circuit Courts with handling the huge volume of cases. County Courts share jurisdiction with Circuit and Chancery Courts in certain civil matters and may handle non-capital felony cases transferred from the Circuit Court.

In counties where a County Court exists, a County Court Judge also serves as the Youth Court Judge. The jurisdictional limit of County Courts is up to $200,000. County Court judges are authorized to issue search warrants, set bonds, and preside over preliminary hearings. The Court has jurisdiction with Mississippi Justice Courts in all matters civil and criminal. County Courts are allowed to impanel juries and may hear appeals of the decisions of the Justice and Municipal Courts.

Mississippi County Courts are in the following counties:

• Adams
• Bolivar
• Coahoma
• DeSoto
• Forrest
• Hancock
• Harrison
• Hinds
• Jackson
• Jones
• Lamar
• Lauderdale
• Lee
• Leflore
• Lowndes
• Madison
• Pearl River
• Pike
• Rankin
• Warren
• Washington
• Yazoo

There are 30 County Court judges in Mississippi County Courts, elected to serve four-year terms in non-partisan elections. To serve on a County Court, an individual must be at least 26 years of age, a qualified elector, a regular licensed and practicing attorney for a minimum of five years, and a citizen of Mississippi for five years preceding the day of the election. Where a County Court is established by the agreement of two or more counties, the Court’s judge may be a qualified elector of any one of the collaborating counties. Vacancies in the County Courts are filled by appointment made the Governor. Instead of serving out the predecessor’s term, an interim appointee must run for re-election in the next general election, typically nine months or more after the appointment.

Circuit Court judges may be removed:

• By the Governor upon the joint address of two-thirds of both houses of the Mississippi legislature
• By impeachment on the votes of two-thirds of the house of representatives, and two-thirds removal vote by the senate
• By a recommendation of the Judicial Performance Commission

Interested persons may view court records for Mississippi County Courts that participate in the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) project through its Public Access Mississippi Electronic Case Management system, PAMEC. PAMEC allows the public to view case information for most of the courts in the state

To view case information for cases in the trial court, a PAMEC login will be required. A PAMEC login may be acquired from the PAMEC registration page. The platform requires a $10 annual subscription fee. Users may select “Pay Online” to pay the annual fee by debit/credit card or electronic check, which will allow same-day access to the MEC system. Users who select “Mail a Physical Check” will have their access to the system delayed until the check is received and processed.

To obtain certified court records and to view case information from Mississippi County Courts not participating in PAMEC, visit the location of the Court:

County Courts in Adams County

County Court of Adams County

Adams County Courthouse

115 S Wall Street, PO Box 1224

Natchez, MS 39121

Phone: (601) 442–6416

Fax: (601) 445–2369

County Courts in Bolivar County

County Court of Bolivar County - 1st District

Bolivar County Courthouse - Rosedale

801 Main Street, PO Box 205

Rosedale, MS 38769

Phone: (662) 759–6521

Fax: (662) 759–3717

County Courts in Coahoma County

County Court of Coahoma County

Coahoma County Courthouse

115 1st Street, PO Box 849

Clarksdale, MS 38614

Phone: (662) 624–3014

Fax: (662) 624–3075

County Courts in Desoto County

County Court of DeSoto County

DeSoto County Courthouse

2535 Highway 51 S, Room 201

Hernando, MS 38632

Phone: (662) 469–8007

Fax: (662) 469–8370

County Courts in Forrest County

County Court of Forrest County

Forrest County Courthouse

630 Main Street, PO Box 992

Hattiesburg, MS 39403

Phone: (601) 582–3213

Fax: (601) 545–6065

County Courts in Harrison County

County Court of Harrison County

1801 23rd Avenue, PO Box 1461

Gulfport, MS 39502

Phone: (228) 865–4230

Fax: (228) 865–6523

County Courts in Hinds County

County Court of Hinds County

Hinds County Courthouse

407 E Pascagoula Street

Jackson, MS 39205

Phone: (601) 968–6628

Fax: (601) 973–5547

County Courts in Jackson County

County Court of Jackson County

Jackson County Courthouse

3104 Magnolia Street

Pascagoula, MS 39567

Phone: (228) 769–3040

Fax: (228) 769–3180

County Courts in Jones County

County Court of Jones County - 1st District

101 Court Street, Suite B

Ellisville, MS 39437

Phone: (601) 477–8538

Fax: (601) 477–8539

County Court of Jones County - 2nd District

415 N 5th Avenue, PO Box 1336

Laurel, MS 39441

Phone: (601) 425–2556

Fax: (601) 399–4774

County Courts in Lamar County

County Court of Lamar County

Lamar County Circuit Courthouse

203 Main Street, PO Box 369

Purvis, MS 39475

Phone: (601) 794–8504

Fax: (601) 794–3905

County Courts in Lauderdale County

County Court of Lauderdale County

Lauderdale County Courthouse

500 Constitution Avenue, PO Box 1005

Meridian, MS 39302

Phone: (601) 482–9731

Fax: (601) 482–9734

County Courts in Lee County

County Court of Lee County

Lee County Justice Center

200 W Jefferson Street, PO Box 762

Tupelo, MS 38802

Phone: (662) 841–9024

Fax: (662) 680–6079

County Courts in Leflore County

County Court of Leflore County

Leflore County Courthouse

310 W Market Street, PO Box 1953

Greenwood, MS 38935

Phone: (662) 453–1435

Fax: (662) 455–1278

County Courts in Lowndes County

County Court of Lowndes County

Lowndes County Courthouse

505 2nd Avenue N, PO Box 31

Columbus, MS 39703

Phone: (662) 329–5900

Fax: (662) 329–5935

County Courts in Madison County

County Court of Madison County

Madison County Courthouse

128 W North Street, PO Box 1626

Canton, MS 39046

Phone: (601) 859–4365

Fax: (601) 859–8555

County Courts in Pearl River County

County Court of Pearl River County

Pearl River County Governmental Complex

917 Goodyear Boulevard, PO Box 1746

Picayune, MS 39466

Phone: (601) 749–7720

Fax: (601) 749–7725

County Court of Pearl River County

Pearl River County Courthouse

200 S Main Street

Poplarville, MS 39470

Phone: (601) 403–2300

Fax: (601) 403–2327

County Courts in Pike County

County Court of Pike County

218 E Bay Street, PO Box 31

Magnolia, MS 39652

Phone: (601) 783–2581

Fax: (601) 783–6322

County Courts in Rankin County

County Court of Rankin County

Rankin County Justice Center

215 E Government Street, PO Box 1599

Brandon, MS 39043

Phone: (601) 825–1466

Fax: (601) 825–1465

County Courts in Warren County

County Court of Warren County

Warren County Courthouse

1009 Cherry Street, PO Box 351

Vicksburg, MS 39181

Phone: (601) 636–3961

Fax: (601) 630–4100

County Courts in Washington County

County Court of Washington County

Washington County Courthouse

900 Washington Avenue, PO Box 1276

Greenville, MS 38702

Phone: (662) 378–2747

Fax: (662) 334–2698

County Courts in Yazoo County

County Court of Yazoo County

Yazoo County Courthouse

211 E Broadway Street, PO Box 108

Yazoo City, MS 39194

Phone: (662) 746–1872

Fax: (662) 716–0113