Mississippi Court Records Search
Mississippi’s County Courts as the name indicates, represent the counties throughout the state. These are limited jurisdiction courts with exclusive jurisdiction over eminent domain cases, juvenile issues and other types of legal matters. The types of cases handled by County Court are tort cases, real property cases up to $200,000, contract disputes, probate cases, and mental health issues, domestic relations cases, juvenile issues, misdemeanors, and preliminary hearings. Many of the cases are assigned to County Court by the Chancery Court.
In Mississippi counties that have a County Court, the judge also heads up the Youth Court that specializes in all matters about children and minors. In some civil cases, County Courts share jurisdiction with Circuit and Chancery Courts. Additionally, County Court judges can issue search warrants, oversee non-capital felony offenses, set bond and hold preliminary hearings as well. County Courts have concurrent jurisdiction with Justice Courts in criminal and civil legal matters.
There are 22 County Courts in the state with 30 County Court judges presiding. The counties that do have a County Court are: “Adams, Bolivar, Coahoma, DeSoto, Forrest, Hancock, Harrison, Hinds, Jackson, Jones, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lee, Leflore, Lowndes, Madison, Pearl River, Pike, Rankin, Warren, Washington, and Yazoo.” Judges are elected in non-partisan elections, and they serve four-year terms.
The State of Mississippi Judiciary website lists each of the 22 counties and shows them on the map. They also have a list of each of the 30 County Court judges along with contact details including a mailing address and phone numbers for each.
Youth Court is a division of County Courts that deal with specific matters regarding the abuse and neglect of children along with juvenile delinquency. County Court judges stand in Youth Court to preside over these types of cases. If a county does not have a County Court, then a Chancery Court judge will select an attorney to sit in on these types of legal matters.