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, P.O. 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, P.O. 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, P.O. 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, P.O. 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, P.O. 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, P.O. 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, P.O. 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, P.O. 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, P.O. 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, P.O. 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, P.O. 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, P.O. 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, P.O. 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, P.O. 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, P.O. 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, P.O. 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, P.O. 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, P.O. Box 108
Yazoo City, MS 39194
Phone: (662) 746–1872
Fax: (662) 716–0113